The website Military.com reports the Navy has sacked the captain and exec officer of the destroyer U.S.S. Fitzgerald which somehow managed to get itself rammed by a container ship. You'll recollect the collision killed seven sailors who were off-duty and sleeping belowdecks.
Anyone who is surprised by this outcome hasn't been paying attention. As we noted when the collision happened in mid-June, as the faster, more nimble, more maneuverable vessel, with better radar and sensors, the destroyer had no business running in front of a loaded container ship plowing along minding its own business.
We said then, and reiterate now, that those who were responsible for the Fitzgerald's navigation and operation screwed up, and it was likely that heads would roll. Now they have, along with some senior enlisted personnel getting "nonjudicial punishments."
