USS Fort Worth disabled

[Red Oak]

The USS Fort Worth, a Navy littoral combat ship, has suffered extensive gear damage while docked at a port in Singapore. The Navy is blaming the incident on a crew error.

According to reports, the crew failed to use sufficient lube oil, leading to excessively high temperatures on the gears. Debris also found its way into the lubrication system, which also contributed to failure, Defense News reports. The crew did not follow standard operating procedures.

Immediately following the incident, ship repair experts arrived on the scene to assess the damage. Until the investigation wraps up, the ship will remain at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore.

"We have the right resources in place to conduct the necessary inspections, determine the extent of the damage and required repairs, and return Fort Worth back to operational status," Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight, a spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet, told Defense News. "USS Fort Worth has been a model of reliability for more than one year while deployed in the US 7th Fleet. We are working diligently to minimize the operational impact of this maintenance casualty."

This marks the second incident over the last couple months that an LCS ship has been brought down due to mechanical failure. The Milwaukee broke down approximately 40 miles off the coast of Virginia. The Navy had to collect the ship and tow it back to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

Navy officials told Defense News that the problem with the USS Fort Worth and the USS Milwaukee is somewhat similar, though the actual causes are distinct. It is unknown when the problems with Fort Worth will clear up. A few weeks ago, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that orders of LCS ships were to be capped at 40, rather than the original amount of 52. The Navy disputed the decision at the time and still hopes Carter will have a change of heart.

Fort Worth has been deployed to Asia since November 2014.

[GFB]

Too bad about the ship, but Singapore is an exceptionally good choice for a bunch of sailors to get stranded.

[ralph]

maybe the crew got things mixed up and was using the cinnamon flavored lube oil hat some in the crew favors rather than the proper lube oil for gears !! [who knows] ??

[BigTex]

Sabotage of the shaft reduction gears used to occur ever now and then, particularly when the ship was visiting an exotic port or was nearing its departure date for overseas deployment. The Navy instituted measures to prevent that from happening. I had not heard of a case in years.

This is probably a maintenance issue or a mechanical flaw, but I wouldn't rule out sabotage.

[ralph]

SABOTAGE , who would do the Sabotage BT ??

[BigTex]

A sailor who doesn't want to leave Singapore.

[ralph]

quite the crew that the navy is letting into the ranks eh BT ?? Probably lots of money in damage to the ship and the enlisted guy that did the sabotage is not good for the Navies mission ?? Wonder what he or she Enlistee might do next .

[ralph]

I mean , what did this ship cost and it might be sabotaged by an enlistee or other type sailor because they want to stay in Singapore . Sounds messed up to me !! Guilty guy or girl if found should be heavily disciplined and drummed out of the navy to go to work on a Louisiana shrimp boat , imo !!

[ralph]

and what kinda person is the 'usa' navy accepting into its ranks that Might sabotage a critical piece of navy equipment so that they can stay in Singapore BT ??

[GFB]

..someone that's been there before.

[Cowman52]

If you ain't smart enough to know you gotta check the oil, you need to be peeling tatters.

[Ric]

If you ain't smart enough to know you gotta check the oil, you need to be peeling tatters.

What's a 'tatter'?

[GFB]

If you ain't smart enough to know you gotta check the oil, you need to be peeling tatters.

What's a 'tatter'?

Nothin'..what's a tatter with you?