US Navy Assault Ship Reduced to Scrap After Alleged Sabotage, US Sailor Charged

In July 2020, the USS Bonhomme Richard went up in flames at Naval Base San Diego.

According to The Hill, the blaze lasted four days and injured 63 people, including 40 service members and 23 civilians. Thankfully, nobody was killed.

The U.S. Navy decided to scrap the amphibious assault ship in November, as it would have taken seven years and $3 billion to repair it.

https://t.co/v2c9T7z09S pic.twitter.com/0hdDCnsX5T

— Naval Surface Forces (@SurfaceWarriors) July 12, 2020

Now, someone may have to answer for the disaster.

The Navy on Thursday charged a sailor with arson, accusing him of intentionally causing one of the worst non-combat warship fires in recent memory.

The name of the sailor was not released, but Navy sources noted that he was a member of the Bonhomme Richard’s crew at the time of the fire.

U.S. 3rd Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Sean Robertson said in a statement that “evidence collected during the investigation is sufficient to direct a preliminary hearing in accordance with due process under the military justice system.”

Do you believe the sailor be convicted of arson?
Yes: 96% (1289 Votes)
No: 4% (60 Votes)

Vice Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the 3rd Fleet and the individual responsible for overseeing the case, said he “is considering court-martial charges and has directed a preliminary hearing” for the charged sailor.

Obviously, these officers know far more about the situation than I do, but I wonder why the sailor in question was not charged with attempted murder.

He is accused of starting a fire on a ship with people on board, so one could reasonably infer that he had some intent to kill.
I was not the only one to make this observation, either:

No motive has yet been revealed.

Let’s hope the Navy can get to the bottom of what appears to be an act of sabotage by one of its own.

The U.S. can ill afford disasters like this as our enemies grow ever more powerful and aggressive.

Even apart from those considerations, assuming the arson charges stick, the man responsible needs to be brought to justice. His crime could very well have had a much more tragic outcome.


https://www.westernjournal.com/us-navy-assault-ship-reduced-scrap-alleged-sabotage-us-sailor-charged/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=CTBreaking&utm_campaign=breaking&utm_content=conservative-tribune&ats_es=57139bde57e070d7cce67b2f02003c45

Someone MAY have to answer for this?! WTF?!?!?

He/She/They injured over 60 people. Caused a piece of military equipment worth BILLIONS of dollars to be destroyed. You're damn right somebody needs to answer for it. The word TREASON comes to mind...

If the fire was started intentionally he needs to be dealt with in the harshest of ways. The article does use the word "intentional" which means he should, indeed, be charged with attempted murder.

why didnt they flood all compartments till it sank. at least then the fireboats couldve gotten at the fire easier