The Fitzgerald and the McCain? Ponder this.

China and microwave technology?

 

All those same rumors went around after the Fitzgerald: microwave, their software was hacked, etc. Apparently the Navy investigators didn't buy it.
They sacked the Captain and some of the other officers.

 

The navy has temporarily suspended operations. That implies they may not know what's going on or if they do, that they don't wish to disclose it.

 

Is that Hudson report a reliable outlet?

 

Oh boy. . .

 

http://www.popsci.com/china-microwave-weapon-electronic-warfare
Here is an excerpt.

But the real combat potential of the microwave weapon comes in offense. Carried in by a stealthy drone or cruise missile, it would be able to disable sophisticated enemy defenses like SAM and anti-ship missile batteries; fry enemy radars, communications, and control systems; paralyze tank battalions; and even neutralize other EW platforms.

 

I read an article by Angelo Codevilla on the Navy's Report on the Fitzgerald. It looks like a case of incompetence, plain and simple.

The Officer on Deck (OOD) was warned 45 minutes before the collision that the ship was on a collision course. She apparently took no action. She also waited FOURTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE COLLISION before sounding General Quarters! What do you think she was doing all that time?

The Navy relieved the Captain, who was asleep in his quarters after turning over command to the OOD, and three or four other officers of duty. But, the Navy DID NOT relieve the OOD of command or even release her name! The Navy is protecting the OOD for some reason.

Anyway, it sounds like the problem is a low tech one, probably related to the new, kinder, gentler, more inclusive Navy we have now.

 

Perhaps we have two things to consider.

One would think the Navy ships would have the ability to manually override the electronic system in the event they somehow become incapacitated. Suppose these ships have been attacked electronically causing the inability to steer, but the crew was either lackadaisically complacent or improperly trained to handle the ship manually.

If that is happening, it would make sense for the military to not publically disclose technological deficiencies while stating they are addressing the personnel problems.

 

Pretty sure if she didn't know how to steer the ship manually, or if their was any kind of an operational problem, the OOD would have gotten the Captain's butt out of bed. She didn't and he almost drown as a result.

She didn't notify anyone that there was a problem of any kind. She was probably playing World of Warcraft on her iPad or facebooking and the time got away from her. Oops!

 

Wonder if we'll ever hear testimony from her or from the negligent accused on the other ship.

 

I don't know. At one point, during the Obama Administration, the Navy was down to its' lowest number of ships since 1917. Between the lack of ships and the lack of competent crews to sail them, it sounds like our Navy is in sad shape.

 

Today the Navy denies cyber hacking had anything to do with the McCain.

Still, some "experts" think something more than just human error is going on.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/08...tigate-after-uss-john-s-mccain-collision.html

If China does have a cool new weapon, I don't know why they'd expose it now. Why not wait until the shootin' war starts?

 

Today the Navy sacked Fleet Commander Joseph Aucoin. They definitely see it as a command and control issue.

 

A reason for deploying it now (assuming they have) is to dissuade the US Navy from patrolling the disputed areas around the China seas. A second reason is to make the US think twice before launching a pre-emotive strike against Morth Korea. China wants a compromise where Kim would freeze his missile program in exchange for the US discontinuing annual war games and removing the THAAD anti-missile system.