The San Diego Fire Department received reports of a fire and loud explosion on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at around 8:30 a.m. on July 12.
`The fire raging on the USS Bonhomme Richard, one of the US’s 10 heavy amphibious assault ships, may have originated from a neglect of safety regulations. These warships are considered an important component to contain
A billion-dollar American warship can burn due to carelessness
Fire engulfed the USS Bonhomme Richard on the evening of July 12.
Damage to the USS Bonhomme Richard has not been determined, but the fire weakened much of the steel structure and melted the tires of vehicles parked on the flight deck.
`The cause of the incident has not been determined, but we know that fires in shipyards are a serious problem for the US Navy. A series of fires have occurred on recently maintained warships, although
The USS Bonhomme Richard burned right next to the destroyer USS Fitzgerald, a warship that crashed into a cargo ship in 2017 and took years to repair.
`There were no fire supervisors, flammable materials caught fire, the deck smoldered, and fires destroyed cables and equipment that went unreported,` the memo said.
US naval commanders often focus on the ability to fight and survive on the battlefield, but not many pay attention to fire and explosion incidents during maintenance.
`Maintenance and upgrading at the factory is one of the most dangerous stages for warships. Safety systems on the ship are disabled, doors separating compartments cannot be closed by cables and devices.`
Firefighters sprayed water to cool the hull of the USS Bonhomme Richard on July 12.
The US Navy has encountered this situation many times.
The destroyer USS Oscar Austin caught fire in November 2018 and had to stay in port for two more years than planned.
Eleven sailors were injured in the fire of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the same class as the USS Bonhomme Richard, last year.
`If this fire is determined to be a preventable incident, all levels of command need to be disciplined quickly. America has too many challenges offshore to worry about and cannot afford to let its precious fleet be destroyed.
USS Bonhomme Richard is the sixth ship in the Wasp class of amphibious assault ships, the second largest warship in the US Navy, just behind nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The ship has been in service since 1998 and has participated in a number of military operations over the years.
`Repair costs can reach hundreds of millions of dollars if the ship is not completely destroyed, while building a replacement ship will take many years and cost about a billion dollars,` retired US Navy colonel Lawrence