USS New Orleans Fire August 2025

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aonestudio

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Three observations:
1) There may be sooting on the face of the superstructure, just inboard of the forward RAM launcher on the port side. It's visible a couple of times in the video, right at the start, and then when they pan across from side to side later. OTOH could potentially just be shadow. That's the base of the structure mounting the forward 30mm Mk 44 Bushmaster
2) She still has power, lights are on on the bridge. OTOH I can't tell if the bridge is manned.
3) She's having hoses directed at the area forward of the bridge on both sides. The tug to starboard is aiming at the hull at maindeck* level. The forward tug to port is also aiming at the hull at roughly the same level, the second tug to port is aiming over the hull and inboard of the RAM launcher, in roughly the same spot as the possible sooting/the base of the structure mounting the Mk44.

I'm not sure what's in that area at maindeck level, but it suggests that either the fire has access across the full beam of the ship, or they need to keep what's in that area cool.

And the stills show she's close inshore, so if they need to evac the crew it shouldn't be too difficult.

* Not sure if that technically is maindeck level on an LPD-17, same level as the deck at the bow, anyway.
 
I see the Keystone Cops, aka the USN, are at it again. I wonder if this will be a complete loss like the aircraft carrier they managed to burn to a hulk.
 
Sferrin said:
I see the Keystone Cops, aka the USN, are at it again. I wonder if this will be a complete loss like the aircraft carrier they managed to burn to a hulk.
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Accidents happen more often when you run the fleet too hard. And it seems like New Orleans has had a lot of command turnover in the last couple of years. I counted something 6 COs in 2 years.
 
TomS said:
Accidents happen more often when you run the fleet too hard. And it seems like New Orleans has had a lot of command turnover in the last couple of years. I counted something 6 COs in 2 years.
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Yikes, that's terrible! Normally a CO should last 2 years, maybe 3.

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RUMINT from the NAMP Compliance FB group suggests that the fire started in the HAZMAT lockers.
 
TomS said:
I counted something 6 COs in 2 years.
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Eek!

I suppose the essential question is why the churnover. Is USN's personnel situation just that bad, having to constantly rob Peter to pay Paul? Or were they relieved for cause, with personal capability as the issue? Or is the issue a problem with the entire crew and they just can't find anyone to get ahead of it? (And all of those ultimately come back to personnel management, selection and training).

And whatever the cause, having a new captain every four months is not going to do wonders for crew morale/competence.
 
Ok, I misspoke a bit. A couple of the changes of command were Phibron turnovers aboard LPD-18.

But it has been weird recently. In Sept 2021, CAPT Graber relieved CAPT Schrum. 15 months later, in December 2022, CAPT German relieved Schrum. In March 2024, 15 months later, CAPT Biggs relieved German. So far, normal. But then in October 2024, after only 7 months, CAPT Rule relieved Biggs, and only 2 months later, in December 2024, CAPT Dean relieved Rule. Dean seems to be the current CO, with 8 months tenure.

So it seems Biggs left early, Rule was interim (maybe from the Phibron staff?), and then Dean came in to backfill.
 
Not long ago, we saw a small drone cause a missile to erupt through the cab of its vehicle.

Some lasers are invisible.

Any other nation's assets (ship at sea, embassy ashore) within line of sight of the RAM?
 
publiusr said:
Not long ago, we saw a small drone cause a missile to erupt through the cab of its vehicle.

Some lasers are invisible.

Any other nation's assets (ship at sea, embassy ashore) within line of sight of the RAM?
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Uh, what incident are you talking about?

This fire happened off White Beach, which is a US Naval Base in Okinawa. It is fairly isolated; certainly no close by embassies.

Why is is so improbable that a fire might break out on a ship all by itself? It happens more often that you probably realize.
 
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TomS said:
Why is is so improbable that a fir might break out on a ship all by itself? It happens more often that you probably realize
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Because "we were victims of dastardly sneak attack" hurts navy pride much less than "we screwed up due to our own mistakes"
 

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