The outward appearance does not neccesarily reflect a warships capability, but it gives volumes of information about the resolve of the flag it sails under.
I cut Fitz slack about two weeks ago when she pulled into Yokosuka after escorting Lincoln on a high speed transpacific transit...totally get how that could strip some haze gray on a 22kt+ SOA for 6k miles in the middle of winter in the North Pacific. But now it's two weeks later. Cmon guys...
Agree, the problem with our Navy is not the number of hulls nor the condition they are in. I It is and has been about leadership and an inability for it to learn. Where have USNA grads been for the last 30 years?
I guess that Golden Anchor was awarded for a happy ship that never did side cleaners. As I have said in the past seeing ships that had this outward appearance Everyone from the ship's Bosun, 1St Lt, and the command triad should be fired. An Immediate AdMat, 3M and OPPE inspections should be held. This is an indication of "I don;t Give a $h!t" from the top down. Sorry I'm OLD Carrier Navy, we never saw a pier when on cruise but no ship I was on EVER displayed running rust or a coat of many colors within 24 hours of dropping a hook.
Good grief! Is she on her way to a port for more repairs and paint after her collision and repairs in Japan? And such a small American flag!
Low morale -- "decaying empire" -- comes from the top, as a fish rots from its head. NSC make no National Security Strategy because, in their minds, there is no nation to secure. Why should this skipper and crew care how their ship looks?
This isn't about money or hulls. It's not even about training.
And the really sad thing is that it doesn't take much effort at all (in the big scheme of things) to present a better image. Back in ancient history (1974-1977) aboard USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3), the skipper's directive was to square up and remove a section of hull or superstructure rust with a chipping hammer, and then prime and paint only that square. For the next week or two, you could make out that small area, after which oxidation blended it in with the rest of the hull. We took care of the nation's investment at a very small cost, and felt proud of the ship as well.
The outward appearance does not neccesarily reflect a warships capability, but it gives volumes of information about the resolve of the flag it sails under.
Hey at least the Australian FFH 151 Arunta in that same photoset looked even worse!
haha, I was going to say 151 didn't look too bad, but seems to be a fair bit of rust on the decks?
I cut Fitz slack about two weeks ago when she pulled into Yokosuka after escorting Lincoln on a high speed transpacific transit...totally get how that could strip some haze gray on a 22kt+ SOA for 6k miles in the middle of winter in the North Pacific. But now it's two weeks later. Cmon guys...
Agree, the problem with our Navy is not the number of hulls nor the condition they are in. I It is and has been about leadership and an inability for it to learn. Where have USNA grads been for the last 30 years?
I guess that Golden Anchor was awarded for a happy ship that never did side cleaners. As I have said in the past seeing ships that had this outward appearance Everyone from the ship's Bosun, 1St Lt, and the command triad should be fired. An Immediate AdMat, 3M and OPPE inspections should be held. This is an indication of "I don;t Give a $h!t" from the top down. Sorry I'm OLD Carrier Navy, we never saw a pier when on cruise but no ship I was on EVER displayed running rust or a coat of many colors within 24 hours of dropping a hook.
Unbelievable…..
Good grief! Is she on her way to a port for more repairs and paint after her collision and repairs in Japan? And such a small American flag!
Low morale -- "decaying empire" -- comes from the top, as a fish rots from its head. NSC make no National Security Strategy because, in their minds, there is no nation to secure. Why should this skipper and crew care how their ship looks?
This isn't about money or hulls. It's not even about training.
And the really sad thing is that it doesn't take much effort at all (in the big scheme of things) to present a better image. Back in ancient history (1974-1977) aboard USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3), the skipper's directive was to square up and remove a section of hull or superstructure rust with a chipping hammer, and then prime and paint only that square. For the next week or two, you could make out that small area, after which oxidation blended it in with the rest of the hull. We took care of the nation's investment at a very small cost, and felt proud of the ship as well.