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Old 07-14-2020, 07:59 AM
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Question USS Bonhomme Richard Update: Heavy Damage To Ship's Superstructure, Two Decks Separat

Update: USS Bonhomme Richard Update: Heavy Damage To Ship's Superstructure, Two Decks Separate Fire From Fuel
By: Kevin Billings - IBT Time News - Update 04-14-20
Re: https://www.ibtimes.com/uss-bonhomme...e-fire-3011012

KEY POINTS

* The fire onboard the USS USS Bonhomme Richard continued to burn Tuesday, despite efforts by firefighters and sailors to contain it.

* The ship's superstructures has reportedly suffered heavy damage, raising questions about whether or not the ship will be repairable.

* Two decks reportedly separated the fire from 1 million gallons of fuel still aboard.

Firefighters Tuesday battled a blaze aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego, CA - that erupted during the weekend.

“We've been at it for over 24 hours now and we're going to get it until it's done,” Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck told a Monday press conference.

He said the superstructure and upper decks of the vessel suffered heavy damage and water was seeping into the lower decks, causing the ship to list toward the pier. Sailors and firefighters have been working to fix breaches and remove water to ease the listing.

Firefighters aboard the ship have managed so far to keep the blaze away from 1 million gallons of fuel still aboard the ship. Two decks separate the fire and fuel, with firefighters working to create a “buffer zone.” However, there still were concerns the ship may be damaged beyond repair due to the ferocity of the fire.

Parts of the ship’s superstructure melted from the heat, which is said to be around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The fire also had reached the ship’s bridge by Monday and caused extensive damage.

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Personal note: For some reason this ship has had many issues of late. Seems like a major over-haul in the works - or it may even go to the scrap yard for recycling. I hope they find the cause and that the ship can be salvaged? Let's see if they can nail down why this fire happened in the first place? Human error or design error? It went up pretty damn quick so they need to find out how and why so as to prevent this on the other sister ships as well. Human error? or Mechanical? Lot's to find out. This ship has had its problems of late - I wonder if the sister ships have the similar issues? That's why they got to nail down how and why it happened?

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Old 07-15-2020, 05:11 AM
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Post Any Future for the USS Bonhomme Richard After the Flames Are Gone?

Any Future for the USS Bonhomme Richard After the Flames Are Gone?
By: Peter Suciu - Naval News- 07-15-20
Re: https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/...ames-are-gone/

As of Tuesday afternoon, “significant progress” was made in putting out the fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) at Naval Base San Diego. The U.S. Navy’s Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Three told reporters at a press conference, “We still have an active fire, which we are combating both from within and externally from multiple access points.”

FIRE STATUS

The Navy reaffirmed that the blaze, which began on Sunday morning, was still no threat to the tanks that carry the approximately one million gallons of fuel. A total of 61 people including 38 sailors and 23 civilians had sustained minor injuries, including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. However, as of Tuesday afternoon, no personnel were hospitalized as a result of the incident.

The United States Coast Guard was also working with the Navy to prepare for an oil or other hazardous waste spill, while MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters that form the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three had conducted more than 1,200 water bucket drops to help cool the ship’s flight deck and superstructure.

WASP-CLASS AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP NOT A CARRIER

While some media outlets have described the warship as a “carrier,” the USS Bonhomme Richard is actually a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, a design that did evolve from the larger aircraft carriers after the Second World War. Many smaller escort carriers were converted to carry helicopters and originally designated as a class of Landing Helicopter Dock or LHD vessels.

Unlike the U.S. Navy’s larger aircraft carriers, the current generation of LHDs can also support amphibious landings that can be made from the ships’ well deck. As the U.S. Navy employs vertical take-off/landing (VTOL) aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft or the F-35B Lighting II stealth strike-fighter, the Wasp-class can carry a compliment of six of either aircraft, while operating much like an aircraft carrier.

USS BONHOMME RICHARD’S HISTORY IN THE NAVY

LHD-6 was named in honor of the famous frigate under the command of America’s first well-known naval commander John Paul Jones. His vessel was named in French “Good Man Richard,” in honor of founding father Benjamin Franklin, who had served as U.S. Ambassador to France.

The warship was launched in March 1997, and it is the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group Three. The ship had participated in several operations and was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2001 to June 2002, and supported Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2003 to July 2006. During the latter operation, the ship was used to offload more than 1,000 Marines and gear from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines into Kuwait.

More recently the LHD was used in air-sea rescue operations of a South Korean ferry in April 2014 and took part in training exercises with Australian military personnel.

PROGRESSION OF THE FLAMES

This past weekend the fire broke out in the cargo hold where supplies were stored as the ship underwent maintenance at Naval Base San Diego. The fire was first reported at 8:30 am and about 160 sailors were on board at the time. The storage may have contained dry wall, heavy duty cardboard boxes and other supplies that may have helped fuel the fire and made it difficult to quickly contain. The debris and other obstacles may have also made it harder for firefighters to get to the fire and properly fight it.

Over the course of two days, the fire had moved throughout the ship and caused damage to its superstructure, including the area where the bridge is located. The water that has been used to fight the fire has further caused the ship to list.

USS BONHOMME RICHARD MIGHT BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR

As of Monday, the Navy had maintained that the ship could still be repaired once the fire was under control, but until the damage can be fully assessed, it may be optimistic thinking. Fires reportedly had ranged to as high as 1,000 degrees, which could seriously compromise the hull.

The Bonhomme Richard is one of eight Wasp-class LHDs while the Navy has two of the newer America-class amphibious assault ships. The average cost of a Wasp–class LHA has been estimated to be around $750 million, while the more recently constructed America-class LHA had exceeded $3.3 billion – and as a result the cost to replace the Bonhomme Richard has been estimated to be in excess of $4 billion.

These ships also form the core of the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Groups, which can embark U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary units. However, the Marines Corps has begun to explore new ways to deploy quickly around the globe that do not require the use of these large warships.

PREVIOUS FLAMES IN THE NAVY

The fire on the Bonhomme Richard is the most serious fire-related incident involving a U.S. warship since July 1967, when a fire broke out on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. A total of 134 sailors were killed while another 161 were injured. The repair costs, not including the loss of more than aircraft, exceeded $72 million at the time. However, the Forrestal was able to return to service and was only decommissioned in 1993.

About this writer: Peter Suciu is a freelance writer who covers business technology and cyber security.

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Personal note: It looks like she will be headed for the scrap yard. This will no doubt end the line of Bon Homme Richard vessels. A $4 Billion price tag to replace her. This will no doubt not happen for lack of funds. I remember the USS Forrestal fire back in 1967. She was recommissioned and still active.

Boats
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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