Researchers have found the wreckage of the US warship Indianapolis, which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in the final days of World War Two, more than 18,000 feet (5.5 kilometers) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the Navy said on Saturday.

Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Paul Simao

The cruiser was returning from its mission to deliver components for the atomic bomb that would soon be dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima when it was fired upon in the North Pacific Ocean by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. It sunk in 12 minutes, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington. No distress signal was sent. About 800 of the 1,196 crew members aboard survived the sinking, but only 316 were rescued alive five days later, with the rest lost to exposure, dehydration, drowning and sharks.

After a Navy historian unearthed new information in 2016 about the warship’s last movements that pointed to a new search area, a team of civilian researchers led by Paul Allen, a Microsoft Corp co-founder, spent months searching in a 600-square-mile (1,500-square-kilometer) patch of ocean. With a vessel rigged with equipment that can reach some of the deepest ocean floors, members of Allen’s team found the wreckage somewhere in the Philippine Sea on Friday, Allen said in a statement on his website.

The statement said the Navy had asked Allen to keep the precise location confidential. Allen said that the discovery was a humbling experience and a means of honoring sailors he saw as playing a vital role in ending World War Two. “While our search for the rest of the wreckage will continue, I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming,” he said.

Identification was easier than in some deep-sea expeditions: some of the exposed wreck was clearly marked with Indianapolis signage, according to photographs shared by Allen and the Navy.
“It is exceedingly rare you find the name of the ship on a piece of the wreckage,” Paul Taylor, a spokesman for the Naval History and Heritage Command, said in a telephone interview. “If that’s not Indianapolis then I don’t know what is.”

The Navy said it had plans to honor the 22 survivors from the Indianapolis still alive along with the families of the ship’s crew.

First Published: news.abs-cbn.com

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WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy announced Wednesday that the seven Sailors who died aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), were posthumously advanced to their next rank.

– Gunner’s Mate Seaman Apprentice Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia, was posthumously advanced to Gunner’s Mate Seaman.

– Yeoman 3rd Class (frocked) Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego was posthumously permanently advanced to Petty Officer 3rd class.

– Sonar Technician 3rd Class (frocked) Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville, Connecticut, was posthumously permanently advanced to Petty Officer 3rd class.

– Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 1st class.

– Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 1st class.

– Personnel Specialist 1st Class (frocked) Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland, was posthumously permanently advanced to Petty Officer 1st class.

– Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio, was posthumously advanced to Chief Petty Officer.

The remains of these seven Sailors were located June 18, in flooded berthing compartments, after divers gained access to the spaces that were damaged when the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal. (Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs)

First Published: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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From July 11 to 26, Philippine Marines from Assault Armor Battalion and U.S. Marines from Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division worked together to become familiar with Amphibious Assault Vehicles and how to best utilize their capabilities.

This is the first time that members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have trained on a U.S. military base.

During this training, Philippine Marines learned different amphibious skills such as hand signaling, egress training, and water operations. They also familiarized themselves with maintenance procedures, logistical planning, and facility capabilities.

This training benefits both forces moving forward as they continue to work together during exercises such as Kamandag this October to bolster Philippine amphibious capability and combined security operations.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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The ribbon-cutting ceremony and office blessing were attended by the company’s staff and premier executives led by its President, Mr. Mark Owen Webb, as well some local officials and distinguished guests from the media.

Mark Owen Webb, president of Nippon Paint Philippines led the Ribbon Cutting with AGM Gerry Sebastian and Subic Town Vice Mayor Jose Benedicto Felarca during the opening of the office and warehouse at Matain, Subic, Zambales.”

The Subic Marine Office, which also serves as a warehouse, is the second of its kind to be run by Nippon Paint, bringing into fruition the company’s aim to be in closer proximity with its new customer base for ease of transactions.

The first office was inaugurated in Navotas City in February 2017 and the third office is set to operate in General Santos City before the year ends.

Nippon Paint is the primary paint supplier for car manufacturers like Toyota Motor Philippines, Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and others. Its coating technology was enhanced to include marine paints and offer the shipping industry the same kind of quality and protection that only Nippon Paint can provide.

Major customers in the maritime industry include Frabelle Shipyard, E.B Aznar Shipping Corp., Asia Marine Transport, Seatech Transport Inc., Chelsea Ship Management, Frabelle Fishing Corporation, RBL Fishing Corporation, Irma Fishing Coporation, Tao Shipping Corporation, Philwinner Marine Services Corp, Philspan Shipping Corporation, Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp, Masuda Marine Corp, and Blastmaster Inc.

Nippon Paint is expanding its reach in the marine paints segment by offering top of the line products that can significantly address the shipping industry’s painting needs and requisites. Ships are all too often plagued with painting woes and other afflictions while at sea, causing more damages and exacting heavy losses. Nippon Paint Marine products can effectively combat and reduce these occupational hazards.

Nippon Marine AC Primer, Nippon Marine ACII Tie Coat, Ecoflex SPC 200 Z and Bioflex 800 D, to name a few, are some of Nippon Paint Marine’s certified environmentally friendly paint products that are also equipped with anti-corrosive and anti-fouling properties.

Catering largely to newly-built ships and other sea-bound vehicles, the paints, too, can be used for maintenance and safeguarding purposes, giving life to Nippon Paint Marine’s credo: “In high seas and open water, be protected with Nippon Paint Coating Technologies.”

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) — The commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief of the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) were relieved of their duties by Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, Commander, 7th Fleet Aug, 18.

Additionally, a number of officer and enlisted watch standers were held accountable.

The determinations were made following a thorough review of the facts and circumstances leading up to the June 17 collision between Fitzgerald and the merchant vessel ACX Crystal.

The collision was avoidable and both ships demonstrated poor seamanship. Within Fitzgerald, flawed watch stander teamwork and inadequate leadership contributed to the collision that claimed the lives of seven Fitzgerald Sailors, injured three more and damaged both ships.

With absolute accountability for the safe navigation of Fitzgerald, Cmdr. Bryce Benson was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. He had previously been temporarily relieved of his duties due to medical reasons from injuries sustained during the collision. Benson is being reassigned to Naval District Washington at the Washington Navy Yard, where he will have access to medical facilities in the area.

Inadequate leadership by the executive officer, Cmdr. Sean Babbitt, and command master chief, Master Chief Petty Officer Brice Baldwin, contributed to the lack of watch stander preparedness and readiness that was evident in the events leading up to the collision.

Several junior officers were relieved of their duties due to poor seamanship and flawed teamwork as bridge and combat information center watch standers. Additional administrative actions were taken against members of both watch teams.

Cmdr. Garret Miller will assume command from Fitzgerald’s acting commanding officer, Cmdr. John “Jack” Fay sometime mid-to-late-August.

It was also evident from this review that the entire Fitzgerald crew demonstrated real toughness that night. Following the collision these Sailors responded with urgency, determination and creativity to save their ship. Their rigorous damage control efforts and dauntless fighting in the immediate wake of the accident prevented further loss of life. (By U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs)

First Published: pauldavisoncrime.com

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