German navy finds new enemy - itself

What an idiot of a captain.

I wonder just how badly he was punished for that one.

Here's the clip:

[youtube width=425 height=350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib43gpKTxjs

He was relieved from duty.

What the hell were they thinking?

Wow, just wow.

OOOOOPs

I read that part, but I was curious just how hard the navy came down on him after relieving him of command.

Ah those crazy Germans. A little too much Schnapps after dinner.

Leads me to wonder if a drunk, overweight captain falling over onto his side caused the boat to heel over and turn into the other one.

Strange as it sounds these incidents happen alot more often than people think. I've been involved in a couple of collisions at sea and seen a few others, which fortunately happened prior to youtube so the whole world wasn't privy to our misadventures.

Not having read the proceedings of the investigation I guess nobody can actually say what caused this mishap. From the video it appears that they were doing Officer of the Watch Manoevers in station keeping and somebody screwed up the signal, since the other vessel didn't appear to make any attempt to manoever out of harms way. Likely the first ship was supposed to pass astern of the second vessel also and take up station on the outer cordon.


Just one question though? I never heard an action alarm or ships whistle to alert the other ships and crews that danger was imminent. It was almost like they were a couple of teenage kids out on a joy ride in dads car.

that's gonna require some paint.

It started going off about 5 seconds before impact...

Insurance company is gonna be pissed.

That and a little Wagner playing over the loud speaker.

Freakinoldguy



I never was one of those guys who went down to the sea and ships......but many times have seen the results.

In my extensive reading on naval units of the 20th century, I have pondered how these navies managed to maintain a serviceable fleet. Reading through classes of ships the number lost to collision.... On particular incident was named "the Battle of ???? Sound". Night fleet maneuvers involving a surfaced submarine involved at least a dozen collisions and several losses in the twenties. It seems no navy was better or worse at it.

Recently the only collisions we usually hear of involve the "Rainbow warrior."

A classic maneuver "the Battle Turn" was notorious. A clever move but fraught with danger. The German High Seas Fleet successfully pulled that off during the Battle of Jutland. Basically everybody does a 180.

The RN did another maneuver prior to engagement---going from line to line astern after a Port 90 turn. The Germans came within range just moments after the turn which had placed the entire home fleet broadside, unmasking all guns. The High Seas Fleet still in line astern had it's leaders mauled savagely. The German Battle turn effected a rapid disengagement. Superb sea-manship.