Former USN Sailor, let me clear some things up

I served from 2005-2013. I did 4 years and change in 7th Fleet (Pacific Asia) and both ships were Flight I DDGs. (Same model as the Fitz and Johnny Mac)

Saw this post on the front page with a lot of comments not fully understanding how these things work.

Here's the thing, we do see them. but seeing isn't moving. You have ships that weigh several dozen tons. Newton's law that an object in motion will stay in motion. The more it weighs, the longer it takes for it to move, slow down or stop.

These are the Straits of Malacca in Singapore. It is a navigational nightmare due to the high amount of congestion and relatively shallow depths. It's not just 1 tanker and 1 warship, it's several others

Here's a better view, and trust me it never looked this orderly.
Think about it like this. You have a 10 lane highway, with semis barreling down both ways and you're on a motorcycle. You have mobility and speed, but if you veer in one direction, you might get hit by another, and a 100 ton tanker will come out with barely a scratch while you're totaled.

"BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE RADARS!"

Again; seeing, predicting where it's going to move, and you moving are different things. The radars on ships are often rotational, ping the first thing hit, then returns. If something was in the way, running almost parallel, while the tanker was Hypothetically on a perpendicular cross (Called "pointing" in TMA terms) they would not have recognized it.

Also, most likely they were in "Emission Control" turning off most equipment that has emits certain frequencies. This is an operational security thing. We don't want other countries getting that information then developing weapons to bypass it our systems. Also, AEGIS emits a shit of radiation. Dead birds all the time on the missile deck.

And yes, I know this picture is from a carrier, but I can't find a decent SPS-67 photo with enough pixels.

"SO THE RUSSIANS/CHINESE/SAYIANS HACKED US?!"

Not likely

Look at that equipment right there. Most of our shit is still analog. One reason is because the Navy is cheap as fuck, but also because they're closed systems. Digital electronics rely on microchips to do their job to rely information. Microchip fails, system can fuck up as it would send wrong signals, doubtful as there are fail safes, but the chip is performing dozens of tasks. Analog components, as in those old timey resistors, have one job to do and are influenced by everything else in the chain.

Also, something something "Nuclear EMP" but that shits too advance for me.

"BUT HOW COME THEY COLLIDED?!"

Initial reports state they lost steering on the bridge (It could be caused by a lot of things, from a faulty pump, to a filter getting clogged, or just because it was moody) and had to use the back up in Aft Steering. The bridge, (Pictured here) is the only place that has clear vision, as the ship is kinda made of steel since they haven't made transparent steel rated for missile hits yet.

Meaning Aft Steering had to navigate blind with only radio instruction. Now combine that with my 10 lane highway with coked up Semi-Drivers, 100 ton ship, minimal navigation, and yeah, that's how you have a tragedy.

Navy life is tough. We're on minimal sleep doing high risk evolutions. I don't doubt there was human error involved, but to shit talk something you have no knowledge, experience, or background in; well, that's just ignorant and rude.

17 sailors have died on the last two collusions and the Fitzgerald was barely able to get back into port on their own. If the crew was as incompotent as some people suggest, that number would've been a lot higher.

There isn't any doubt the crew busted their ass to save their shipmates and their ship.

Boob tax

Sorry for the rant.