A fire broke out on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard on July 12 while the ship was dockside at the Naval Base San Diego. Now, the Navy is investigating whether arson was the cause of the fire. A sailor from the ship is a prime suspect. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) are leading the investigation. No motive has been identified and no one has been charged.
The fire burned for more than four days and severely damaged the ship. NPR reports that after touring the damage in July, the Navy’s top officer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, suggested that the 22-year-old vessel may be a total loss.
According to documents provided by the Navy, over the last decade there were nine serious fires on board Navy ships around the world and seven of those fires were on board ships in port, most undergoing maintenance.
The Bonhomme Richard is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, 844 feet in length and resembling a small aircraft carrier. It is used to transport a Marine detachment, its equipment and aircraft. The Bonhomme Richard was one of the first vessels being retrofitted to carry the new F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, setting back plans to deploy the new stealth fighter jet on amphibious assault ships.
The “BATFE”?
The BATF is fine, the e is silent.
Look on the web and you lose both the B and the E.
https://www.atf.gov/contact
Is the sailor’s name Clayton Hartwig?
(Google “Iowa turret explosion”)
Whenever there is a major fire the most likely explanation is “when undergoing maintenance”. How often do you hear that? A chap burning off paint in historic buildings*, sparks from welding or grinding in ships† and warehouse doors‡. Why has no-one figured out this is a major problem and found a method of prevention?
*eg Notre Dame, Paris
†eg as above
‡eg Beirut docks