The CNO ordered a review of the training for all of 7th Fleet. China declared our navy as a hazard to navigation. As stated earlier our enemies have to question our combat readiness if we have this much trouble just steaming in peacetime...four incidents since February and three major warships with extensive damage. Looks like we have excellent damage control but what a tragic and expensive way to prove it. As former ship's navigator on USS Nimitz and having transited the strait of malacca day and night it is no walk in the park...narrow, shallow and heavy traffic. We set special watch and readiness conditions for that transit. Every member of that watch team was on high alert and the CO was on the bridge.
I wonder if our bridge teams rely too much on Ecdis (electronic displays) and not enough on visual recognition and situational awareness. Have we paid too much attention to, dare I say it, politically correct issues, at the expense of basic ship handling and combat readiness. After all, the mission of the United States Navy is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea.
