UPDATE: NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES – USS Fitzgerald has serious collision with Japanese vessel

The USS Fitzgerald has had a reportedly serious collision with a Japanese merchant vessel at sea off the coast of Japan:

Via the Navy:

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) was involved in a collision with a merchant vessel at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time, June 17, while operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

The U.S. Navy has requested Japanese Coast Guard assistance in responding to the collision.

The extent of damage is being determined. The extent of personnel injuries is being determined. The incident will be investigated.

I’ll have more on this as it develops…

UPDATE 1:

Here’s a photo:

Also there’s an embeddable video at this link you can watch. It’s in Japanese, just fyi.

UPDATE 2:

“Significant”

Here’s an animated gif of the wreckage:

UPDATE 3:

Sailors injured…

Statement from Adm. John Richardson:

UPDATE 4:

Three compartments flooded…

UPDATE 5:

USS Fitzgerald heading back under it’s own power…

UPDATE 6:

More on injuries…

UPDATE 7:

One sailor is being prepped to be flown off in a helicopter over his injuries.

BUT there’s a report that 7 sailors are unaccounted for:


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