Most expensive destroyer in U.S. fleet loses propulsion in Panama Canal
Some ships's Captain just lost his career. Not necessarily his fault but as Captain, it's his neck on the block.
Also, one would think that the propulsion system of such a ship would be the mot robust item on board. No propulsion you become a smoking hole in the water very quickly.
Also, one would think that the propulsion system of such a ship would be the mot robust item on board. No propulsion you become a smoking hole in the water very quickly.
RESPONSIBILITY
“Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible.”
― Hyman G. Rickover
And so that is the key concept that allows our fighting forces to actually be able to do their job effectively, in lieu of being a hotbed of social experimentation.
https://books.google.com/books?id=Vmt...
In his 1966 novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress(1), science-fiction Grand Master Robert A. Heinlein relates how the inhabitants of a colony on the moon carry out a revolution with the aid of a self-aware computer.. During a discussion leading up to the start of the revolution, one of the characters, Professor De La Paz, describes his political philosophy to fellow conspirators, Manuel O' Kelly and Wyoming Knott.
De La Paz states that he is a rational anarchist:
“A rational anarchist believes that concepts such as ‘state’ and ‘society’ and ‘government’ have no existence save as physically exemplified in the acts of self-responsible individuals. He believes that it is impossible to shift blame, share blame, distribute blame . . . as blame, guilt, responsibility are matters taking place inside human beings singly and nowhere else. But being rational, he knows that not all individuals hold his evaluations, so he tries to live perfectly in an imperfect world . . . aware that his effort will be less than perfect yet undismayed by self-knowledge of self-failure.”
Mannie: “Hear, hear!” I said. “‘Less than perfect.’ What I’ve been aiming for all my life.”
“You’ve achieved it,” said Wyoh. “Professor, your words sound good but there is something slippery about them. Too much power in the hands of individuals—surely you would not want ... well, H-missiles for example—to be controlled by one irresponsible person?”
Prof: “My point is that one person is responsible. Always. If H-bombs exist—and they do—some man controls them. In terms of morals, there is no such thing as a ‘state.’ Just men. Individuals. Each responsible for his own acts.”
http://dwrighsr.tripod.com/heinlein/R...
An example from my everyday life providing pony rides for little kids:
Child's mother: "I know you said you won't allow two on the same pony, but I'll take all the responsibility."
Me: "It's my responsibility. You can't have it. There is no way I can delegate it. What you are asking is unsafe. We don't do it."
Her: "I TOLD YOU, I'LL TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY!!"
Me: "Sorry. Can't do it."
Her: [hmmmph!]
Let me know if you find any shred of example of it WRT to the decisions for this ship design.
I was a program manager as an Air Force officer, with an aerospace engineering degree. I had contractor support for technical specialty oversight, but it was my engineering judgement that was the final say. I never missed a deadline, nor ran over budget, and the products we delivered to the operational community met their needs reliably.
Later in life, as a contractor, I was horrified to see development contractors failing to meet technical goals getting awards for keeping up their spending profiles. Any contractor who tried to reduce spending was reprimanded for not following their spending profile. Technical performance was secondary.
Don't always succeed.
Not gonna advertise specifics but I've been known to ingest certain kinds of essential oils~
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essenti...
Sadly this is part and parcel of why so much software is crap and riddled with bugs and defects.
At the port of New York, decades ago, a naval ship was under construction. Even at that point of existence it has a designated captain, who is supposed to be on site.
There was a gasoline fire aboard ship, due to careless operation of a forklift. The Navy's fire crew began to battle the fire with approved Navy fogging techniques that prevent driving the fire below decks. The fire department of the City of New York showed up, and (get this!) ordered the Naval fire crew away. They then turned their hoses on the fire. The fire went below decks and the ship was lost.
Who was responsible? The captain!
Why? He should have ordered his crew to repel the NYC fire laddies AT POINT OF ARMS, shooting them if necessary. As captain, he had that responsibility and that authority.
[Sorry, this is a story I heard from an Old Salt. I do not have a reference or a date.]
So we build a new ship, it under goes sea trials, passes(?), then looses propulsion on its first time outside the home pond. The old Navy has truly turned into a canoe club. Sad.