Navy ship's mast just snaps right off

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, February 17, 2011 - 11:56 AM Share

You heard me right: The top of the mast of the USS Gravely snapped off. The break was at the point where the upper part of the mast was welded to the lower part. The ship is almost brand new. They must have built the ship on a Monday after a Saints home game.

navy.mil

EXPLORE:MILITARY

(6)

HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE

STARBUCK

5:02 PM ET

February 17, 2011

Sounds like that ship

Sounds like that ship is...Gravely damaged?

RUBBER DUCKY

5:17 PM ET

February 17, 2011

Fundamental question

What was the sea state?

TOM RICKS

2:52 AM ET

February 18, 2011

Wet?

Anybody know?
Best,
Tom

JPWREL

6:09 PM ET

February 17, 2011

Wrong story

As I understand it the break occurred at the welded joint of the upper mast. Every ship ever launched by the Navy has had to be repaired for some fault some more serous than others. This is hardly even news worthy. What is news worthy is the apparent acute shortage of spare parts for normal wear and tear on the Aegis cruisers and destroyers.

MOOJ KILLER

2:29 PM ET

February 18, 2011

Tour

I recieved a very nice tour of that ship during the commissioning week in Wilmington NC. The XO conducted the tour, which I thought a little odd but the group had some special people in it. Not sure who they were. But The tour was great and the XO is a prior service enlisted sailor which was even cooler.

MONKEYBOY

11:01 PM ET

February 22, 2011

Hey Ship Yard!

I bet you did not know you can X-ray welds!