Did Skippers Seriously get Court martialed for losing their ship?

sqk7744 · 04-15-07, 05:14 PM

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CCIP · 04-15-07, 05:29 PM

The only American commander convincted and discharged by a court martial for losing his ship in WWII was the commander of the USS Indianapolis. As most people would agree, very unfairly so (someone just needed a scapegoat).

perisher · 04-15-07, 06:24 PM

Loss of a ship, in any navy, for any reason, usually results in a court martial. At the very least there will be a court of inquiry, which will decide if a court martial is necessary. Remember a court martial is a trial, not a punishment. A court martial may order punishment or it may exonerate. It is not necessarily a bad thing, it may clear the captain's name.

NEON DEON · 04-15-07, 07:49 PM

Ummm-------

CCIP is spot on.

No USN skipper other than Mc Vay the skipper of the Indianappolis was court martialed for losing his ship in WW II.

Hartmann · 04-15-07, 08:13 PM

Yes, they court martialled mc way for not order a zig zag pattern in the course.

but during the court, the japnese commander say that he would sink the ship with zig zag or not.

fidget · 04-15-07, 09:44 PM

I believe a Court of Inquiry is held for any loss of a ship. A Courts Martial, as far as I can tell, is not automatic. I do think, however, that running a ship aground or any collision (not as a result of battle) seems to often result in disciplinary action. In fact, Chester Nimitz was Courts Martialed very early in his career for running his ship aground.

akdavis · 04-15-07, 09:56 PM

A court martial was urged by some following the grounding and loss of one of the S-boats (don't remember which, but maybe S-36), but the skipper's immediate superiors did not pursue that course of action.

And, of course, virtually all submarine commanders who lost their boats in combat either died or became prisoners of war.

WFGood · 04-15-07, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

Yes, they court martialled mc way for not order a zig zag pattern in the course.

but during the court, the japnese commander say that he would sink the ship with zig zag or not.

Captain McVeigh was courtmartialed in order to take the heat off the Navy which had screwed up royally and left those men to die in the water. It was not a normal procedure at all. If you lost your ship, a Court of Inquiry would look into it, but a court martial was for extreme hazards or negligence.

DeepSix · 04-15-07, 11:39 PM

Technically...

a court-martial is a court of inquiry. Military law differs in some significant ways from civilian law. As Sailor Steve said, they're held to review serious incidents such as loss of one's ship. But being "court-martialed" is simply being "martialed," or ordered to appear, before a board of review. It often gets misused to refer to conviction for an offense, but that's not what it actually means.

Still... not something you want on your DD-214.

SinisterDexter · 04-15-07, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCIP

(someone just needed a scapegoat).

Say it aint so!!

04-15-07, 05:14 PM	#1
sqk7744 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ~About 60' below Posts: 1,150 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	"Coming to you live, via satillite from Davy Jones's locker." ---

04-15-07, 05:29 PM	#2
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	The only American commander convincted and discharged by a court martial for losing his ship in WWII was the commander of the USS Indianapolis. As most people would agree, very unfairly so (someone just needed a scapegoat). __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

04-15-07, 06:24 PM	#3
perisher Frogman Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 300 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Loss of a ship, in any navy, for any reason, usually results in a court martial. At the very least there will be a court of inquiry, which will decide if a court martial is necessary. Remember a court martial is a trial, not a punishment. A court martial may order punishment or it may exonerate. It is not necessarily a bad thing, it may clear the captain's name. __________________ "Pitt was the greatest fool who ever lived to encourage a mode of war which they who commanded the seas did not want, and which, if successful, would deprive them of it." Earl St.Vincent (allegedly)

04-15-07, 07:49 PM	#4
NEON DEON Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,207 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 5	Ummm------- CCIP is spot on. No USN skipper other than Mc Vay the skipper of the Indianappolis was court martialed for losing his ship in WW II. __________________ Diesel Boats Forever!

04-15-07, 08:13 PM	#5
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Yes, they court martialled mc way for not order a zig zag pattern in the course. but during the court, the japnese commander say that he would sink the ship with zig zag or not. __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

04-15-07, 09:44 PM	#6
fidget Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 42 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I believe a Court of Inquiry is held for any loss of a ship. A Courts Martial, as far as I can tell, is not automatic. I do think, however, that running a ship aground or any collision (not as a result of battle) seems to often result in disciplinary action. In fact, Chester Nimitz was Courts Martialed very early in his career for running his ship aground.

04-15-07, 09:56 PM	#7
akdavis Samurai Navy Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 597 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A court martial was urged by some following the grounding and loss of one of the S-boats (don't remember which, but maybe S-36), but the skipper's immediate superiors did not pursue that course of action. And, of course, virtually all submarine commanders who lost their boats in combat either died or became prisoners of war. __________________ -AKD

04-15-07, 11:39 PM	#9
DeepSix Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Music City Posts: 683 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Technically... a court-martial is a court of inquiry. Military law differs in some significant ways from civilian law. As Sailor Steve said, they're held to review serious incidents such as loss of one's ship. But being "court-martialed" is simply being "martialed," or ordered to appear, before a board of review. It often gets misused to refer to conviction for an offense, but that's not what it actually means. Still... not something you want on your DD-214. __________________ Jack's happy days will soon be gone, To return again, oh never! For they've raised his pay five cents a day, But they've stopped his grog forever. For tonight we'll merry, merry be, For tonight we'll merry, merry be, For tonight we'll merry, merry be, But tomorrow we'll be sober. - "Farewell to Grog"