VIDEO: U.S. and Russian warships in near collision
Written by Nick Blenkey
The U.S. Navy cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), right, is forced to maneuver to avoid collision from the approaching Russian destroyer Udaloy I (DD 572), closing to approximately 50-100 feet putting the safety of her crew and ship at risk. (U.S. Navy photo)
The U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet has released video of an incident in the Phillipine Sea yesterday in which a Russian destroyer and an American guided-missile cruiser were in a near-collision.
A Seventh Fleet statement said:
At approximately 11:45 am on June7, 2019 while operating in the Philippine Sea, a Russian Destroyer (UDALOY I DD572) made an unsafe maneuver against guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), closing to approximately 50-100 feet putting the safety of her crew and ship at risk.
While USS Chancellorsville was recovering its helicopter on a steady course and speed when the Russian ship DD572 maneuvered from behind and to the right of Chancellorsville accelerated and closed to an unsafe distance of approximately 50-100 feet. This unsafe action forced USS Chancellorsville to execute all engines back full and to maneuver to avoid collision.
We consider Russia’s actions during this interaction as unsafe and unprofessional and not in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS),”Rules of the Road,” and internationally recognized maritime customs.
RUSSIAN RESPONSE
Russian state controlled news agency TASS said that Russia had “voiced a protest to the U.S. command after its guided-missile cruiser hindered the passage of the Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarine destroyer some 50meters in front of it, forcing the vessel to perform a dangerous maneuver.”
“The U.S. cruiser Chancellorsville suddenly changed its course and crossed the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer’s course some 50 meters away from the ship. In order to prevent a collision, the Admiral Vinogradov’s crew was forced to conduct an emergency maneuver,” TASS quotes the Russian Pacific Fleet press service as saying.
Categories: News, Safety and Security
