‘Extraordinarily expensive’ outcome for USN as USS Bonhomme Richard to be decommissioned
The USN has declared a second major naval platform loss due to fire damage in less than a decade, after the decision was taken to decommission the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard
Naval shipyards are busy, complex environments to work in, both for service personnel as well the thousands of civilians that work to sustain surface and subsurface platforms and keep them ready for deployment. Navies of every description have on occasion suffered due to industrial incidents or accidents that have had a subsequent impact on fleet capabilities.
Little did naval observers realise at the time, but the 12 July fire that broke out on board the USN’s amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard would at a stroke remove one-eighth of the fleet’s Wasp-class vessels and leave a gaping hole in
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