December 1st – The U.S. Navy announced on November 30th local time that the amphibious attack ship “Good Man Richard”, which burned for nearly five days in July this year, will be scrapped due to serious damage and cannot be repaired.
The U.S. Navy said in a statement that it had decided to scrap the amphibious assault ship after “overall consideration” because of the “widespread damage” caused by the fire, according to the Hill.
We didn’t make that decision lightly,” the U.S. Navy Secretary said in a press release. “After extensive evaluations of various action programs, we concluded that it would be fiscally irresponsible if it was fixed.”
The U.S. military estimates that repairing the amphibious assault ship may take more than $3 billion and take five to seven years. The military believes that the price and time are not feasible. The plan to convert the ship to other uses is also considered unfeasible, because it may cost more than $1 billion, which is comparable to or even higher than the cost of building a new medical ship, submarine service ship or command control ship.
U.S. media pointed out that after the fire, U.S. military leaders initially expressed optimism that the ship would be on another mission. However, just before Thanksgiving, the navy leaders decided to retire it. Rear Admiral Wilhager pointed out that the retirement and scrapping of Richard the “good man” would cost the navy about $30 million, which would take nine months to one year.
The Good Richard began to explode and catch fire on the morning of July 12. This is a “quasi-aircraft carrier” with a full displacement of 40,000 tons. It entered service in 1998 and has a rated crew of up to 1,200, which can carry up to 16 F-35B vertical take-off and landing stealth fighter aircraft or 22 MV-22 helicopters, and a 1,200-man U.S. Marine Corps amphibious expedition unit. (MEU).
