While lowering the anchor from USS Tarawa (LHA-1) in 2001, the ship’s anchor, plus 13 shots of chain were lost in a plume of rust and fury of sparks and noise.
This incident occurred due to a failure of the windlass brake, which allowed the anchor to flow freely and uncontrolled until the “breakaway link” failed. This link is the last link of chain and attached to the structure of the hull inside the chain locker. It is designed to fail in the case of a runaway anchor chain, rather than cause damage to the structure of the ship’s hull.
The bitter end struck the swivel stowed on deck. It probably saved the life of the rather foolish cameraman. We teach about this all the time but this is the real thing. Proof positive of the need to test the brake now and then.
As a Navy BM all I can say is: Somebody "in charge" didn't know what they were doing. Seeing the guy in khaki’s with his hands in his pockets was a tell.
Why aren't people wearing Eye protection and other PPE? A flying rust flake in the eye is very dangerous!
YES seeing a BMC with his hands in his pockets can’t be good
I suspect the brake was working as designed. The difference between brake set and released is usually only one to two turns at most. Watch the guys on the brake. They assumed because the chain was not going out the brake was not released. Wrong! They keep turning (what looks like 20-30 turns) on the already released brake. Once the chain started to run they would had to turned the wheel back the 20-30 turns to set the brake. Apparently they didn’t.
I suspect the brake was working as designed. The difference between brake set and released is usually only one to two turns at most. Watch the guys on the brake. They assumed because the chain was not going out the brake was not released. Wrong! They keep turning (what looks like 20-30 turns) on the already released brake. Once the chain started to run they would had to turned the wheel back the 20-30 turns to set the brake. Apparently they didn’t.
#@%&ing Navy. Judging by the quality of the paint on the shots, she had been in the yard recently. I agree, what the hell was the guy in khakis doing walking through the danger areas with his hands in his pockets? This kind of thing is always in the back of my mind when anchoring, but it’s just the Bosun and myself on the prow and we always have the second anchor ready to go. WTF?