As a former Surface Warfare office in the US Navy I agree completely with Robert's take on damage control on US Navy ships. There was (is?) a damage control drill every day in port with the duty section. GQ drills are practiced frequently and include damage control exercises. Compartmentalization of the ship is well known and practiced. The fire alarm and suppression systems get regular maintenance. No matter what the cause, the Russian sailors didn't seem to know how to fight their fire. On the other hand, the US doesn't have any 43 year old flagships either.
Last week, I met a Major General serving in the CA National Guard after a full career in the Army. What I learned from him was that pretty much every state National Guard hosts and trains soldiers and sailors from up to two countries. The CA National Guard has been working with the Ukrainian military for years. He told me that it was the Pentagon calling CA when the war first broke out to get up to speed on Ukrainian military capabilities.
FWIW, the Russians finally admitted that the ship was sunk, thereby ending its role in the torment of Odessa. Tough luck, Vlad... I've been waiting for this to happen, this should make the Russians think twice - and it may turn the course of the war.
As a former Surface Warfare office in the US Navy I agree completely with Robert's take on damage control on US Navy ships. There was (is?) a damage control drill every day in port with the duty section. GQ drills are practiced frequently and include damage control exercises. Compartmentalization of the ship is well known and practiced. The fire alarm and suppression systems get regular maintenance. No matter what the cause, the Russian sailors didn't seem to know how to fight their fire. On the other hand, the US doesn't have any 43 year old flagships either.
Last week, I met a Major General serving in the CA National Guard after a full career in the Army. What I learned from him was that pretty much every state National Guard hosts and trains soldiers and sailors from up to two countries. The CA National Guard has been working with the Ukrainian military for years. He told me that it was the Pentagon calling CA when the war first broke out to get up to speed on Ukrainian military capabilities.
FWIW, the Russians finally admitted that the ship was sunk, thereby ending its role in the torment of Odessa. Tough luck, Vlad... I've been waiting for this to happen, this should make the Russians think twice - and it may turn the course of the war.