Two Navy SEALs drowning in Somali waters, investigation reveals

Preventable tragedy: two Navy SEALs drowning in Somali waters, investigation reveals

SAN DIEGO – An investigation into the tragic drowning of two Navy SEALs off the coast of Somalia concluded that the incident was preventable, citing inadequate training and unclear guidance on flotation equipment. Chief Special Warfare Operator Christopher Chambers and Naval Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Ingram lost their lives during a nighttime maritime interception operation aimed at a ship suspected of transporting Iranian weapons to Yemen.

The incident occurred when Chambers fell into rough seas while trying to board the ship, followed by Ingram, who jumped in to help. Both SEALs, weighed down with mission equipment, submerged within seconds. The investigation, led by Naval Special Warfare Command, highlighted a lack of specific buoyancy requirements and inadequate training with emergency flotation devices as major contributing factors.

General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, emphasized in his analysis that systemic issues within operational and training guidelines were to blame. Despite successful daytime operations before the tragic night, the hasty planning and execution of the nighttime interception under challenging maritime conditions were considered critical errors.

The SEALs involved performed buoyancy tests before deployment, but not after boarding their ship, the USS Lewis B. Puller, which departs in December 2023. Confusion over maintaining “positive” or “neutral” buoyancy during missions, as well as the lack of standardized use of the Tactical Flotation Support System was noted in the report.

Following the incident, an extensive search and rescue operation spanned 48,600 square miles over 10 days. Even so, he was unable to recover the bodies of Chambers and Ingram, posthumously promoted for their service.

Recommendations from the investigation include formalizing buoyancy standards, re-evaluating the need for fail-safe flotation devices, and improving the training regime for life-saving equipment aboard Navy ships. The report highlights the need for these measures to prevent future tragedies among elite forces operating in high-risk environments.

GAROWÉ ONLINE