THE PENTAGON — The Chief of Naval Operations has developed an unusual way to divest the Navy of aging vessels or ships no longer of value. The service has instituted a new firefighting chain of command for the Littoral Combat Ships, which have been classified as Proactive Offloaded Stock (POS) after reports from the fire which destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard showed a delayed firefighting response led to its destruction.

Under the new guidelines, should a fire occur on a vessel deemed as a POS ship, the senior on-site commander shall immediately determine whether the ship is assigned to the Naval Surface Force Pacific or the Naval Surface Force Atlantic. Once ascertained, the officer will identify the fleet concentration area in which the vessel is docked. He/She/They will then notify the appropriate commander or the duly appointed executive agent for the correct SURFLANT or SURFPAC fleet by the nearest coin-operated pay phone.

According to the Navy, the new procedure prescribes that once contact has been made with higher authority, the on-site commander will return to his/her/they office and electronically transmit all pertinent details then known to the Chief of Naval Operations, care of the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. This will be followed up by a written report, in triplicate utilizing carbon paper, and then immediately sent via the United States Postal Service as First-Class Mail, return receipt requested.