In January of this year, two US Navy SEALs tragically drowned while attempting to board a ship carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons bound for Yemen. A military investigation revealed that the accident was due to severe lack of training, as the SEALs had little understanding of how to respond after falling into deep, swift waters.
The review concluded that the deaths of Navy Special Warfare Command Commander Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram could have been avoided. Their heavy gear caused them to rapidly sink in the open sea near the coast of Somalia, as they were unaware or disregarded the fact that their buoyancy devices could not counteract the extra weight. Both men ultimately vanished at sea.
A report written by a Navy officer outside the Naval Special Warfare Command that oversees the SEALs expressed harsh criticism, citing “deficiencies, gaps, and inconsistencies” in training, policies, tactics, and procedures. It highlighted conflicting guidance on when and how to use emergency buoyancy devices and additional floatation material, which could have saved the lives of the SEALs.
Before the report was publicly released, the Associated Press obtained a copy through a request.
The mission the two SEALs were on was to intercept weapons destined for Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict a year ago, the Houthis have been targeting commercial ships and US Navy vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden under the pretext of supporting Palestinians. Despite US retaliatory strikes, their attacks have continued.
Chambers and Ingram of SEAL Team 3 lost their lives during a nighttime mission to board an unflagged vessel in the Arabian Sea. Officials confirmed that Chambers slipped while climbing onto the ship’s side, and Ingram jumped into the water in an attempt to save him.
Rear Adm. Michael DeVore wrote in the report, “Due to the heavy equipment carried by both men, neither their physical fitness nor emergency flotation devices, even if activated, were sufficient to keep them afloat.”
The report indicated that Chambers floated intermittently for 26 seconds after falling into the water, and Ingram surfaced for about 32 seconds. The entire tragic event lasted only 47 seconds, ending with both Navy SEAL warriors lost at sea.
If the buoyancy equipment had been properly maintained, performed well, and utilized correctly, both men could have remained afloat until rescued. Other team members informed investigators that they recognized the importance of the tactical buoyancy system, which includes two inflatable tubes connected to a belt and insertable foam pieces, but few had operated it during training and received little guidance on how to do so.
Operating about 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters) above the sea surface, the team faced a ship swaying in the waves, well within their capabilities, according to the report.
As time passed, the waves grew larger, and Chambers attempted to jump from his inflatable boat’s engine compartment to the top rail of the ship they were boarding. While some team members used a deployable ladder, others had to jump onto the top rail due to the rough seas, finding it slippery.
Chambers’ hands slipped from the rail, causing him to fall 9 feet into the water. Video footage showed him grasping the ladder’s lower end, but as he tried to turn back to the inflatable boat, he was swept away by the waves.
Eleven seconds after Chambers fell, Ingram jumped into the water. The video showed they remained at the surface for at least 10 seconds, sometimes able to grab onto the ladder extension submerged in water. However, both were tossed around by the waves, with Chambers last seen after roughly 26 seconds of falling into the water.
At one point, Ingram attempted to climb back to the ladder but was knocked over by the waves. He seemed to try to activate his flotation device and appeared to struggle to shed some gear before slipping underwater, never resurfacing. The sea was approximately 12,000 feet (about 3,600 meters) deep.
Both men were wearing bulletproof vests, with Ingram carrying radio equipment adding 40 pounds to his weight. Each inflatable buoyancy could have supported at least 40 pounds in seawater.
Team members were shocked and incredulous that Chambers, the best swimmer among them, couldn’t surface, according to the report. The conclusion was that conflicting and inadequate guidance on buoyancy devices could lead members to erroneously configure their floatation needs.
Although Navy SEALs typically conduct “buddy checks” before missions to inspect each other’s equipment, the report noted that Ingram’s buoyancy equipment might have been fitted incorrectly, a more thorough “buddy check” could have detected this issue.
Team members also mentioned that adding foam inserts would make the floatation devices bulkier, making climbing or crawling more challenging.
The report stated that the members of SEAL Team 3 promptly took appropriate rescue measures within seconds, with two helicopters and two drones providing surveillance, lighting, and video coverage for the mission.
Ten days later, as the water depth and the likelihood of finding the two decreased, the search was called off.
The report emphasized that the Navy respects the sanctity of human remains and believes the sea is a fitting final resting place.
37-year-old Chambers from Maryland enlisted in 2012 and completed SEAL training in 2014. Ingram, 27, hailing from Texas, joined in 2019 and finished SEAL training in 2021.
In response to the investigation, the Naval Special Warfare Command made changes in training and guidance. The command is considering establishing a policy applicable to the entire unit to address water safety issues during maritime operations and formulating standardized procedures for buoyancy requirements.
Other changes include enhancing procedures for rescuing personnel in water, pre-mission checks, and buoyancy equipment maintenance. The command is exploring “fail-safe” buoyancy equipment, and planning to review safety protocols.
Rear Admiral Keith Davids, who oversaw the command during the mission, stated that the command would learn from this tragic incident and implement the recommended changes decisively. Davids retired in August due to routine leadership changes.
The report recommended that Ingram be posthumously awarded a hero’s medal for trying to save his teammate. The suggestion is under review, and both men are being posthumously promoted.
According to another report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, the January 11 mission seized the “propulsion, guidance systems, and warheads” of medium-range ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles en route from Iran to the Houthi militants.
(Reference: The Associated Press)