Two U.S. Navy SEALs, Chief Special Warfare Operator Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram, drowned in January 2024 during a mission to intercept a ship carrying Iranian-made weapons to Yemen. A military investigation determined that their deaths could have been prevented, citing gaps in SEAL training and improper use of flotation devices as contributing factors.
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The SEALs were part of a U.S. Navy operation in the Arabian Sea targeting the illicit transport of advanced missile components destined for Houthi rebel forces in Yemen.
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While attempting to board the unflagged vessel in rough seas, Chambers slipped into the water, and Ingram followed in an effort to save him. Both were overwhelmed by their heavy equipment and the turbulent conditions. They allegedly died within seconds. Despite rescue efforts, neither SEAL survived.
The investigation identified “deficiencies, gaps, and inconsistencies” in training and preparedness, including improper functioning of emergency flotation devices. These devices, meant to keep the SEALs afloat, could not compensate for the additional weight of their gear.
After the tragedy, U.S. forces continued the mission, boarding the vessel and seizing Iranian-made missile components, including medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles.
Federal prosecutors have since charged four foreign nationals aboard the ship with attempting to smuggle the missile components. Despite initially claiming to have departed from Pakistan, the crew later admitted they had sailed from Iran. Ten additional crew members are being held as material witnesses.
Under international law, U.S. forces had the authority to board the vessel, which was classified as “without nationality” due to its lack of flag documentation. The vessel, deemed unseaworthy, was later sunk, and all 14 crew members were taken into custody and transported to Virginia for prosecution.
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The investigation prompted changes in SEAL training and safety protocols within Naval Special Warfare Command to prevent future incidents. Both Chambers and Ingram were posthumously promoted. Ingram is also being considered for a commendation for his rescue attempt.
[Ryan Robertson]
THE DEATHS OF TWO NAVY SEALS WHO TRAGICALLY DROWNED DURING A MISSION IN JANUARY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, ACCORDING TO A NAVY INVESTIGATION. THE TWO MEN DIED WHILE TRYING TO INTERCEPT IRANIAN-MADE WEAPONS HEADED TO YEMEN.
CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR CHRISTOPHER J. CHAMBERS AND SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR 1ST CLASS NATHAN GAGE INGRAM WERE PART OF A U.S. NAVY OPERATION IN THE ARABIAN SEA. AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO BOARD A SHIP CARRYING ILLICIT WEAPONS, CHAMBERS SLIPPED INTO THE WATER. INGRAM, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE HIM, JUMPED IN. BUT BOTH MEN, WEIGHED DOWN BY THEIR HEAVY GEAR AND LACKING PROPERLY FUNCTIONING FLOTATION DEVICES, WERE QUICKLY OVERWHELMED BY THE TURBULENT SEAS AND DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE WAVES.
A MILITARY INVESTIGATION FOUND SERIOUS GAPS IN TRAINING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, PARTICULARLY IN HOW SEALS WERE TRAINED TO USE EMERGENCY FLOTATION DEVICES. THESE DEVICES, DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM AFLOAT IN ROUGH WATERS, FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT WITH BETTER PREPARATION, THE TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
THE MISSION, MEANT TO STOP THE SMUGGLING OF ADVANCED MISSILE COMPONENTS TO HOUTHI REBELS, WAS SUCCESSFUL. U.S. FORCES SEIZED IRANIAN-MADE BALLISTIC MISSILE PARTS, BUT THE LOSS OF THE TWO SEALS PROMPTED CHANGES IN TRAINING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES TO PREVENT SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS CHARGED FOUR FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO WERE ABOARD THE SHIP WITH SMUGGLING MISSILE COMPONENTS. TEN OTHER CREW MEMBERS ARE BEING HELD AS MATERIAL WITNESSES.
IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATION, THE NAVY IS OVERHAULING ITS WATER SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND TRAINING PROCEDURES. BOTH SEALS WERE POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTED, AND INGRAM IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR A COMMENDATION FOR HIS HEROIC ATTEMPT TO SAVE HIS TEAMMATE.
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