Drowning of Christopher Chambers and Nathan Ingram in the Red Sea by Navy SEALs was preventable

According to a military investigation, two US Navy SEALs drowned while trying to climb aboard a ship illegally transporting Iranian-made weapons to Yemen because they suffered from glaring deficiencies in training and did not understand what happened after falling into deep waters , turbulent waters to do be deaths in January.

The review concluded that the drownings of Chief Special Warfare Operator Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram could have been prevented.

But both quickly sank at sea off the coast of Somalia, weighed down by the heavy equipment they were carrying and unaware or ignoring concerns that their flotation devices could not accommodate the extra weight. Both were lost at sea.

The highly critical and heavily redacted report – written by a Marine officer outside of Naval Special Warfare Command, which oversees the SEALs – concluded that there were “deficiencies, gaps and inconsistencies” in training, policies, tactics and procedures, as well as “conflicting guidance “ give. about when and how to use emergency flotation devices and additional buoyancy equipment that could have kept them alive.

The Associated Press obtained the report upon request before publication.

The mission’s aim was to intercept weapons aimed at Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, who have been carrying out rocket and drone attacks on merchant vessels and US Navy vessels in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza a year ago and started in the Gulf of Aden.

U.S. retaliation has not deterred its attacks so far.

The mission went wrong

Chambers and Ingram, members of SEAL Team 3, died during a nighttime mission aboard an unflagged ship in the Arabian Sea.

Their names were redacted from the report, but officials have confirmed that Chambers slipped and fell while climbing onto the ship’s deck and Ingram jumped in to try to save him.

“Stressed by the weight of each individual’s equipment, neither their physical capabilities nor the additional emergency buoyancy devices, when activated, were sufficient to keep them afloat,” Rear Adm. Michael DeVore wrote in the report.

According to the report, after his fall, Chambers was on the surface for “intermittently” 26 seconds and Ingram was on the surface for about 32 seconds.

“The entire tragic event unfolded in just 47 seconds and two NSW warriors were lost at sea,” DeVore wrote, referring to the Naval Special Warfare Command.

Properly maintained, well-functioning and properly used swimming equipment could have kept her afloat until she was rescued, the report said.

Other team members told investigators that while they were aware of the importance of their tactical flotation system — which includes two inflatable floats that attach to a belt and foam pads that can be added — few in training had ever operated one and there are few instructions on how to wear it.

The report said the team was operating in 6 to 8 feet of water, and while the ship they boarded rolled in the waves, the conditions were well within their capabilities.

As time passed, however, the rolling became more violent and Chambers attempted to get on board by jumping from the engine compartment of his fighting vehicle onto the top rail of the ship they were boarding, the report said.

Some of the commandos used an attachable ladder, but because of the waves, others jumped onto the top railing, which was within reach but slippery.

Chambers’ hands slipped from the railing and he fell 9 feet into the water.

According to a video of the operation, he was able to hold on to the bottom rung of the ladder, but as he turned to return to the combat vehicle, he was swept away by a wave.

Eleven seconds after his fall, Ingram jumped in.

The video shows they were at times above water for at least ten seconds and at times were able to grab a submerged ladder extension. But both were knocked over by the waves.

The last sighting of Chambers occurred about 26 seconds after his fall.

At one point, Ingram tried to climb back up the ladder but was overcome by a wave.

He appeared to attempt to deploy his flotation device, but within two seconds an unattached water wing was seen about a foot away from him.

He also appeared to attempt to remove some of his equipment, but slipped underwater and was not seen again. The depth of the sea was about 12,000 feet.

“Shock and disbelief”

Both were wearing body armor and Ingram was also wearing radio equipment that weighed up to 40 pounds more. Each of the inflatable floats can lift at least 40 pounds in seawater, the report said.

SEAL team members expressed “shock and disbelief” that Chambers, their strongest swimmer, could not stay on the surface.

The report concluded that the conflicting and poor instructions on the buoyancy devices may have left it up to individuals to configure their buoyancy needs, which may have led to errors.

While SEALs routinely conduct pre-mission “buddy checks” to check each other’s equipment, they said Ingram’s swimming gear may have been installed incorrectly and a more thorough buddy examination could have uncovered that.

SEAL team members also told investigators that adding the foam inserts made the flotation device bulkier and made it more difficult to climb or crawl.

The report said that SEAL Team 3 members began immediate and appropriate man-overboard measures “within seconds” and that two helicopters and two drones overhead provided surveillance, light and video for the mission .

After ten days the search was called off due to the depth of the water and the low probability of finding the two.

“The Navy respects the sanctity of human remains and recognizes the sea as a suitable and final resting place,” the report said.

Chambers, 37, of Maryland, joined the Navy in 2012 and completed SEAL training in 2014. Ingram, 27, of Texas, enlisted in 2019 and completed SEAL training in 2021.

Changes in training

In response to the investigation, Naval Special Warfare Command said changes to training and instruction were already being made.

It said the command is considering developing a force-wide policy to ensure water safety during operations at sea and establishing standard operating procedures for buoyancy requirements.

Other changes would refine man-overboard procedures, pre-deployment checks and maintenance of flotation devices. It also said it was testing “fail-safe” buoyancy equipment and planned to review safety processes.

Rear Adm. Keith Davids, who led the command at the time of the mission, said they would learn from the tragic deaths and “perseverely pursue” the recommended changes. Davids left his job in August as part of a routine leadership transition and is in the process of retiring.

The report recommends that Ingram receive a heroism award for giving his life trying to save his teammate. This recommendation is currently under review. Both were posthumously promoted one rank.

According to a separate Defense Intelligence Agency report, the Jan. 11 mission seized Iranian “propulsion, guidance systems and warheads” for intermediate-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles intended for the Houthis.