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As the US Navy takes stock of its disastrous few months - with the loss of seventeen sailors and four collisions in just over a year, what does it mean for US defense in the face of growing threats in the Pacific region?
The incidents lead to the dismissal of the commander of the 7th Fleet, a rare worldwide "operational pause" of the US Navy's fleets, as well as a review of operations.
Kate Fisher reports from Washington.
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It may be the most powerful navy in the world - but despite its might the US navy has suffered four accidents in Asian waters in just over a year - losing the use of two warships and the lives of up to 17 sailors.
With the latest casualty, USS John S McCain now docked in SIngapore's Changi naval base - it means two US warships meant to be protecting her Asian allies are out of action.
Christopher Harmer, is Senior Naval Analyst at the Institute for the study of war.
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"The problem that we're facing here now is that the US has made strategic commitments that it can't follow through on. If the US navy isn't physically capable of keeping ships on station we lose a deterrent against north korea. American tax payers either have to pay for a bigger navy or accept the fact that China's going to take over the south china sea and there won't be a deterrent to north korea"
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Jan Van Tol captained US warships in the Pacific for years, He says the collision could easily have been avoided.
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"I've been a captain of two ships based in Japan so I'm very familiar with those areas including the singapore and Malacca Straits. Standard practice when you go through a narrow straits like that is to have specially augmented launches, navigation detail, may be an extra lookout or two. And one of the things that puzzles me in the two collisions is - Where was the lookout? It seems to me the lookout should have been screaming at the bridge there's something big, close and gaining."
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The US Navy has dismissed the commander of the Fleet Vice Adm Joseph Aucoin, saying it had lost confidence in his ability to command.
But Confidence in the military is particularly important when there is a president in the white house whose decisions often appear inconsistent - not just for the American people but for the allies in Asia she helps to protect.
Kate fisher, Washington