Although the extent of the damage to the USS New Orleans is unknown, it will likely sideline a vital component of the US Navy's surface fleet for months or longer.

A fire on a US Navy ship off Japan was finally put out after 12 hours early Thursday, the US military said, after local vessels spent most of the night dousing the blaze. Two US sailors were treated for minor injuries from the fire which broke out on the USS New Orleans in the southern island of Okinawa on Wednesday,