Uh Oh! Surface Warfare Took Their Bullets Out?

From now on, surface warfare specialists will be issued one round each, which must be kept in their shirt pockets until removal is authorized by the high weapons officer.

Making preparations to leave shipyard for sea trials after a $8,476,047 Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) at Norfolk’s Metro Machine shipyard, a guided missile destroyer fired a .50-caliber machine gun round striking a berthing barge at the neighboring pier. No one was on the barge or pier when the gun was fired Monday morning. The single round struck the side of the unoccupied barge and then hit two washing machines on board, without causing any injuries. Navy officials were investigating Monday's incident aboard the ARLEIGH BURKE - class of AEGIS guided missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71). The sailors involved have been relieved of weapons duties. Navy spokesman Paul Taylor did not know how many sailors were involved, but said two typically are assigned to the gun. Naval Criminal Investigative Service is also involved. The ship continued on its mission; Taylor was unsure of when it would return.

posted by Vigilis @ 11:12 AM