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**Beer_Maker** · 10-29-2009, 05:36 PM

Comment Away...

Destroyer Ramage accidentally fires on Polish port

By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 28, 2009 16:54:44 EDT

A U.S. destroyer accidentally fired three machine gun rounds at a Polish city while it lay at anchor Wednesday, but caused no injuries and no damage, a Pentagon official said.

The crew of the destroyer Rampage was doing “routine maintenance” to the ship in the port of Gdynia when a sailor inadvertently fired the burst from one of the warship’s M240 machine guns, the official said.

According to an English-language Polish news site, the shooting took place at 10:40 a.m. local time Wednesday and the rounds from the ship hit a warehouse. The English-language news site Russia Today carried the headline, “U.S. destroyer shells Polish shore.”

American sailors cooperated with the Polish police investigation into the shooting, and then Ramage sailed from Gdynia later the same day, according to its original schedule. The ship did not hasten its departure because of the shooting, said the Pentagon official, who was not authorized to discuss the story and asked not to be identified.

The Norfolk, Va.-based Ramage was visiting Gdynia after wrapping up its participation in the international naval exercise, Joint Warrior, in which U.S. warships trained with ships from the navies of Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway and Turkey.

**GilaMinumBeer** · 10-29-2009, 05:46 PM

I think someone had a dishonorable discharge.

**Mike M** · 10-29-2009, 05:55 PM

Oh yeah Poland, we own you.

Do like the French and surrender now because there's plenty more where that came from.

Parker36 · 10-29-2009, 05:57 PM

I think “U.S. destroyer shells Polish shore.” is a little overboard for a burst of three rounds from a machine gun.

We should just tell the Polish we were returning some ammo they loaned us, they'll believe it.

RoaringBrewer · 10-29-2009, 05:58 PM

Where did you find this article? Odd thing is I couldn't find it on any reputable news sites... I had to google it and the top find was an AR15 forum or something?!

Ah well, if it's true (not really doubting you just found it odd I couldn't find more info someonewhere), I'm sure that seaman is in a boat-load of trouble...

hamiltont · 10-29-2009, 05:58 PM

Awe shucks skipper, I was tryin' to rustle up some grub.....

Skins_Brew · 10-29-2009, 06:16 PM

it happens. Some sailor is trying to clean his machine guns so he can go out on liberty and forgets to check to see if there is a round in the chamber. A few years ago a ship down in norfolk accidentally fired a 50 cal round through a berthing barge

**Beer_Maker** · 10-29-2009, 06:16 PM

Oh... Believe me its true... Did I forget to mention that I might have been there...?

McKBrew · 10-29-2009, 06:19 PM

Knowing the Navy as well as I do, someone is going to get in trouble.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Commanding Officer is relieved as well. One thing with the Navy is that the CO is almost always held accountable, even if he isn't there.

menschmaschine · 10-29-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skins_Brew

it happens. Some sailor is trying to clean his machine guns so he can go out on liberty and forgets to check to see if there is a round in the chamber. A few years ago a ship down in norfolk accidentally fired a 50 cal round through a berthing barge

Yes, this type of thing happens from time to time. Not to excuse it, though. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

When I was on Okinawa, an Ordnance guy was performing maintenance on a 20mm gun on the front of a Cobra after a gun run. There was a round in it and it accidentally fired on the flightline. The round hit a Huey and gutted the inside of it. Luckily no one was hurt.