Norfolk-based destroyer accidentally fires at Poland

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The Norfolk-based destroyer Ramage returns from a recent deployment. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot file photo)

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By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 30, 2009

A Norfolk-based destroyer ended a visit to a Polish port Wednesday with a literal "bang," when a crew member accidentally fired three rounds from a machine gun into the city of Gdynia.

The Ramage, a guided missile destroyer, had recently wrapped up an international training exercise called Joint Warrior and was at anchor at the city on the Baltic Sea in northern Poland.

A Navy official at the Pentagon with knowledge of the incident said that at 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, three rounds were "accidentally discharged" from one of the Ramage's M240 machine guns, which provide self-defense for small Navy ships.

The crew of the destroyer was doing routine maintenance at the time of the discharge, the official said.

No one was injured, and there was no damage to property. Crew members fully cooperated with Polish military police, the official said.

The ship departed later in the day, as scheduled.

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Rules not followed

Submitted by BB61gunner on Sat, 10/31/2009 at 11:33 am.

The maintenance requirement cards state, clear the weapon of ammunition before starting maintenance. The maintenance person will pay with a stripe and pay. The issue of what could have happened will be used at his Captains Mast. This was not the only weapon loaded for protection of the vessel. Clear and safe, one weapon at a time maintenance causes no security issues. No one is trained to clean a weapon loaded.

Poland

Submitted by alexvb on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 8:56 pm.

I been to Gudyina and Gdansk. If you go in summer, there are lots of pretty girls in mini's looking for an American guy to take them to Miami or LA.

Not exactly a canon

Submitted by sdougan on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 6:48 pm.

They make it sounds like they lobbed some artillery shells at the city. This is something you can pick up and carry around with you.

Yikes!

Submitted by Katetb on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 5:23 pm.

Maybe it's time to stand up for more stand downs.

The Navy's new TV Ad.

Submitted by jpjones on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 5:15 pm.

"AMERICA'S NAVY. A GLOBAL FORCE FOR GOOD."

Huh?
Politically correct in every way.
Another nail in the wussification of our military!

Notice, it's not "The United States Navy." It's "America's Navy." It shows a lot of footage of Katrina rescues and hospital ship stuff and makes sure every gender and ethnic group are shown. I wonder what all those fighter plans, guns, missiles, and torpedoes on those ship are are for?

Give me back, "Join the Navy and see the world," "The United States Navy. It's not just a job, it's an adventure!" and "The United States Navy. Full speed ahead!"

This happens all the time

Submitted by dank24563 on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 4:59 pm.

Fact is, these types of incidents occur regularly. A few years back, a US Navy ship discharged it's CIWS and tore through the bridge of a Turkish navy ship and killed some of their personnel.

Life in the military is inherently dangerous and difficult and cannot be taken for granted.

Don't demeanor military folks or take for granted their sacrifice.

Sheesh

Submitted by crows666crows on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 4:54 pm.

I'm a proud American, but it makes me a little uncomfortable that other countries think of us as stupid Americans. This doesn't help us, at all.

Sailors With Guns...

Submitted by dr87448 on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 4:46 pm.

It was scarey 20 years ago when I was in, and it still is.......

role reversal

Submitted by George K on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 4:42 pm.

Now the Poles can make fun of Americans.

Looking back, maybe we

Submitted by storms48 on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 3:57 pm.

Looking back, maybe we should give them the missile shield after all.

What really happened here?

Submitted by funnyguy on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 3:27 pm.

Does anyone know where Dick Cheney was at the time?

Unload it first.

Submitted by Warner Athey on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 2:51 pm.

I would recommend that, when you clean your gun, you unload it first. That's what I do, and it works out pretty well.

World War II..

Submitted by theguyfromchesapeake on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 12:46 pm.

started when the Germans opened fire on a Polish naval base with guns from one of their warships. I hope history doesn't repeat itself here!

All kidding aside, it's good no one was injured, or no damage was incurred.

JGA,

Submitted by garryh40509 on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 12:31 pm.

ok, extract your cranium and think. What's today? The ship left Poland when? The ship returns to Norfolk when? The caption states the photographer works for the Pilot. As my old shop teacher used to say "T!.D.T!" (and the T's stand for Think!)

Clarification

Submitted by JusGetAlong on Fri, 10/30/2009 at 11:46 am.

The Caption under the photo reads "The Ramage returns to Norfolk on Wednesday... " Yet the article says the Ramage was in port in Poland on Wednesday when the "accidental discharge" took place. Pilot, a little proofreading/clarification here. I know the ship is not cruising across the pond in day, is it next week Wednesday? It isn't even clear where that photo is, stock photo, Poland?