Another unloaded weapon?

[57Coastie]

Washington (CNN) -- A crew member aboard a U.S. Navy ship accidentally fired a machine gun into the Polish port city of Gdynia on Wednesday while cleaning the weapon, Navy officials said Friday.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10 ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lodge2004]

"Navy officials said a crew member was cleaning the weapon when it accidentally discharged."

It's been a long time since I've cleaned one of these, but seems like one of the first steps would be to open the feed tray and clear the chamber.

[seamusTX]

Oopsie.

Don't they have procedures to prevent that sort of thing? Like maybe keeping one's finger out of the trigger guard?

It was reportedly a small-caliber M240 machine gun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[TheArmedFarmer]

Once again, the "it went off while I was cleaning it!" excuse. I don't buy it for a second. More likely he was playing with the weapon when it discharged, as is probably the case in most negligent discharges.

[Oldgringo]

This is probably not a good career move.

[TheArmedFarmer]

I dunno. With this outrageous fib behind him, maybe he has a career in politics in mind!

[InfoTechCHL2007]

Cleaning any weapon involves following a process. This was a process violation...plain and simple. There are always consequences to process violations and, evident political ramifications aside, this sailor will likely be reprimanded according to the process and likely re-trained as well. I'm just glad no one was hurt.

[C-dub]

This gunner's mate may become a boatswain's mate.

[NAVY CHIEF]

This gunner's mate may become a boatswain's mate.

Well, you know how to spell the rates - previous Swabee were you?

Hooyah!

[tboesche]

" Change your rate to
a Boatswains mate, doo da, doo da,
Learn to chip and learn to paint
Oh doo da day."

[chabouk]

Might not have been cleaning it in the "cleaning a gun" sense, but in the Navy sense of "wipe down and paint everything you see".

[OverEasy]

Might not have been a sailor! I've seen a few marines on board US Navy ships.
But then it could have been a sailor. I remember a marine sargent saying one time; " The most dangerous thing in the world is a sailor with a gun."

Regards, OE

[Purplehood]

Might not have been a sailor! I've seen a few marines on board US Navy ships.
But then it could have been a sailor. I remember a marine sargent saying one time; " The most dangerous thing in the world is a sailor with a gun."

Regards, OE

That is what we have the Marines for, so the Sailors don't have to put their grubbies on weapons smaller than a 5-inch.

[NAVY CHIEF]

....That is what we have the Marines for, so the Sailors don't have to put their grubbies on weapons smaller than a 5-inch.

Now, Now. Let's not go hatin' the Taxicab Company! In response to a statement made by a make believe Marine -"....you need me on that wall...", true, but you gotta get there first!

and,

don't forget we get "3 hots and a cot!"

[Purplehood]

....That is what we have the Marines for, so the Sailors don't have to put their grubbies on weapons smaller than a 5-inch.

Now, Now. Let's not go hatin' the Taxicab Company! In response to a statement made by a make believe Marine -"....you need me on that wall...", true, but you gotta get there first!

and,

don't forget we get "3 hots and a cot!"

What was hating about my statement? All us Jarheads loved getting rides on Squid-boats...saved us a long swim. You guys handle the big-guns and leave the Firearms to the Marines.