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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;

"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.

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

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.

This is probably not a good career move.

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

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.

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

C-dub wrote:This gunner's mate may become a boatswain's mate.

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

Hooyah!

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

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".

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

OverEasy wrote: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.

Purplehood wrote:....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!"

NAVY CHIEF wrote:

Purplehood wrote:....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.