During training exercises on Saturday, an SM-2 missile being fired from the destroyer The Sullivans, exploded as it was being fired from the forward missile deck.
Damage was caused the the port side of the ship and a fire broke out.
Luckily the missile did not have a warhead activated and no one was hurt due to the malfunction. Crews worked quickly and diligently to fix the issues. Investigations are now underway to determine what went wrong and who, if anyone, is to blame for what could have been a catastrophic event.
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The Naval Sea Systems Command released the following statement:
“On July 18 at approximately 9 a.m. a Standard Missile-2 test missile exploded after suffering a malfunction as it was fired from the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans during a planned missile exercise off the coast of Virginia, there were no injuries and only minor damage to the port side of the ship resulting from missile debris.”
“An investigation into the malfunction has been ordered and is being conducted by the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems, which is part of Naval Sea Systems Command, it is too early to determine what, if any, effect this will have on the ship’s schedule.”
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From the Navy Times:
A missile exploded as it was being fired from the destroyer The Sullivans in a Saturday exercise, damaging the the side of the ship but not injuring any crew members, according to Naval Sea Systems Command.
The Standard Missile-2, fired from the forward missile deck, caused some damage to the port side of the ship, according to a NAVSEA statement. The warhead fitted to the malfunctioning missile was not activated at the time of launch.
“On July 18 at approximately 9 a.m. a Standard Missile-2 test missile exploded after suffering a malfunction as it was fired from the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans during a planned missile exercise off the coast of Virginia,” NAVSEA said. “There were no injuries and only minor damage to the port side of the ship resulting from missile debris.”
What do you think of this mishap – did we dodge a tragedy? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
