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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Today’s Rantburg Safety Briefing |
| 2004-03-08 |
| There will be a quiz later: SINGAPORE: Two army safety officers made a mistake during a live-firing exercise last month, resulting in an explosion in a machine gun which injured four SAF servicemen. Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said if they are found to be negligent, disciplinary action will be taken against them. The incident began during a night live-firing exercise about two weeks ago at the Armour Training Centre. It was a dark and stormy night.... A 0.5-inch machine gun jammed, and the gunner tried to clear the weapon but could not. "Ah, crap! Hey, Sarge, the fifty’s jammed!" The chief safety officer and vehicle safety officer then inspected the weapon. "Hummmm, yup. That’s a jam alright. Yup, yup." They assessed that there were no live rounds jammed in the machine gun and ordered the weapon taken back to camp. "Pull it off and send it back to the shop." They were wrong. There was actually a round in the chamber. OOPS! The next day, four servicemen tried to fix the jammed weapon but this caused an explosion in the machine gun. "Just a tap on the breach with this hammer..KABOOM! One of the soldiers had to undergo surgery to remove shrapnel from his eyes and face. Safety glasses, anyone? Rear Admiral Teo said: "Incorrect procedures were adopted by the two officers at the range to check whether the jammed weapon was free from any ammunitions. The actions taken to rectify the jammed weapon after it was brought back to the unit were also incorrect. Disciplinary action will be taken against individuals found to be negligent or found to have contravened the established procedures and safety regulations leading to this incident." Rule Number One: There’s no such thing as a unloaded weapon. Rule Number Two: The T.O. is there for a reason, follow it. Rule Number Three: See rule number one. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 It's quite possible that they hung a round in the chamber, the casing could have been slightly flattened during the strip/pull/align/lock/lower/chamber phase. if so, things would have got slammed up in the pipe. If the headspace is out of whack, or the round is not in the "T" slot, the casing could blow the hell out of things right quick and in a hurry. The Ma Deuce is a great weapon, but if the Headspace/Timing isn't right, or the weapon isn't cleared, things can go straight to shit muy pronto. |
| Posted by: Bodyguard 2004-3-8 1:57:35 PM |
| #3 if they are found to be negligent, disciplinary action will be taken Singapore is serious . . . A few years back some people didn't heed warnings to stop littering chewing gum (the ABC type). In response, the mere possession of chewing gum was made illegal -- like pot. One of Singapore's most favorite punishments for crime, etc., is the rattan. There is a corresponding lack of crime . . . |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-3-8 12:56:31 PM |
| #2 I'm a bit of an amateur on machine guns and automatics in general. Is it really possible to have a jam with no bullet in the chamber? Everytime I've ever had a jam with an automatic pistol there's a round in there. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-3-8 12:08:57 PM |
| #1 "A 0.5-inch machine gun jammed, and the gunner tried to clear the weapon but could not." That's a damn small machine gun. Maybe he didn't have his tweezers and magnifying glass? |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-3-8 11:57:47 AM |