SHIP-GUN EXPLOSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 7

SHIP-GUN EXPLOSION

U.S.A. MANOEUVRES TRAGEDY SIX KILLED—TEN INJURED [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] SAN PEDRO, (California), Feb. IS. An explosion in a five-inch gun on the United States Navy training ship Wyoming killed six men and injured 10, according to a radio message from Admiral A. J. Hepburn to the ciated Press. | The Wyoming, which was constructed in 1912, is now used only for train-., ing purposes. She was off San Cle-J mente Island at the time of the explosion and was engaged in manoeuvres in which most of the fleet was also participating. The Wyoming, accompanied by the flagship Pennsylvania, arrived and anchored here. The injured, six of whom are seriously hurt, were taken to a hospital ship for relief. An arm of one was amputated and a priest administered the last rites to two who are believed to be dying. Among the dead are Captain Edward Trumble, of the Marine Corps, who is believed to have been.’ directing, the firing. The . others were enlisted as marines.

The tragedy occurred during the final manoeuvres of four days’ secret exercises, in which 12 ships and many aeroplanes, 3700 marines, and 750 soldiers were engaged, with 100 vessels shielding the shooting grounds from the public. It is learned that a shell exploded while being loaded into the/breech of a gun which was firing to cover the operations of landing parties from small boats, which were atempting to carry to shore field pieces, stations, and other equipment in the face of gunfire from an imaginary enemy. It is announced that a Naval Board of Enquiry will be appointed to sit on board the Wyoming, probably tomorrow. This is the first naval disaster of the kind since July 28, 1936, when two sailors were killed and nine injured in a gun explosion. Officers who were witnesses said that a powder charge bursting in an improperly closed breech caused' the explosion, which sent fragments of razor-sharp? splinters of metal through the bodies of the gun crew and against the bulkheads.