MONOWAI ACCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24832, 4 February 1942, Page 4

MONOWAI ACCIDENT

FATAL FIRING NAVAL BOiVRD'S REPORT (P.A.) Feb.! 3," . The report of the Board, of 'lnquiry into the recent fatal accident on board H.M.N.Z.S.Monowai 'has /flow* been issued. The; official^"announcement says:— •=- ' " •« ''' : "-. *"*< 1% '• While carrying out firing practice on Da.cember 30 a serious accident .occurred in H.M.N.Z.S.. .Monowai, I resulting, as was announced by the. < Minister ..of.:Defence, Mr ( F;f-Jpjjses, in four of ? the -gun crew, being killed. Two other siamen were badly; injured, arid one suffered minor injuries. Three officers also received minor injuries. Fire had been opened, and the two guns on the forecastle got off their first salvo normally and almost simultaneously.- In the second salvo there was a slight delay in the port gun. followed by a violent explosion, and the breech block flew out to the rear, causing the casualties to the personnel. . v . '■■ " The circumstances attending ithe accident have been fully investigated by a Naval Board of Inquiry, which found that the gun was correctly fired. by the gunlayer, that a.slight-I',hang-' fire' occurred, and that one .member of the gun's crew who died tiiShis injuries started to open the -breech of the gun, having failed to - notice; that ;- his eun had not recoiled. . :'-'■■■'- "The board also found that thebreech mechanism was. in a : fully efficient condition, and that .homechanical defect or failure existed;to' which the accident could beattri- 1 buted." ■' "'' -•■''■• .'■'.. - : , v .■■'': ;-:<<-'■' 4 - . . . -—- T^_. -■.;;";• j y.v