INQUIRY INTO NAVAL TRAGEDY

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 109, 13 February 1942, Page 6

INQUIRY INTO NAVAL TRAGEDY

Board’s Findings Released

GUN ACCIDENT ABOARD MONOWAI

The finding of the board of inquiry which investigated the circumstances of a serious accident which occurred in H.M.N.Z.S. . Monowai while carrying out firing practice on December .30 was released by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. The accident, as announced by the Minister at the time, resulted in four able seamen, members of a gun crew, being killed. Two other seamen were badly injured and one suffered minor injuries. Three officers also suffered 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 blew out to the rear, causing the casualties to personnel. Tire circumstances attending the accident have been fully investigated' by i Naval t Board of Inquiry which-found that the gun was correctly fired by ; the gunlayer, that a slight “hang, fire” occurred. and that; one member of the gun’s crew, who died of his injuries, •turfed to open the breech of the gun, having failed to notice that his gunhad not recoiled, as soon as he heard rhe starboard gun fire that .salvo The board also found that the breech mechanism was in fully efficient condition and that no mechanical defect or failure existed to which the accident could be attributed.