- Reaction score
- 63
- Points
- 530
HE charge deflagrated I suspect. Round didnt detonate fortunately.
http://www.modoracle.com/news/Squaddies-Survive-Fireball_14666.html
Squaddies Survive Fireball
Friday, November 30, 2007
Source: The Sun Online
FIVE British soldiers in Afghanistan are engulfed in a massive fireball as a 105mm field gun explodes.
The frontline gunners had turned their backs as the order to “fire” rang out as they targeted the Taliban seven miles away.
But a flaw in the recoil system meant the breech holding a high-explosive 15kg shell exploded – shooting a ball of flame 25ft into the air.
Incredibly, the men from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery emerged with just minor burns after the horror in the southern town of Garmsir.
The gunners, based in Osnabruck, Germany, were supporting colleagues under rocket fire from Taliban fighters.
A colleague was taking souvenir photos of them at the time.
A Royal Artillery source said: “The immediate reaction was the battery had taken a Taliban direct hit.
“The noise of the explosion and fireball was awesome. The gun crew disappeared . . . I thought a mortar shell had blown them to kingdom come.
“I was amazed to see the crew running out of the gun pit. Parts of their uniforms were on fire but the flames were quickly extinguished. They were incredibly lucky.”
http://www.modoracle.com/news/Squaddies-Survive-Fireball_14666.html
Squaddies Survive Fireball
Friday, November 30, 2007
Source: The Sun Online
FIVE British soldiers in Afghanistan are engulfed in a massive fireball as a 105mm field gun explodes.
The frontline gunners had turned their backs as the order to “fire” rang out as they targeted the Taliban seven miles away.
But a flaw in the recoil system meant the breech holding a high-explosive 15kg shell exploded – shooting a ball of flame 25ft into the air.
Incredibly, the men from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery emerged with just minor burns after the horror in the southern town of Garmsir.
The gunners, based in Osnabruck, Germany, were supporting colleagues under rocket fire from Taliban fighters.
A colleague was taking souvenir photos of them at the time.
A Royal Artillery source said: “The immediate reaction was the battery had taken a Taliban direct hit.
“The noise of the explosion and fireball was awesome. The gun crew disappeared . . . I thought a mortar shell had blown them to kingdom come.
“I was amazed to see the crew running out of the gun pit. Parts of their uniforms were on fire but the flames were quickly extinguished. They were incredibly lucky.”