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I was called to investigate an incident that occurred on a minesweeper in the mid-Atlantic where a sailor was seriously wounded by brass fragments in his upper thighs and groin by an exploding .50 caliber cartridge. That sailor's life was saved by surgeons aboard a Soviet spy ship in the neighborhood. It turned out that the Gunner's Mate had screwed the barrel into the .50 most of the way into the receiver and mounted it on the pedestal and loaded it - but told a sailor to fire it. It was between 3/4 of an inch out of battery, and when the trigger was pushed, all that unsupported brass sprayed back and downward into the hapless sailor.

How about some more details on this? I presume a minesweeper isn't something that normally carries a doctor. And I presume that the minesweeper was watching the Soviet ship, and I presume the Soviets knew they were being watched, so is that somewhat standard to call over and ask if they have a doc on board? Professional courtesy so to speak?

"How about some more details on this?

Sure: I was a staff officer in COMNAVSURFLANT, Norfolk - 1979-81 and I was their go-to Marine captain for all things small arms, Naval Gunfire, investigations, and I was their only newly-minted Russian speaker.

The minesweeper was Translanting from the Med to Norfolk and they were about halfway across when they decided to train with the .50 - and they blew it up.

The Spy ship - an IGY - was also Translanting the other way and heard their call for help and closed with them and launched their helicopter. The lowered a casualty basket and then carried our casualty to their ship and operated on him - then brought our sailor back to offshore of Norfolk where he was flown to a US Navy ship to get him more treatment at home.

I was appointed the Investigating Officer and I translated the Russian report on their actions and observations. I don't know whether we appropriately thanked that crew but our guy would have been dead without their over the top rescue effort.

As I mentioned earlier, it was absolutely the fault of the Gunner's Mate - and his Captain - for scheduling a firing exercise so far from any American assistance and for totally unsat knowledge of the weapons in his care.