[Bull Snipe]

It has happened in our Navy. The usual cause in inattentive personnel conducting routine testing. In the 50s a tin can in Norfolk fired a salvo of Hedgehog missiles into the Navy Exchange parking lot. In the early 60s a tin can in Newport fired a live torpedo into the wardroom of the can tied up next to her (didn’t explode). A DDG-2 tied up across the pier from us in San Diego, in the 70s, accidently put a war shot on the rails while conducting DSOTs. The required observer wasn’t doing his job, the QD OOD on our ship, saw what was happening, ran across the pier waving and shouting at their QD watch, pointing to the missile on their launcher. Their QD acted and stopped the test. We later heard that they were just ready to test the firing circuit when stopped. CO, XO, Weapons Officer, division officer and division chief were all relieved for cause. Our QD OOD was award a Navy Achievement medal for his actions.

[Rockingham]

In 1943, during a routine demonstration, the USS William D. Porter, a Fletcher-class destroyer, mistakenly fired off a live torpedo at the battleship USS Iowa -- which at the time was carrying FDR to the Casablanca conference. Alerted of the danger, the Iowa turned and the torpedo exploded harmlessly in its wake. Supposedly, fearing that an assassination attempt might be under way, the Iowa then turned its guns toward the Porter. The entire ship's crew were then placed under arrest. The ensuing investigation showed that an error by the Chief Torpedoman was the cause of the incident. FDR, to his credit, intervened and reversed the sentence of hard labor. The Captain of the Porter remained in command and retired as a Rear Admiral.