Two U.S. soldiers die in tank fire

Swiss Info ^ | July 29 2002 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) - Two U.S. Army soldiers have been killed and nine others injured after their tank, one of the most advanced armoured vehicles in the U.S. military arsenal, caught fire during a training exercise.

It was at least the second fire in an Abrams M-1A2 tank, one of the world's premiere battle tanks, in three months.

"There was a fire inside the tank. The tank was on a gunnery range at the time," said Cecil Green a spokesman for Fort Hood, about 120 miles southwest of Dallas.

Seven of the nine injured have been released from a local hospital, said base spokeswoman Patricia Simoes, who added the remaining two were listed in fair condition. The injured were treated for injuries including smoke inhalation and burns.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, she said.

One of the two soldiers killed in the fire was Private Chris W. Morados of Little Rock, Arkansas, while the name of the other soldier was being withheld until his family was notified of his death, she said. The soldiers were all members of the Army's 4th Infantry Division.

The Abrams M-1A2, made by General Dynamics Corp has a rapid-fire, laser-sighted 120mm canon, a powerful 1,500 horsepower turbine engine, advanced armour plating and a top speed of more than 40 mph.

The tank in Monday's incident was equipped with a Special Enhancement Program (SEP), a computer system that gives it advanced targeting, communication and other capabilities.

In another Abrams M-1A2 tank fire at Fort Hood in May, Army Private Gerardo M. Chavez, 19, was killed and eight soldiers and a civilian worker were injured. That tank did not have the SEP.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[homeschool mama]

Prayers heavenward. <><

[Rokke]

Someone is going to have to explain how eleven soldiers crammed themselves into one tank.

[mdittmar]

Prayers for these soldiers and their families.

They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them . .
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them!

[bruoz]

They were probably trying to rescue the crewmen inside the tank.

[null and void]

I thought the Abrams had a fire suppression system.

[Fred Mertz]

Sad news ping.

[ken5050]

It does, and the article really doesn't make sense, both for the numbers of injured involved, and the "fire"..was it a round cooking off?...seems unlikely..and if it was a fired, training is to bail asap, isn't it?

[jwalsh07]

Abrams-M1A2

[glorgau]

Perhaps some of the combustible casing shavings lit up when the interior round storage was open. Guys told me that they had a tendency to shave off bits when sliding the rounds in the gun.

[ken5050]

thanks for the info..and the link..I've very little knowledge of tanks.....other than what I read generally..but the article was the pits..maybe theArmy Times will have somethign tomorrow..If you see anythig of interest, kindly ping me...regards...

[oyez]

The interior of M-1A1 Abrams ca be defined by OSHA as a confined space. Most industrial safety departments have a policy of no resicues with out self contained breathing equipment or else wait for the fire department. Its a tough rule, but the law of averages suport it.

[McGavin999]

Sounds like General Dynamics had better go back to the drawing boards.

Prayers for these brave souls. May God grant their families peace and may healing be swift for the wounded.

[jwalsh07]

That might work in the "Army of One" Army but in the "Nobody Gets Left Behind" Army, it will never work.

[mdittmar]

My brother was a tanker in the Marine Reserves,loved the M1-A1,this was his unit:

Between November 1990 and January 1991, 4th Tank Battalion was mobilized in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Elements of the battalion were "in country" and combat ready within 32 days of activation. During the Gulf War mobilization, the 4th Tank Battalion, a United States Marine Corps Reserve unit in the 4th Marine Division, successfully transitioned from the M-60 to the M1-A1 Main Battle Tank in just 45 days. The battalion trained, shot and qualified, then deployed to the Gulf where it fought alongside its active Marine Corps counterparts. Indeed, one of its companies knocked out 35 of 36 Iraqi tanks in less than five minutes.

That was the highest "kill" rate of the Marines,regulars included.

He retired out with his 20 years in, 3 years ago.

Don't know what happened in this case, but it is a great tank.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Amen.

[Stavka2]

More then likely they were injured trying to put out the fire...as said, most had smoke inhalation.

[FlyVet]

Combat training is inherently dangerous. One of my Commanders years ago explained that if they don't have x amount of major flying accidents per 100,000 flight hours, they know they're not training hard enough. Unfortunate, but driving a tank loaded with explosives and practicing the art of war isn't the same as getting in your car and driving it down the road, even though that has its share of risks. The alternative is to hide in a coccoon. God bless them, they gave their lives for their country.

[SLB]

My prayers to the family members and all involved in these training accidents. <><