31 Marines hurt in 'friendly fire'

NBC ^ | March 27, 2003 | Kerry Sanders

[hotpotato]

WAR DIARY By Kerry Sanders NBC NEWS

AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, March 27 — U.S. Marines were trying to figure out what caused a communications breakdown here Thursday that resulted in one Marine unit firing on another, wounding 31 Marines, two of them critically. Many of the Marines are becoming frustrated by their inability to fight an enemy who mingles with the surrounding civilian population.

THE INCIDENT WAS a very hard experience for the young Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. They came under attack during the night from Iraqi forces and called in artillery fire from a nearby Marine unit.

The Marines have sophisticated equipment — thermal imaging, night vision gear and computers — to keep track of where each unit is located, but the technology failed them. In the midst of all the chaos, most of the shots roared overhead to fall on the Iraqis. But some rounds fell short, exploding on the Marine positions.

The battle and “friendly fire” lasted about 90 minutes. In addition to the injuries, two Marine 7-ton trucks were burnt and several Humvees were damaged. As one officer noted, they were very lucky that no one was killed.

[dinok]

That't it...if NBC sais so...the war is over.
The BBC, NPR and Al Jazeera think so too.

Bring the boys home...
Give Peace a chance...
Hell no we won't go...
Ho..Ho...Ho-chiming...(sorry I had a time warp.)

[Texas_Jarhead]

damn. Not s single Marine should die because we're pussyfootin around with freakin would-be civilians

[ruready4eternity]

MARK FIDEL KOOOLS= TROJANS IN THE ARMY MUSLIM SYMPATHISERS
THESE BASTRDS MAY BE BEHIND IT. Why isnt anyone demanding more of this Story of the Ememy in our own camp? Someone explain this...

[hotpotato]

What's amazing is not a single American soldier *did* die in this. The images on TV were horrific.

[Cboldt]

Not s single Marine should die because we're pussyfootin around with freakin would-be civilians

I agree with that, but the article says the Marines were firing on the would-be civilians.

I don't understand the relevance of the reference to civilians in the article.

[ruready4eternity]

"one Marine unit firing on another"

What the hell is going on on the battlefield?

[hotpotato]

No one was pussyfootin around. Did you read the article? The marines called in for backup because of an Iraqi attack. The Iraqis were killed but equipment failure caused bombs to land short and hit the Americans. That's why it's called "friendly fire".

[Cboldt]

"one Marine unit firing on another" What the hell is going on on the battlefield?

Darn good question, and the article only hints at what might have gone wrong during the course of the 90 minute engagement. At one point, the author says, "But some rounds fell short." These are the arty rounds that injured the Marines. Sounds like a technical error on gunner's part, but could be a hi-tech (troop ID) hardware failure. See, e.g., the Patriot missle/UK Fighter engagement in Kuwait about a week ago.

The author also starts a separate story, in one sentence, that some Marines are frustrated by an enemy that mingles with civilians.

[ruready4eternity]

Agreed.

[ruready4eternity]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030327/pl_afp/iraq_war_us_friendlyfire_1
A total of 37 marines were wounded, but it was not immediately clear how many were hurt by the "friendly fire" and how many by the Iraqi attackers.


One captain told an AFP reporter that US troops fired at one another in the confusion of the night-time engagement.


"It was friendly fire," said the officer, who did not want to be named.
So far 18 Britons have been killed by friendly fire or in accidents in Iraq.


Fourteen perished in two helicopter accidents last week, and two airmen died when their Tornado bomber was hit by a US Patriot missile on the weekend.

SO explain what the Hell is going on? AKBAR AKBAR AKBAR living in the camps

[discostu]

It's called the fog of war. Friendly fire has happened in every war since projectiles became the predominant weapon. It sucks, we try to avoid it, but it's the price you pay for not battling the enemy with swords and daggers.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"That's why it's called "friendly fire"
I've had a little experience as a self propelled sand bag so I'm familiar. I read it and understand completely. I was referring to this "Many of the Marines are becoming frustrated by their inability to fight an enemy who mingles with the surrounding civilian population" and don't particularly need the attitude.

[ArneFufkin]

Have you sat down with General Franks and expressed your disappointment in his leadership, and voiced your growing displeasure in the planning and execution of this campaign? He's always hungry for feedback. Maybe you need to go over his head, and let the President know the gravity of your concerns.

[steplock]

The Marines did NOT Fire on each other according to the actual text of the article.

They were hit by 'short' rounds. What happens at times when using artillery, if you are directly in the GT (gun-target line, you had better hope that 1> you aren't too close, and 2. you aren't on the highest spot between the two. Especially if they start using vt (variable timer) fuses or proximity fuses. a small error and those thing blow up on top of you.

I've had happen to me in Vietnam - I was calling in some arty fire on a chinese platoon (yeah there were some chinese, and russian, and others) we were on the hill top overlooking their position. well..we were told it was "goofy golf" battery firing...it wasn't called goofy golf for nothing. We were right in the gun-target line AND on the highest point AND I called in for VT fuses. I yelled at the rest of my team "Goofy Golf is Firing!" we all ducked behind boulders (to the enemy side) out of the 20 or so rounds we had dropping in, 3 exploded above our heads.

Goofy Golf Battery got its name in Vietnam when during an enemy mortar attack they had a VERY short round that blew up the mess tent on that fire base.

A little "WAR STORY" humor...only funny to those who've been through it.

[hotpotato]

If you think that's attitude, you need a break (friendly suggestions, only).

[hotpotato]

That's how I read it, too. But other reports are stating they fired on each other. This seemd like the best info but so much changes as the news comes out. I just posted a report from Middle East Online where the Iraqis are claiming responsiblity for this damage and that it wasn't friendly fire. They are taking credit for bombing the tanks and vehicles and marines (also claiming they killed some of them). Those whacky Iraqis :-)

[hotpotato]

btw, thanks for the insight from one who's been there :-)

[Coog]

Anybody that runs is the enenmy anybody that doesnt run is a well trained enemy

[Axman4]

Remember, "friendly fire" isn't.