[Fred Mertz]

This sounds like a cover story to me.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Just heard this on FNN. Grabs our guts and hearts every single time. We mourn the loss of these brave troops. Prayers up!!

[b4its2late]

when test firing a new kind of grenade launcher

Darn it! I know stuff like this happens and it's so sad, but it still drives me crazy.

[Charles Martel]

I wonder if they're field-testing the OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon). The "XM-29" has had problems before involving it's unique semi-automatic 20mm grenade launcher. The grenade fuses can be set for air-burst over enemy positions, but in testing at least one grenade detonated before leaving the barrel.

[cgk]

Oh no. I think the mistakes and accidents hurt the families more than the deaths in combat. What a tragedy. Prayers for their families, and for all of our troops still in the region.

[michigander]

Three Marines Die in Accident in Iraq

Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar -Three Marines were killed and seven injured in an accident in Iraq on Tuesday while they were handling a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, U.S. Central Command said.

The Marines with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force were firing the RPG - one of the more common weapons used by paramilitary, Fedayeen and other groups that have threatened U.S. and British forces - to familiarize themselves with it.

The launcher malfunctioned, U.S. officials said.

The accident occurred Tuesday evening in a remote area near the southern Iraqi city of Kut, officials said.

The names of the Marines were being withheld until their next of kin could be notified. The accident was under investigation.

Prior to these deaths, 128 U.S. troops have been killed in the war, the Pentagon said.

[JustPiper]

Was this from the MEU unit about to be sent back home?

[NeoCrusade]

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/archives/2002Oct/data/2002Oct12455/

GD Receives $7.2M Contract For STRIKER 40 (MK47) Grenade Machine Gun

A new 40mm Grenade Machine Gun with optronic sight to supplant the Mk19 before the introduction of the 25mm OCSW.

[deadhead]

"3 Marines were killed and 7 injured"

Prayers for all.