The US Forces – Afghanistan Safety Office published a Safety Bulletin last monthdue to a mishap involving an M2, an M93 Gun Mount, and a loose .50 round. The results are tragic.
“WHILE MOUNTING THE M2 MACHINE GUN ONTO THE TURRET SYSTEM OF HIS MATV DURING PRE-COMBAT CHECKS, THIS SOLDIER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE LOCKING PIN ON THE MOD 93 MACHINE GUN MOUNT. THE SOLDIER THEN ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE WITH A ROCK. AFTER THIS FAILED, HE THEN SECURED A LOOSE .50 CAL ROUND, USING IT TO HAMMER AT THE LOCKING PIN, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE. AFTER SEVERAL HITS WITH THE .50 CAL ROUND, THE PRIMER ACTIVATED, SETTING THE ROUND OFF IN THE SOLDIER’S HAND. THE INJURIES SUFFERED TO HIS RIGHT HAND, MIDDLE, RING AND PINKIE FINGERS ON HIS RIGHT HAND ARE SHOWN BELOW TO THE RIGHT.”
The actual Safety Bulletin is after the jump. We have to warn you that the associated photo of the injury is quite gruesome. It is imperative that Soldiers pay attention to what they are doing. War is a dangerous business but it is a tragedy when a Soldier is taken out of the fight because of an accident that could have been prevented.
M2 Machine Gun Safety Message 10-02