Pearl Harbor gunfire The Navy is investigating the accidental firing of a weapon by a security person on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Nimitz while it was docked at Pearl Harbor last week.
elicits Navy probe
The investigation will look into a
discharge that occurred aboard
the USS NimitzBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comThe bullet is believed to have traveled across a heavily-traveled civilian highway.
Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, Navy spokeswoman, said yesterday the accident occurred late Monday morning while the Nimitz was tied up at a berth near the Halawa Landing, adjacent to the USS Arizona Memorial. She said no one was injured.
The bullet traveled across Kamehameha Highway and landed in Navy property somewhere in the Makalapa complex, the headquarters of Adm. Thomas Fargo, Pacific Fleet commander, Campbell said.
Campbell would not say what type of weapon was fired or what the sailor was doing to cause the accident. Nor would she say when the Nimitz left Pearl Harbor to return to San Diego.
Campbell said the Navy believes only one round was discharged and "an exhaustive search determined that projectile landed on Navy property and not in the vicinity of the road." However, the bullet was never found.
She said the weapon belonged to Nimitz's security personnel who carry both M-16 rifles and pistols.
The Nimitz arrived here Nov. 3 after completing a globe-circling cruise following a nuclear refueling and overhaul at Newport News in Virginia. The aircraft carrier is expected to return to its home port in San Diego on Nov. 13.
Seven years ago, the Navy said "human error" caused the accidental firing of an anti-missile system, which was pointed towards Aiea, from the deck of a cruiser moored at Pearl Harbor.
After an investigation that took nearly a year, the Navy said two petty officers were reduced in rank after the Navy determined that they left two 20mm rounds in the Lake Erie's deck-mounted Phalanx Close-in Weapon system after the weapon was test-fired during March 23, 1994 sea trials. One of the two men, a petty officer third class, was later reinstated.
The Navy said the two sailors failed to follow Navy procedure after the modern-day Gatling gun system was fired, leaving two rounds in the weapon for nearly two months. The same sailors again failed to follow proper maintenance procedure, which led to the accidental firing on May 4, 1994, while the ship was berthed in Pearl Harbor.
The Navy said no traces of the projectiles, which the Navy believes landed in the Koolaus above Aiea, were found despite a search of the possible impact area.
The Phalanx weapon system has six barrels and is the cruiser's defense against missiles. It is capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute and has a range of 1,625 yards.