Nuclear missile allegedly damaged (Bangor, Washington State)

[Ediacara]

Nuclear missile allegedly damaged
Web site says Navy called 'broken arrow' aboard Bangor sub

By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER



Was it a "broken arrow" at the Trident submarine base in Bangor in November that led to the firing a month later of the Navy leadership overseeing nuclear weapons there?

The code words used by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the most severe level of a nuclear weapon mishap reportedly were invoked Nov. 7 when a Trident I C4 missile was damaged while being removed from the submarine USS Georgia in Bangor.

The allegation was raised over the weekend at a watchdog Web site, jaghunters.blogspot.com, run by a former Navy officer, Walt Fitzpatrick of Bremerton. Fitzpatrick has had a significant beef with the military justice system for 16 years, which the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has reported previously. Fitzpatrick yesterday said he drew upon Navy sources for his information about the missile incident, which has drawn the interest of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks.

More at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[Ganja Ninja]

1. It's not the first time this has happened.

I was in the navy back in 1972 in Spain serving aboard a Submarine Tender when a crane broke as a missile was being lifted out of a storage silo on the tender. It had only been lifted out of the silo around 3 feet when a cable snapped and it fell back into the ship. The boom on the crane fell across the deck above and luckily there were no serious injuries and little or no damage to the missile. It could have been an awful mess if it had caught fire.

[mouse7]

2. A "broken arrow" is a lost nuclear weapon.

For example, that bomber crash in Spain when we actually lost track of where the actual warhead/s onboard at the time of the crash actually was/were for a period of time.

If a crane damages a nuclear weapon system when moving it, it doesn't really qualify for "broken arrow" status. They know where the nuke is. It's hanging from the crane. It's just not usable.

[mobuto]

3. Reminds me of the sign in Dr. Strangelove

"Nuclear Weapon -- Handle with Care."