"In a 666-page report dated Dec. 19 and first reported on Monday, the Marines concluded that there "is no definitive answer" to why an M795 high explosive round detonated early at an altitude of about 1,480 feet (450 meters) during the Oct. 18 demonstration. Such a premature detonation is "beyond reasonable expectations and should not have happened, but it did," the report says."
"An artillery shell exploded over the highway that serves as the main corridor between Los Angeles and San Diego during a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps, attended by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Nobody was hurt, and investigators ruled out any negligence or wrongdoing by Corps members."
""It is manufactured to a tolerance of one defect in a million," according to the report. Organizers planned to fire 60 rounds of live artillery in 5 minutes over the highway, using six howitzer weapons, according to the report. But a round in the first volley of shots failed and detonated early, and the rest of the demonstration was canceled."
During a Marine Corps 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton in October, an M795 high explosive round detonated early at approximately 1,480 feet altitude over Interstate 5, the major highway corridor between Los Angeles and San Diego. The incident occurred despite Governor Newsom's prior safety concerns and his order to close the highway during the demonstration. A 666-page Marine Corps investigation concluded the premature detonation resulted from a manufacturing defect occurring at a rate of one in a million, describing it as beyond reasonable expectations. The malfunction struck two California Highway Patrol vehicles with shrapnel but caused no injuries. Investigators ruled out negligence or wrongdoing by Marine Corps personnel. The demonstration was immediately canceled after the first volley failure.
#military-demonstration-malfunction #manufacturing-defect #interstate-5-incident #marine-corps-investigation
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