Popular Mechanics:
A German air defense frigate was damaged in a missile-firing incident off the Norwegian coast last week. A SM-2 missile somehow became trapped in its launcher, and the resulting rocket exhaust inflicted serious damage to the ship’s bow. Two German Navy sailors were injured in the incident.
On June 21st the FGS Sachsen, the first of four Type 124 air defense frigates in German Navy service, was attempting to launch a Standard SM-2 air defense missile. The missile rocket motor ignited but the missile failed to clear the Mk.41 vertical launch system silo. An explosion was followed by a short, intense fire as the rocket motor burned. A video of the incident (along with some well-earned swearing in German) was posted to Twitter.
The fire was mostly out within seconds, but the damage was extensive. Two crew members suffered minor injuries in the incident. It’s unknown why the missile stuck in the silo instead of leap skyward, but an investigation is certainly forthcoming. Each SM-2 missile is about 15 feet long and weighs more than 1,500 pounds.
