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'''Friendly fire''' incidents are caused by miscommunication among military forces on the same side. The two most common types stem from errors of targeting and errors of identification.

'''Friendly fire''' incidents are caused by miscommunication among military and friendly forces on the same side. The two most common types stem from errors of targeting and errors of identification.

*"Fratricide is the employment of friendly weapons and munitions with the intent to kill the enemy or destroy his equipment, or facilities, which result in unforeseen and unintentional death or injury to friendly personnel."<ref>[http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-2-04/feature-fratricide.htm (Eliminating Fratricide In Ground Combat)], ''Defense Update'' </ref>

*"Fratricide is the employment of friendly weapons and munitions with the intent to kill the enemy or destroy his equipment, or facilities, which result in unforeseen and unintentional death or injury to friendly personnel."<ref>[http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-2-04/feature-fratricide.htm (Eliminating Fratricide In Ground Combat)], ''Defense Update'' </ref>

In the confusion of battle, it is easy to shoot one's own comrades in arms, accidentally. <ref>It's this combination of increasingly lethal firepower, fluid battlefields, complex communications, and the notorious "fog of war" that can add up to friendly fire losses. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0114/p03s01-usmi.html (Brad Knickerbocker)], ''The Christian Science Monitor ''</ref> Nonetheless, U.S. troops are required to exercise care and can be prosecuted if their negligence results in death.<ref> Military commanders have occasionally leveled charges of involuntary manslaughter in high-profile friendly-fire cases, such as one in 2002 when Maj. Harry Schmidt, an Illinois National Guard pilot, mistakenly bombed Canadian troops in Afghanistan. But ... there is no uniform, openly published military case law about when friendly-fire cases cross the line from accident to crime . . . " [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37679-2004Dec5_4.html] </ref>

In the confusion of battle, it is easy to shoot one's own comrades in arms, accidentally. <ref>It's this combination of increasingly lethal firepower, fluid battlefields, complex communications, and the notorious "fog of war" that can add up to friendly fire losses. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0114/p03s01-usmi.html (Brad Knickerbocker)], ''The Christian Science Monitor ''</ref> Nonetheless, U.S. troops are required to exercise care and can be prosecuted if their negligence results in death.<ref> Military commanders have occasionally leveled charges of involuntary manslaughter in high-profile friendly-fire cases, such as one in 2002 when Maj. Harry Schmidt, an Illinois National Guard pilot, mistakenly bombed Canadian troops in Afghanistan. But ... there is no uniform, openly published military case law about when friendly-fire cases cross the line from accident to crime . . . " [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37679-2004Dec5_4.html] </ref>

Friendly fire losses are common in wars, as exemplified by friendly fire attacks on 53 US naval vessels during World War II that killed 186 sailors and wounded 438. These incidents mostly occurred in large-scale amphibious or aircraft carrier operations late in the war.<ref>Gauker and Blood, (1995)</ref>   

Friendly fire losses are common in wars, as exemplified by friendly fire attacks on 53 US naval vessels during World War II that killed 186 sailors and wounded 438. These incidents mostly occurred in large-scale amphibious or aircraft carrier operations late in the war.<ref>Gauker and Blood, (1995)</ref>   

==Historical examples==

==Historical examples==

===[[Suez Crisis]]===

===[[Suez Crisis]]===

*November 6th, 1956: During a raid to capture Port Said, [[Egypt]], a British [[Royal Navy]] carrier-borne aircraft attacked the British Army of No. 45 Commando Royal Marines and HQ, causing heavy casualties.<ref>[http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/suez_crisis_1956.htm The Suez Crisis of 1956]</ref>

*November 6th, 1956: During a raid to capture Port Said, [[Egypt]], a British [[Royal Navy]] carrier-borne aircraft attacked the British Army of No. 45 Commando Royal Marines and HQ, causing heavy casualties.<ref>[http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/suez_crisis_1956.htm The Suez Crisis of 1956]</ref>

===Falklands War 1982===

===Falklands War 1982===

*Companies A and C of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, British Army engaged each other in an hour-long firefight in the Falkland Islands involving heavy weapons and artillery strikes, resulting in eight casualties.

*Companies A and C of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, British Army engaged each other in an hour-long firefight in the Falkland Islands involving heavy weapons and artillery strikes, resulting eight casualties.

*June 2, 1982: British SBS Commando, Sergeant Ian Hunt, was killed in a firefight with British SAS Commandos in the Falkland Islands.<ref>[http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/history/falklands Special Air Service (SAS) - The Falklands Conflict]/</ref>

*June 2, 1982: British SBS Commando, Sergeant Ian Hunt, was killed in a firefight with British SAS Commandos in the Falkland Islands.<ref>[http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/history/falklands Special Air Service (SAS) - The Falklands Conflict]/</ref>

*June 6th, 1982: A British Royal Navy HMS ''Cardiff'' (D108) shot down a British Gazelle helicopter in the [[Falkland Islands]]. Four British soldiers on board were killed.<ref>[http://www.naval-history.net/F51opsweek10.htm Part 41. 3 COMMANDO REACHES STANLEY DEFENCES]</ref>

*June 6th, 1982: A British Royal Navy HMS ''Cardiff (D108)'' shot down a British Gazelle helicopter in the [[Falkland Islands]]. Four British soldiers on board were killed.<ref>[http://www.naval-history.net/F51opsweek10.htm Part 41. 3 COMMANDO REACHES STANLEY DEFENCES]</ref>

*June 11th, 1982: A British Royal Navy HMS ''Avenger (F185)'' ship fired a 4.5 inch explosive shell into a house while shelling a port in Stanley, Falkland Islands, killing three British women and several others were wounded. They are the only British civilian casualties of the war.<ref>[http://www.sama82.org.uk/1982-history-pages/june.aspx Falkland Wars]</ref>

===First Gulf War===

===First Gulf War===

*February 26, 1991: Two [[U.S. Air Force]] [[A-10|A-10 Thunderbolt II]] aircraft during Operation Desert Storm attacked [[British]] armoured personnel carriers with [[AGM-65 Maverick|Maverick missiles]], killing nine British soldiers and wounded 11 more.

*February 26, 1991: Two [[U.S. Air Force]] [[A-10|A-10 Thunderbolt II]] aircraft during Operation Desert Storm attacked [[British]] armoured personnel carriers with [[AGM-65 Maverick|Maverick missiles]], killing nine British soldiers and wounded 11 more.

===War in Afghanistan===  

===War in Afghanistan===

*September 26, 2007: Two Danish soldiers from the Royal Life Guards were killed by British Javelin anti-tank missiles attack during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3070875.ece Danish soldiers killed by British friendly fire]</ref>

*September 26, 2007: Two Danish soldiers from the Royal Life Guards were killed by British Javelin anti-tank missiles attack during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3070875.ece Danish soldiers killed by British friendly fire]</ref>

===Iraq War===

===Iraq War===