Difference between revisions of "Friendly fire"
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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 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> | ||
| − | The US Coast Guard cutter Point Welcome (WPB-82329) was on a routine patrol off the coast of Vietnam in 1966 when hit by "friendly fire" from American warplanes, causing a number of | + | The US Coast Guard cutter Point Welcome (WPB-82329) was on a routine patrol off the coast of Vietnam in 1966 when they were hit by "friendly fire" from American warplanes, causing a number of |
casualties and the abandonment of the vessel. An inquiry blamed the incident on a lack of coordination between the air force and navy on rules of engagement identification procedures.<ref>William R. Wells, II, "Friendly Target," ''Naval History'' 1998 12(3): 33-36. 1042-1920</ref> | casualties and the abandonment of the vessel. An inquiry blamed the incident on a lack of coordination between the air force and navy on rules of engagement identification procedures.<ref>William R. Wells, II, "Friendly Target," ''Naval History'' 1998 12(3): 33-36. 1042-1920</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==Historical examples== | |
| − | *[[Stonewall Jackson]] by fellow | + | ===[[American Civil War]]=== |
| − | *[[ | + | *In May 2 1863, Confederate General [[Stonewall Jackson]] was wounded by fellow Confederate soldiers and died 8 days later in May 10 during the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]. |
| − | *[[ | + | |
| + | ===[[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> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===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. | ||
| + | *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> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===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> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Iraq War=== | ||
| + | *March 24, 2003: Sergeant Steven Roberts, a tank commander with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was killed when a fellow British soldier manning a tank-mounted machine gun mistakenly fired at him while trying to shoot a wielding Iraqi protester.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/dec/18/military.iraq Bureaucratic delay resulted in soldier's death] ''The Guardian''</ref> | ||
| + | *March 25, 2003: Two British soldiers, Corporal Stephen John Allbutt and Trooper David Jeffrey Clarke, were killed when their Challenger 2 tank was hit by a round fired on from another British tank in southern Iraq.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2886715.stm UK soldiers killed by 'friendly fire']</ref> | ||
| + | *April 2, 2003: A U.S. F/A-18 fighter aircraft was shot down by a U.S. Patriot missile in west of Karbala, Iraq, killing U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Nathan Dennis White of VFA-195, Carrier Air Wing Five.<ref>[http://www.aviationtoday.com/pressreleases/8587.html Widow of U.S. Naval Pilot Shot Down by Friendly Fire in Iraq Sues Raytheon Company for Wrongful Death]</ref> | ||
| + | *April 22, 2004: American Ranger [[Pat Tillman]], a former famous football player, was shot and killed by American fire in Afghanistan. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
| Line 21: | Line 40: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm Friendly Fire incidents in Desert Storm] | *[http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_tabh.htm Friendly Fire incidents in Desert Storm] | ||
| + | *[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1991/jul/24/friendly-fire-incidents Friendly Fire Incidents] | ||
| + | *[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/3774/ We Brits invented ‘friendly fire’] | ||
Revision as of 03:56, March 25, 2011
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.
- "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."[1]
In the confusion of battle, it is easy to shoot one's own comrades in arms, accidentally. [2] Nonetheless, U.S. troops are required to exercise care and can be prosecuted if their negligence results in death.[3]
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.[4]
The US Coast Guard cutter Point Welcome (WPB-82329) was on a routine patrol off the coast of Vietnam in 1966 when they were hit by "friendly fire" from American warplanes, causing a number of casualties and the abandonment of the vessel. An inquiry blamed the incident on a lack of coordination between the air force and navy on rules of engagement identification procedures.[5]
Historical examples
American Civil War
- In May 2 1863, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was wounded by fellow Confederate soldiers and died 8 days later in May 10 during the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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.[6]
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.
- June 2, 1982: British SBS Commando, Sergeant Ian Hunt, was killed in a firefight with British SAS Commandos in the Falkland Islands.[7]
- 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.[8]
First Gulf War
- February 26, 1991: Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft during Operation Desert Storm attacked British armoured personnel carriers with Maverick missiles, killing nine British soldiers and wounded 11 more.
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.[9]
Iraq War
- March 24, 2003: Sergeant Steven Roberts, a tank commander with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was killed when a fellow British soldier manning a tank-mounted machine gun mistakenly fired at him while trying to shoot a wielding Iraqi protester.[10]
- March 25, 2003: Two British soldiers, Corporal Stephen John Allbutt and Trooper David Jeffrey Clarke, were killed when their Challenger 2 tank was hit by a round fired on from another British tank in southern Iraq.[11]
- April 2, 2003: A U.S. F/A-18 fighter aircraft was shot down by a U.S. Patriot missile in west of Karbala, Iraq, killing U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Nathan Dennis White of VFA-195, Carrier Air Wing Five.[12]
- April 22, 2004: American Ranger Pat Tillman, a former famous football player, was shot and killed by American fire in Afghanistan.
Further reading
- Garrison, Webb. Friendly Fire in the Civil War: More than 100 True Stories of Comrade Killing Comrade. (Nashville: Rutledge Hill, 1999). 229 pp.
- Gauker, Eleanor D. and Blood, Christopher G. "Friendly Fire Incidents During World War Ii Naval Operations." Naval War College Review 1995 48(1): 115-122. 0028-1484
External links
References
- ↑ (Eliminating Fratricide In Ground Combat), Defense Update
- ↑ 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. (Brad Knickerbocker), The Christian Science Monitor
- ↑ 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 . . . " [1]
- ↑ Gauker and Blood, (1995)
- ↑ William R. Wells, II, "Friendly Target," Naval History 1998 12(3): 33-36. 1042-1920
- ↑ The Suez Crisis of 1956
- ↑ Special Air Service (SAS) - The Falklands Conflict/
- ↑ Part 41. 3 COMMANDO REACHES STANLEY DEFENCES
- ↑ Danish soldiers killed by British friendly fire
- ↑ Bureaucratic delay resulted in soldier's death The Guardian
- ↑ UK soldiers killed by 'friendly fire'
- ↑ Widow of U.S. Naval Pilot Shot Down by Friendly Fire in Iraq Sues Raytheon Company for Wrongful Death