According to Joseph Dempsey, a defense analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), footage has emerged of a severe missile accident involving the frigate SACHSEN (F219) of the German Navy.
The accident occurred on June 21 off the Norwegian coast. A Standard Missile-2 was launched unsuccessfully during a naval war drill when it experienced a cataphoric failure — exploding on the vessel’s deck.
Footage has emerged of the Jun 21 SM-2 SAM misfire aboard the #Germany Navy vessel Sachsen (F219) (minor German language warning!) pic.twitter.com/qXgn8qwHFF
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) June 27, 2018
Dempsey noted that there were no injuries to the crew. However, the missile launcher, decking, and the bridge were severely damaged by intense fire and heat. According to the report by the German Navy, there was nothing during the pre-launch check that would indicate the missile would lead to a catastrophic failure.
Damage sustained to Sachsen (F219) following SM-2 misfire. Fortunately only two crew sustained minor injuries, this could have been alot worse.https://t.co/hI5yM2soYl & https://t.co/QbYnE3v3mT pic.twitter.com/dTuPn30AiZ
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) June 27, 2018
“Fortunately only two crew sustained minor injuries, this could have been a lot worse,” noted Dempsey.
The Sachsen-class frigate (F219), also called Sachsen, is Germany’s latest class of highly advanced air-defense frigates. The vessel was built at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, which was commissioned in November 2004.
According to Defence Blog, the frigate is equipped with Raytheon-built SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air missiles. It is an all-weather, supersonic, ship-launched, medium to long-range rocket providing defense for an entire fleet area.
The Geniusstrand website has photographed several images allegedly showing the frigate SACHSEN (F219) returning to its home port in Vilhelmshafen harbor, in Northwestern Germany.
Watch Full Video: German Navy Frigate SACHSEN SM2 Missile Accident
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