"Friendly fire" incident off Normandy on 27 August 1944: SINKING OF HMS BRITOMART AND HMS HUSSAR BY FRIENDLY FIRE
Other incidents: USS Dorado (SS-248 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) USS Seawolf (SS-197) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Possible FF USS Grayling (SS-209) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Well, as we're seeing all over again, war just isn't that easy. Mistakes are usually down to miscommunication, as in the rest of life. Identification isn't as easy in real life as when we play at it. And Johnny Baldwin was being actually ordered to attack against his better judgement, unlike the ANG pilots in a more recent case.
From: http://members.aol.com/amerwar/ff/ff2.htm LCI 365 13 Killed When U.S. Destroyer Shells Three U.S. Landing CraftPearl Harbor, 4-3-1944 - A tragic error which resulted in the death of 13 men and the wounding of 46 others when 3 landing craft were shelled by 1 of our own destroyers during landing ops on 2-22 at Parry Island, Eniwetok atoll, was revealed Sunday by Adml Chester W. Nimitz.Adml Nimitz revealed the details of the unfortunate accident following receipt of the report of a board of investigation convened to investigate the circumstances of the error.According to Adml Nimitz' announcement, the destroyer was providing fire support for the 1st wave of LCI's approaching Parry Island with assault troops through heavy smoke and dust caused by preparatory bombardment."The primary source of error," the announcement said "was that under difficult conditions of navigation both destroyer and landing craft were slightly out of scheduled positions, with restricted visibility a contributing factor."The board of investigation was instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and to make recommendations to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. That assault landings under such conditions inevitably involve circumstances that can not be foreseen is recognized, the announcement said since "in any landing operation on a hostile shore close fire support is essential to prevent heavy losses during the landing and assault, and that this involves a calculated risk that must be accepted"Rear Adml Harry W. Hill, USN, commander of the Eniwetok expeditionary force, sent the following message to a group of LCI's participating in the assault shortly after the accident:"I am deeply grieved by the deaths and injuries sustained in action by your fine men. The gallantry and contemptuous disregard of danger displayed by all LCI's attached to this command has been an inspiration to us all."LtCmdr Theodore Blanchard, USNR, commander of a division of LCI's engaged in the Eniwetok assault sent the following reply to Adml Hill's message:"We are deeply grateful for the unselfish and gallant assistance your observing officers rendered to us in our losses this morning. The cooperation and courtesy tendered all LCI's by the cruisers and battleships has made us feel that we too, small as we are, are a part of a great fleet." LCI 365 was sunk on the 10/1/45 at Lingayen Gulf by a Shinyo boat Othe FF cases: Friendly Fire
Cases of FF around Australian and/or involving Australian units: "Friendly Fire" - Unfortunate accidents in Australia during WW2
From: http://members.aol.com/amerwar/ff/ff.htm The following are The American War Library's best extimates on friendly fire casualties (both fatal and non-fatal) based on historic War Dept, Dept of the Navy and Dept of Defense casualty reports detailing various battle reports. At best, these are conservative figures. Which is to say, these figures represent the minimal percentages of FF casualties on record so far. As additional friendly fire incidents are discovered these figures will increase, not decrease. War/Campaign.......... Percent Casualties (U.S. Military only)* World War II.............. 21% Korea..........................18% Vietnam ......................39% Persian Gulf ...............49% * Both fatal and non-fatal (These figures do not include murders or deliberate/accidental self-inflicted wounds/fatalities)
