Hawthorne Army Depot (Photo: Reno Gazette Journal)
By Jim Michaels, Tom Vanden Brook and Doug Stanglin
USA TODAY
The U.S. Marine Corps issued an indefinite worldwide moratorium Tuesday on the use of all 60mm mortars after a explosion left seven Marines dead and at least seven injured in a training exercise with the weapon in the Nevada desert.
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The mortar round exploded in its firing tube during the night-time exercise at the Hawthorne Army Depot, said Brig. Gen. Jim Lukeman at a news conference at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He said investigators are trying to determine the cause of the malfunction.
All the victims were from the 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune.
Six Marines were killed at the scene; the injured were flown out of the remote site by medical helicopter.
Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, the area's major trauma hospital, received eight patients, including one who was dead, according to spokeswoman Stacy Kendall. As of mid-day Tuesday, four were listed in serious condition, two were in fair condition and one had been discharged.
All the patients are men under the age of 30. Kendall described their injuries as penetrating trauma, fractures and vascular injuries.
"We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident. We remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. "We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the incident at the depot.
A Marine official told the Associated Press that the moratorium would remain in effect until an investigation determines that the weapon did not malfunction in ways that would hurt other Marines or that mortars manufactured at the same time as the one involved in the accident were safe to continue to use.
The official did not know whether the seven dead Marines and those injured were in the same firing pit, standing nearby for training observation or in an adjoining mortar pit, but any of those situations would have been them in danger after such an explosion.
The 60mm mortar is a weapon that traditionally requires three to four Marines to operate, but it's common during training for others to observe nearby.
The official said it would be normal to warn other U.S. military branches that use 60mm mortars, such as the Army, about the moratorium, which could last for weeks or months.
The investigation will focus on whether the Marines followed procedures to properly fire the weapon, whether there was a malfunction in the firing device or in the explosive mortar itself, the official said.
The 230-square-mile desert facility, located about 140 miles southeast of Reno, stores conventional ammunition being taken out of use and, according to its website, also serves as "a premier training location for Special Forces."
"The unique aspects of mountainous terrain in a high desert environment provides a realistic simulation of the situation in Afghanistan," the website notes.
Army, Navy and Marine troops train year-round at the facility, which also provides training for foreign military nationals.
The U.S. Joint Munitions Command says on its website that the depot is an "archive site" for storing slow-moving ammunition and stocks awaiting disposal.
The facility has more than 2,915 structures including igloos, supply warehouses, maintenance buildings, munitions sheds, and office buildings.
Contributing: The Associated Press
USA Today