The machine-gun shots hit three buildings inside the training ground, a vocational school, a house, and a garage some five kilometers (3.1 miles) from the training range. A sports center and two guards' offices were also hit by the shootings.
Both the US military and German police say they are investigating why the 12.7-millimeter rounds, fired from a four-wheel-drive vehicle, hit compounds outside the Grafenwoehr US Army training ground, located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Munich.
Grafenwoehr hosts the greatest US Army training garrison in Europe, which lies five kilometers from the vocational school.
The spokeswoman of the garrison, Susanne Bartsch, said that soldiers "were shooting in the wrong direction" during a convoy protection exercise on Friday afternoon.
No casualties have reportedly been caused as the buildings hit by the shots were empty of residents at the time of the incident.
Ten years ago, a shell struck a German elementary school near the training areas, where troops were taking military drills before heading to Afghanistan.
According to the latest statistics, around 40,000 American forces are stationed in different garrisons across Germany, which has instigated tensions and heightened sensitivities among the local population as well as some government officials.
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As a Vietnam veteran I can tell you the small arms weapons can't travel 3mi. But, a 50cal machine gun can launch up to 5mi.
ReplyDeleteThis was a poor judgement call as a result of a mechanical error. robertsgt40, 12.7mm is a 50cal round. It appears that no internet source has the real story so I will not divulge it either. I assure you this originated from a mechanical malfunction and was handled incorrectly.
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