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Faulty missile blown up at base
Controlled detonation is felt around county
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Dana Rene Bowler / Star staff The second of two explosions to detonate a malfunctioning missile goes off around 5 p.m. at Naval Base Ventura County.
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More from County NewsA malfunctioning missile at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu was intentionally blown up and destroyed Saturday afternoon, shooting a plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air and creating a blast that was felt more than 15 miles away.
Though missiles are often launched from the base, this was the first time one malfunctioned and had to be destroyed, said Base Operations Officer Charles Huff.
A 6,000-foot land, sea and air radius was set up around the Norwegian missile, and about 200 people on base were evacuated Saturday before it was blown up by the same team that destroys roadside bombs in Iraq.
Nobody was injured, and many were glad the ordeal that started Friday afternoon was over.
"It was like having a baby," said John Fimea, the Sea Range Test manager at the base who was overseeing the launch.
It started Friday afternoon when the Norwegian SS-1 anti-ship missile failed to take off after countdown, Fimea said. Norway is one of many countries, including Japan, Switzerland and Israel, that test missiles at the base.
Missiles are routinely launched from the base out to more than 36,000 square miles of ocean, including San Nicolas Island.
This missile was supposed to hit a barge floating 20 miles offshore after zooming through the air at 650 mph, he said.
When the missile failed to launch at 2 p.m. Friday, it was determined that it was unsafe and couldn't be moved without certainty that it wouldn't explode, Fimea said. There seemed to be a problem with the manufacturing of the electronics that led to the failure, he said.
Because of security reasons, he wouldn't comment on how much damage the more than 15-foot missile could do, other than to say it could destroy a ship "bigger than a dingy." As for the cost, he said, "let's just say it was expensive."
Over the past 10 years, Norway has launched five of these missiles from Point Mugu.
The Naval Air Warfare Weapons Center at the base is one of the Navy's main testing areas for missiles; thousands of people work designing and evaluating weapons like the Patriot, Sparrow and Trident missiles.
Norway entered into an agreement, called a foreign military sales case, under which the U.S. and another country share training and technology.
When the missile malfunctioned, the explosive ordnance disposal detachment, which also destroys improvised explosive devices in Iraq, was called in to blow it up.
About 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the 6,000-foot radius on the base was cleared, and about 200 people had to be moved elsewhere, Huff said. Some were staying at an RV park or motel on base and were allowed back in about 6:20 p.m. All evacuations were limited to the base.
The Coast Guard patrolled the waters, and no clearance was given to fly in the area.
Around 2:45 p.m. the team blew off the casing around the missile, sending a loud boom from the base. The team then placed explosives onto the missile itself to ensure its destruction Fimea said.
At 5:08 p.m. the team triggered the explosion from a concrete bunker, Huff said.
Fimea said he saw a fireball about 50 feet in diameter as smoke from the explosion drifted several hundred feet into the air. The missile left a charred mark around the launch site but no major damage, he said.
The blast was felt more than 15 miles away.
Tom and Lora Marsh had a front-row view when they were sitting on Ormond Beach just north of the base.
The Newbury Park couple love that stretch of beach for its peace and solitude.
"It was definitely startling," Lora Marsh said just after she felt the blast. "We see planes all the time," Tom March said, "but nothing like that."
Posted by newshound on April 27, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The money that went into this piece of junk could have probably funded the entire ROP program.
We can no longer afford an "offenisve" military. We need to think strictly about "defense" and throw the rest of our resources into jobs, education, and maybe saving a few pennies here and there so our government doesn't have to borrow from the Chinese to operate.
Posted by tylawson2002 on April 27, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a job because of this "offensive 'piece of junk'". Further, our government doesn't spend money on this project. The Norwegians pay us!
Posted by 1Patriot on April 27, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey newshound! Obviously you are not qualified to decide whether or not this was a piece of junk. Further, your tired attitude regarding our military is out of date. The isolationist attitude you propose will not work in a world where we trade and travel with/to other countrys on a daily basis. Our "offensive" military gives you the freedom to write liberal garbage on web sites. I suggest you consider praise instead of critisizm and understand that another country is not likely to fund your "ROP program".
Posted by newshound on April 27, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Japan and the Europeans spend a fraction of their
GNP on bullets, bombs and other weapons compared to the U.S. If we had a more defense oriented military, our leaders would not have launched the outrageous, criminal, and illegal invasion of Iraq. The rest of the world thinks our military is a threatening force because we invaded Iraq after spewing lies in front of the United Nations on evidence that was purportedly a "slam dunk." I love our military. It's time to pull out of South Korea - they don't need our help. It's time to pull out of Japan - they don't need our help. Instead of soldiers in Europe, Iraq and everywhere else, we ought to send volunteers from the peace corps.
Posted by carexpritch on April 27, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All the more reason why Ormond Beach should have a huge, huge buffer with no urban development.
Those Norwegian Euros go a long way here to improve the trade deficit.
Posted by 1Patriot on April 27, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
KUDOS TO NBVC EOD TEAM! These guys are an outstanding bunch of professionals who perform an extremely dangerous job and we could never give them enough praise or thanks for what they do.
BRAVO ZULU
Posted by newshound on April 27, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9YuD9...
mmshoot "myself and my country in the foot because I am a brainless Republican hack"... The above link is my response to your defense of the Iraq insanity. Bood and treasure - WASTED! Credibility squandered! The outcome was predictable. Listen to Dick Cheney's own words in 1994! To quote Chef Ramsey, you and your Republican friends are Stupid Donkeys!
Posted by lthrnek on April 27, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A big Marine Corps Bravo Zulu to the EOD team. Well done guys.
The blast that rattled our windows here at Channel Islands Harbor reminded me of too many past events like F4's screaming past dropping the 250 pounders and the incredible slap of wind from a distant B52 Arclight strike. . .
Posted by 1Patriot on April 27, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leatherneck,
Thanks for getting us back on subject.
Semper Fi...
Posted by onapproach on April 27, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, they're okay. I would have rated them as outstanding if they'd have let me push the button to blow it up.
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Posted by 1Patriot on April 27, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
KUDOS TO NBVC EOD TEAM! These guys are an outstanding bunch of professionals who perform an extremely dangerous job and we could never give them enough praise or thanks for what they do.
BRAVO ZULU
Posted by fish on April 27, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ummm....why isnt anyone asking about the Norwegians ? Why are they testing weapons? Is this where Bin Laden is hiding? He does have the beard !
Should we attach the Norwegians now ?!?!?
Posted by beta3 on April 27, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Ikea. Oh wait, that's Sweden. Damn Norway!
Posted by IslandHopper on April 28, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doritos are good.
Posted by fatbastardsdaughter on May 1, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a quick correction, his name is Jon Fimea, (no 'h')... spelling errors always irk me...nice discussion though everyone... a good debate is always appreciated by the reader.
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