Live Fire Malfunction Rains Shrapnel on California Highway

Thursday, March 19, 2026

A "one in a million" malfunction during a live fire demonstration over Camp Pendleton last October led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles, a U.S. Marine Corps investigation found.

Posted by Dbt2 at 06:33 PM | 11 COMMENTS | permalink

A "one in a million" malfunction during a live fire demonstration over Camp Pendleton last October led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles, a U.S. Marine Corps investigation finds.

[image or embed]
-- NBC News (@nbcnews.com) Mar 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Comments

IDIOTS

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-19 02:13 PM

Oopsie.
Nobody could have seen a problem with live fire over one of the busiest Interstates in the country, right?
Well, nobody in this administration.

#2 | Posted by morris at 2026-03-19 07:36 PM

"A "one in a million" malfunction "

The Army averages over a million rounds per day.

#3 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-03-19 10:15 PM

@#3 ... The Army averages over a million rounds per day. ... L

That's along my first train of thought when I read this article...

i.e., what is trying to be buried in the stats proffered?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-19 10:29 PM

More from the cited article ...

... The day before the event, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called the planned demonstration with live artillery dangerous and unnecessary, and he ordered I-5 to be closed during it.

That closure drew condemnation from the White House and other Republicans, and the Marine Corps said the exercises wouldn't endanger motorists. ...

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-19 10:31 PM

Newscum wants the marines untrained and unprepared because he supports America's enemies.

#6 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-03-20 12:48 AM

Leave it to the noxious orange chomo to shell an American interstate highway.

#7 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-03-20 12:50 AM

@#6 ... wants the marines untrained and unprepared because he supports America's enemies. ...

OK, I have two questions ...

1) while I do agree that the Marines should be trained, should such training put Americans at risk?

2) and Pres Trump seems to be supporting America's enemies with his recent actions towards Russia, i.e., tariff and sanction reduction and/or elimination.

What say ye about that?

Yer up ...

#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-20 01:10 AM

@#7 ... Leave it to the noxious orange chomo to shell an American interstate highway. ...

Yeah.

Even after he apparently was warned of the possible problem with that event.

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-20 01:12 AM

I highly doubt that. I spent basically 3 years playing with M1091A1s, a self propelled version of the towed 105mm weapon described in the article. The firing rate of a six gun battery in those years may have reached several hundred on a typical training mission a few times a year. No where enough to hit a million a day.

That said a 155 round alone is basically inert. It has no way to detonate without a fuse. In my day there were three fuses, PD, timed and proximity. PD, point detonating, goes off when it hits something. Timed goes of at a set time, fixed at the gun, after firing. Proximity goes off at a set distance from impact, basically determined by radar from the fuse. I'm sure technology now provides methods I'm not aware of. Nevertheless my point remains the same.

There is no explanation for a round exploding mid-flight as the investigation finds. Was it wise to shoot rounds over an interstate highway? No. Is there an explanation for the detonation? No. Do soldiers need live fire training? Of course. How is this incident prevented? Point West instead of East.

#10 | Posted by et_al at 2026-03-20 07:04 AM

As usual, the pea-brained _pisitor proves what a ------- imbecile he is. Camp Pendleton is the largest military base in the country. They have square miles to practice live fire artillery. From the I-5 to the beach is about 100 yards. This was nothing but another photo-op for the fat pedophile.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-20 05:58 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP (86 comments)

SCOTUS Eviscerates Voting Rights Act (68 comments)

ICE Agent who Killed Renee Good in Minneapolis Gets Cushy New Job (39 comments)

Jeffries: Trump Impeachment Not a Priority If Dems Win House (27 comments)

Comey Surrenders over Bogus Lawfare Charges (17 comments)

Louisiana Governor Prepares to Suspend House Primaries (15 comments)

US Military Was Losing Its Edge -- Now Everyone Knows It (15 comments)

Death Threats Against Judges Are Surging (15 comments)

Oil Jumps to Highest Price Since 2022 (14 comments)

Calling Trump a Tyrant Is Not a Call to Violence (14 comments)