Salem-News.com Navy articles

At Least 20 Die in Russian Submarine Accident

The vessel was set to be commissioned in the Russian Navy later this year, and most of the dead were shipbuilders on board to carry out tests.

(MOSCOW, Russia) - The Russian government confirms that at least 20 died Sunday during an accident on a brand new submarine operating in the Sea of Japan. It is the worst Russian submarine disaster since Russia lost the nuclear-powered submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea on August 12th 2000. The submarine was located by searchers at the depth of 108 meters on August 13. All the Kursk's 118 crewmembers died, The ITAR-TASS News agency reports.

Russian Navy Assistant Commander Capt. 1st Class Igor Dugalo says medics have examined the poisoned crew.

"Leading physicians of the Russian Pacific Fleet have examined 21 people affected in the self-induced start of the nuclear-powered submarine fire system. Twenty of them have insignificant poisoning, and the condition of one is more serious." he said.

Watch for our Series on El Toro Marine Base Contamination

All Marines and their family members who were stationed at El Toro and Camp Lejeune, where the contamination-related problems are a matter of record and have inspired several ongoing investigations, need to be aware of the possible related health risks.

(SALEM, Ore.) - El Toro MCAS was the Marine Corps' top aviation base on the west coast until its 1999 closure that sent the 3rd Marine Air Wing down to Miramar, "Fighter Town USA", which booted the Navy and its Top Gun program off to the Nevada desert where it is now located in Fallon.

The story of El Toro begins in haste; World War Two was on and the Marines needed a place to train and organize the aerial arm of the war effort, so the farm fields and orange orchards around Trabuco Canyon Road in Orange County were plowed down and the runways and associated buildings were constructed.

List of Americans Killed in Afghanistan Passes 500

Casualties may have dropped in Iraq, but in Afghanistan the numbers in recent days have jumped significantly.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fifteen Americans have died fighting in Afghanistan in the last two weeks. The number of Marines and Navy Corpsman killed in combat is extremely high. The most recent deaths involve one U.S. soldier who died in Khogyani, Afghanistan, and four who were killed in Kandahar City. Their names were released Tuesday.

The numbers of casualties in Iraq almost always exceeds the numbers out of Afghanistan, but that seems to be turning around as the summer kicks into high gear. Many military fighters native to the region remain less active during the winter, and are often known for launching an increasing number of attacks in May and June.

Navy and Marine Casualties Surge in Afghanistan

Most casualties in Iraq have been from the U.S. Army, but in Afghanistan six Marines and sailors have died in four days.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A number of Marines and sailors have been killed in Afghanistan in recent days, demonstrating a true shift away from the traditionally larger number of U.S. Army casualties reported in Iraq.

The Department of Defense this week announced that four Marines died June 14th while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. Two sailors died June 18th as a result of wounds suffered from an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province, Afghanistan.