SDF member dies after grenade thrown by another during training

RIP. That's one awful way to go...

Hearing that a piece of shrapnel hit him in the neck after the grenade exploded.

How horrible. I thought they trained with duds. Very tragic.

R I P

Very strange training methods. Usually fake ones are used and then the officer let's take measurements of degrees , deviations , throwing width, throwing angles etc. And btw, it also seems a bit outdated , nowadays they should change the training methods or additionally practice such, that a small drone is equipped with the grenade and then flies to a given target to drop the load. In fact there's not even any need for such grenade throwing training in an island country. Look, if a potential enemy makes it to the beaches and harbors in numbers then the case is already lost in a population declining and population aging society, whether all the remaining few high-aged seniors throw a few grenades from the senior residences' balconies or not.

First of all, RIP and thank you for your service….

I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but the Mk2 “pineapple” type frag grenades the SDF still use did have some issues with the fuse and primer deteriorating over time and not producing a consistent 6-8 second delay.

Assuming the grenades used would be from the oldest inventory stock, a faulty fuse burning too fast and detonating the grenade in the air mid-throw does seem consistent with the type of injury described in other news sources, shrapnel in the neck, face and collar.

If you’ve seen the grenade ranges in Fuji, they are designed very safe, with a throwing trench, escape trench, and trapping ditch for errant grenades.

I don’t want to assume without more details, but an air burst is what I think is most consistent with the injuries.

Sven AsaiToday  06:10 pm JST

Very strange training methods. Usually fake ones are used and then the officer let's take measurements of degrees , deviations , throwing width, throwing angles etc.

I don’t know to which army you went but it is definitely part of the training to throw a live grenade. Throwing fakes is not done on the live firing range next to Fuji.

Sven Asai

In fact there's not even any need for such grenade throwing training in an island country.

Utterly academic statement that shows zero understanding of what we do in the military.

Utterly academic statement that shows zero understanding of what we do in the military.

I give persons who never served the benefit of the doubt, because they probably assume that some 18 year olds are suddenly handed live grenades and just told to “pull the pin and chuck it down range.”

In reality there are many hours spent on instruction and practical application of proper storage, handling, and throwing technique. Then more hours spent practicing with inert training dummies, then only after the soldier or Marine shows satisfactory technique and skill is he/she even allowed see a live grenade.

How horrible. I thought they trained with duds.

Nope, and just who or where did you get the idea that duds were used in training exercises? Please share where you learned that ?

Very strange training methods. Usually fake ones are used 

Same question, where did you get this false information? Or are you just assuming something?

Many hours spent to die for no reason and no purpose.

Utterly academic statement that shows zero understanding of what we do in the military.

You are being nice. I would have said "utterly ignorant statement"

No war in a completely peaceful country and a young man with a full life ahead of him died training for war is such a tragedy.

The problem is that wihen you are learning to use hand grenades, you have to get used to the time lapse between pulling the pin out and the explosion. Used to be 4 seconds when I was in the school cadets in the'50's, and in that time you have to throw it at the target. Si you need to be really focused!

. . . for training, non-exploding grenades should be used . . . .

Horrible news. Rest in Peace and thanks for your service.

Sadly, training accidents happen. Soldiers need to practice using live grenades and live artillery.

Redemption-

No war in a completely peaceful country and a young man with a full life ahead of him died training for war is such a tragedy.

Nope.

He died preparing himself to defend his nation. Most nations - including Japan - are not in active wars - but must always prepare for them. Never stop.

Ready for Peace - Prepared for war.

you have to train with live ammunition, including grenades. being in the military is not a video game.

RIP awful news.

there’s only so much safety you can implement in these ranges before they stop being useful to training unfortunately.

RedemptionMay 30 07:28 pm JST

No war in a completely peaceful country and a young man with a full life ahead of him died training for war is such a tragedy.

You want peace, prepare for war.

No war in a completely peaceful country and a young man with a full life ahead of him died training for war is such a tragedy

Sure, no need for that madness..

Ready for Peace - Prepared for war.

You want peace, prepare for war.

The biggest stupid pretext for warmongering in the history of the world..

Millions of millions died because of this stupidity..

TokyoLivingToday 01:52 am JST

You want peace, prepare for war.

The biggest stupid pretext for warmongering in the history of the world..

Glad you agree that China should stop arming.

War training isn't for fun. When I was in war games in Florida, a fighter got "target fixation" and jetted smack into a mountain. The plane was 2 ft. flat, and the pilot was in there. Two guys in a desert trench were crushed by a tank because in such a trench you can't tell from where the tank is coming. Things happen in training. Bad? Oh, my god, yes. Necessary? Absolutely. Soldiers train so these things don't happen in a real battle. Most such training exercises are pulled off without anyone being hurt. That's most of them. Should the military stop? Not if you want to defend what you've got. Sad about the soldier, and they are investigating. Hold the criticism till you know what you are talking about.

It would be useful to have more information. In any case, a terrible accident.

Live fire training is necessary

Body armor ?

Unfortunately sometimes accidents happen

Sincere condolences

Gene HennighToday  04:42 am JST

War training isn't for fun. When I was in war games in Florida, a fighter got "target fixation" and jetted smack into a mountain. The plane was 2 ft. flat, and the pilot was in there. Two guys in a desert trench were crushed by a tank because in such a trench you can't tell from where the tank is coming.

my antenna are wiggling with this. was this an online game or a dream?

no mountains in florida. ears and eyes can tell you which way a tank is coming.

were you a navy seal, too? about 350 seals were in vietnam over 10+ years. i’ve met and heard of thousands of them telling their tales.

Very strange training methods. Usually fake ones are used and then the officer let's take measurements of degrees , deviations , throwing width, throwing angles etc. And btw, it also seems a bit outdated , nowadays they should change the training methods or additionally practice such, that a small drone is equipped with the grenade and then flies to a given target to drop the load. In fact there's not even any need for such grenade throwing training in an island country. Look, if a potential enemy makes it to the beaches and harbors in numbers then the case is already lost in a population declining and population aging society, whether all the remaining few high-aged seniors throw a few grenades from the senior residences' balconies or not.

Very strange training methods. Usually fake ones are used and then the officer let's take measurements of degrees , deviations , throwing width, throwing angles etc. And btw, it also seems a bit outdated , nowadays they should change the training methods or additionally practice such, that a small drone is equipped with the grenade and then flies to a given target to drop the load. In fact there's not even any need for such grenade throwing training in an island country. Look, if a potential enemy makes it to the beaches and harbors in numbers then the case is already lost in a population declining and population aging society, whether all the remaining few high-aged seniors throw a few grenades from the senior residences' balconies or not.

Sven Asai stated that throwing hand grenades by hand is outdated and that it needs to be mounted on drones. He thought that Japan did not need grenade throwing training. I agree with his opinion, because hand grenades have not been used much in recent years. Instead, drone bombs are beginning to be used. For instance, under the war between Ukraine and Russia, many drone bombs have been used, and both countries have suffered many casualties from them. It can be controlled by the user and are almost certain to hit the enemy. In addition, it keeps allies from getting caught in the explosion. Weapons used in war are technologically evolving, and various everyday objects, such as bomb drones, may become weapons in the future. In conclusion, weapons used in war have changed recently and training should be adopted to these changes.