SEATTLE (AP) — Four U.S. Army soldiers who were part of an elite team that does nighttime missions died when the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were aboard crashed earlier this week near a military base in Washington state, Army officials said Friday.

The helicopter was on a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said. The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne, officials said.

  • OopsOverbombing@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I don’t believe he was referring to a kayak though. He mentioned his coxswain, which is a term from crew rowing. A boat of 8 or 4 will typically have one acting as an almost conductor and driver of the boat. Regardless, those oars are much heftier than a plastic kayak oar usually being made of wood and plastics but could definitely do some damage to someone’s head in the water.

    • Batman@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      You’re right it was an 8 person racing shell back then. It’s atleast 1300 lbs of people giving lots of momentum. Oars were carbon fiber.

        • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Get out of here. People deal with far stronger hits to the head than an accidental rowing incident, especially if the oar has hit water beforehand. Even without a helmet, that’s nothing compared to the collisions of rugby, hockey or football on a regular basis. You’re just being silly.