Ammunition, powder, explosives… The pyrotechnics of the Cherbourg arsenal is an exposed service

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Since a arsenal is located at Cherbourgthere is a pyrotechnic service where ammunition, powder and explosives are manufactured and stored. This service was established in several places, within the arsenal itself, then in the fort of the Flemishfinally at Nardouet. And the history of the Cherbourg “pyro” is peppered with drama.

• – A first accident is reported as soon as 1812in the fireworks room of the arsenal, which creates a great panic in the city, but only causes one death.
• – In 1870, an explosion devastates a workshop manufacturing “ killing pills » from Fort des Flamands: 19 dead, 7 seriously injured.
• – August 13, 1919le bugalet Julie leaves the port of the Flemish in charge of various ammunition condemned, to dump them in the pit of Cap Lévi. On board the ship, 7 men including 6 pyrotechnicians. The drowning operations had barely begun before series of explosions caused the boat to fly into pieces. There is no no survivors.
• – On March 8, 1927, same circumstances, same accident on the bugalet The indestructible : 3 deaths.
• – In February 1935an outbreak of fire causes an explosion Nardouet : 2 dead and 2 injured.

• – Finally, in avril 1959a young pyrotechnician from Nardouet is killed while handling cartridges.
• – The latest tragedy that affected the “pyro” personnel, the explosion of The Faithful, April 30, 1997 (which is very similar to the dramas of Julie and of The indestructible). That day, the French Navy barge set sail from the military port with 22 men on board, including 6 pyrotechnicians. Their mission is to destroy a stock of 1,400 expired depth charges.

Mid-morning, while The Faithful is located off the coast of Fermanvilleand the pyrotechnicians have just started their work, a violent explosion shakes the sinking ship in moments. The crew was quickly rescued by nearby ships, but the toll was heavy: 5 dead (including 4 pyrotechnicians) and 17 injured. The State will be condemned in 2013 for “inexcusable misconduct”.

Frédéric PATARD

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