BERLIN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The German frigate "Saxony" caught fire during a recent naval exercise in the North Sea, military representatives confirmed on Friday.
According to an online report published by the German navy, an "incident" occurred when a missile SM 2 failed to launch properly and exploded on deck. "We were facing a hot glowing wall of fire," a statement by a frigate captain who witnessed the scene read.
While the fire caused some visible damage to the top deck and bridge structure of the naval vessel, no member of the crew was harmed.
The report emphasized that there had been no indication of any faults with the rocket prior to its failed launch.
The "Saxony" frigate is usually stationed in the port of Wilhelmshaven in Northwestern Germany but was travelling above the polar circle off the coast of Norway at the time of the incident.
Together with the submarine-hunter "Luebeck", both ships were undergoing training exercises in a specially-designated area and are currently moored in the Norwegian port of Harstad in order to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage incurred.
The German navy is deeply integrated into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and regularly participates in the international anti-piracy and peacekeeping operations of the defense alliance.
