Gun barrel explodes on Taiwan frigate, nobody injured: Navy

Taipei, March. 7 (CNA) A 76-millimeter (mm) gun on one of the Taiwan Navy's Cheng Kung-class frigates exploded during a shooting drill Friday, but none of the crew were injured, according to the Naval Fleet Command.

"The Chang Chien frigate experienced an explosion of its 76mm fast gun barrel during an anti-aircraft shooting exercise this morning, with no personnel injured," the command said in a statement.

A team has been tasked to investigate the cause of the explosion, the command said.

The "76mm fast gun" that exploded is the 76mm OTO Melara dual-purpose turreted deck gun, designed by the Italian defense company OTO Melara. It is used by the militaries of over 50 countries, according to the military websites Military Factory and U.S. Naval Institute.

The Chang Chien is one of 10 Cheng Kung-class guided-missile frigates in the Rebublic of China (Taiwan's official name) Navy, which are primarily used for patrol, combat, and training missions.

They were all built in Taiwan based on the improved design of the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, equipped not only with the 76mm fast gun but also with air-defense and anti-warship missiles.