USS Bonhomme Richard explodes in San Diego: VIDEO

An amphibious assault ship used in Australia’s largest military exercise has burst into flames, with an explosion injuring dozens of sailors and multiple civilians.

An amphibious assault ship used in Australia’s largest military exercise has burst into flames, with an explosion injuring dozens of sailors and multiple civilians.

The USS Bonhomme Richard caught fire at Naval Base San Diego about 8.30am on Sunday (US time).

The explosion filled the city with dark smoke.

A fire burns on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego on July 12, 2020 in San Diego, California. There was an explosion on board the ship with multiple injuries reported. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP

The entire crew of the USS Bonhomme Richard was accounted for and are all off the 840-foot vessel, a statement from the US Naval Surface Forces said.

“Eighteen Sailors have been transferred to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Local, base and shipboard firefighters are responding to the fire,” it said.

The USS Bonhomme Richard has in the past been used in Exercise Talisman Sabre.

In 2017 Townsville’s 3rd Brigade conducted a series of landings ashore and conduct high-end warfighting scenarios in the maritime domain.

In the same year, three marines died after a US Marines MV-22 Osprey plunged into the ocean about 28km off the coast of Shoalwater Bay on August 5 after taking off from the USS Bonhomme Richard.

Originally published as USS Bonhomme Richard explodes in San Diego: VIDEO