Fragging

Fragging is the deliberate killing or attempted killing of a soldier, usually a superior, by a fellow soldier. U.S. military personnel coined the word during the Vietnam War, when such killings were most often committed or attempted with a fragmentation grenade, to make it appear that the killing was accidental or during combat with the enemy. The term fragging now encompasses any deliberate killing of military colleagues.

The high number of fragging incidents in the latter years of the Vietnam War was symptomatic of discontent that existed among some military personnel and of a breakdown of discipline in parts of the U.S. Armed Forces. Documented and suspected fragging incidents using explosives totaled 904 from 1969 to 1972, although this number is considered an underestimation. In addition, hundreds of fragging incidents using firearms took place, but were hard to quantify as they were indistinguishable from combat deaths and poorly documented. It has even been called the "Army's 'other war' in Vietnam", the "battle with the insurgents in its own ranks", by the author and Vietnam veteran David Cortright in his systematic study of soldiers in revolt during that war. Cortright also argues that "assaults against commanders during the Vietnam War probably reached into the thousands."

Fragging is distinct from the unintentional killing or wounding of comrades or allied personnel. Such incidents are referred to as friendly fire.