There have been several comments made as to the gunnery tests and other tests aboard the Iowa class battleships through out the years and this thread is established to air these thoughts and establish wether they are myth or fact.
One prior comment states that the guns on the Iowa's at one point were fired dead ahead and dead astern causing damage to certain listed structures.
Ok as far as New Jersey (BB62) goes these "tests" were conducted but to correct the idea they relay is by saying New Jerseys guns were not fired dead ahead or dead astern causing the damage to movie shack. New Jersey's movie shack on the aft deck damage did come from the concusion of the 16" guns. However the damage caused to the movie shack was caused by Turret #3 Rifle #1 (Looking at the stern turret #3 Rifle #1 this would be the rifle to the far right viewed from outside the turret) The test assumed worst case senerio in which Turret #3 was rotated approximately 15 degrees from centerline of the ship and thus would bring Turret #3 Rifle#1 closest to said movie shack inflicting the damage incurred.
When I questioned several gentlemen onboard (USN) that was onboard during those tests they confirmed that Turret #3 was rotated 15 degrees from centerline of the ship and the concussion for Rifle#1 (16"/50) had inflicted the damage (caved in the port side/cracked I beams etc.. He/they went further to state that had all rifles (including 2&3) fired at the same time (reality hundreds of a second apart to allow for recoil) instead of just one rifle the movie shack likely would have been crushed like a tin can if not blown clear off the aft deck due a much more powerful three gun concusion. Thats what is exactly stated by these gentlemen.
Was this the case with the others?...I can surely state that I dont know it may have been but as far as New Jersey is concerned this was not the case as stated by those present at that time.
One prior comment states that the guns on the Iowa's at one point were fired dead ahead and dead astern causing damage to certain listed structures.
That was the exact intention of NSWC.
That was so much fun with USS New Jersey that they also did it with USS Iowa in August 1985.
They even shattered USS Iowa's basketball backstop
That was so much fun with USS New Jersey that they also did it with USS Iowa in August 1985.
They even shattered USS Iowa's basketball backstop
When I questioned several gentlemen onboard (USN) that was onboard during those tests they confirmed that Turret #3 was rotated 15 degrees from centerline of the ship and the concussion for Rifle#1 (16"/50) had inflicted the damage (caved in the port side/cracked I beams etc.. He/they went further to state that had all rifles (including 2&3) fired at the same time (reality hundreds of a second apart to allow for recoil) instead of just one rifle the movie shack likely would have been crushed like a tin can if not blown clear off the aft deck due a much more powerful three gun concusion. Thats what is exactly stated by these gentlemen.
Was this the case with the others?...I can surely state that I dont know it may have been but as far as New Jersey is concerned this was not the case as stated by those present at that time.
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