16" 50 cal projectiles

[Dreadnought]

[quote=RustyBattleship;336285]

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Thank you, Dick.

More questions if I may :

1. When is the Navy decision due for (I seem to recall something like second or third quarter of 2007) ?

2. What impact will the recent legislation requiring continued use of cathodic protection and dehumidification have ? (e.g. who's going to pay the bills, what will be open to public, etc...)
QUOTE]

First question: I think a 3rd quarter decision is most likely. I wish it would be 2nd quarter then we have some nicer weather to start repairs and modifications.

Second question: This is going to be a tough one. Since it is the government's decision to keep the ship in semi-Class B reserve, we think the government should pay for cathodic protection and dehumidification.

Right now, cathodic protection is using the standard mothballed ship method of hanging impressed current cathodic anodes over the side. But Iowa has her own built into the hull (I personally drew the plans for them).

D/H may be a little rough since many spaces now under D/H will be open to the public and under A/C instead. The plans I have drawn for D/H mods actually takes 3 of the 9 machines and puts them in storage for spares. It also relocates 2 other machines to continue dehumidifying non visitor spaces but gets them out of the way of regular visitor spaces.

There is a ton more items that we have addressed in our proposal and it's going to require a sit down - eyeball to eyeball meeting to hammer out who pays for what.

I may even have to bite the bullet and fly back to DC for the meeting (I hate flying if I'm not at the controls).

Hmmm. If lounge is open, 2 or 3 vodkas will help me get on the plane. While in the air attempt to buy out entire supply of Vodka. Then rent a car ----. Believe it or not, by the time I step off a plane I'm stone sober. Burned it all up in anxiety I guess.

My dream retirement was that of the guy who invented Warp Drive on Star Trek. That was to relax on a South Seas Island with sun-tanned naked girls all around me.

But at my age, I wouldn't know what to do with a naked girl anymore (except hyperventilate) but I still know how to fix a Battleship.

Mr. L, Question:
Since Iowa would still be considered an asset. Would'nt her maintenance funding and systems reflect that of Wisconnsin docked in Norfolk at present? Since these two seem to be the choice for that status you would think they would reflect the same funding guidlines.. I.E. Deck tours only no interior spaces opened. And funding for her cathodic protection and dehumidification systems. As well as the "A" plan for immediate reactivation as well passed by Congress not long ago?

[tlturbo]

OK, I have some questions back on the original subject that I started this thread for.
Thanks for the websites - I had pretty much torn those and a LOT of other sites apart looking for information.

Is a 16" 50 cal HE projectile nose or base fused?
If it is nose fused, what is the small screw in piece in the center of the base plug?
Can the base plug be unscrewed with a BIG spanner wrench made to fit the holes?

Thanks - Terry

[RustyBattleship]

[quote=Dreadnought;336588]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

Mr. L, Question:
Since Iowa would still be considered an asset. Would'nt her maintenance funding and systems reflect that of Wisconnsin docked in Norfolk at present? Since these two seem to be the choice for that status you would think they would reflect the same funding guidlines.. I.E. Deck tours only no interior spaces opened. And funding for her cathodic protection and dehumidification systems. As well as the "A" plan for immediate reactivation as well passed by Congress not long ago?

That's something that has to be worked out yet on a conference table. If we cannot open up the most interesting interior spaces for visitors, we won't sell as many tickets as we would like. The air conditioning systems we designed will take the place of dehumidification. Not that the air would be all that dry since they work through fan-coil units of chilled water. But it's controllable. If we have to hang silica cannisters in the spaces we will.

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by tlturbo

OK, I have some questions back on the original subject that I started this thread for.
Thanks for the websites - I had pretty much torn those and a LOT of other sites apart looking for information.

Is a 16" 50 cal HE projectile nose or base fused?
If it is nose fused, what is the small screw in piece in the center of the base plug?
Can the base plug be unscrewed with a BIG spanner wrench made to fit the holes?

Thanks - Terry

Almost all are base fuzed. A nose fuse on an AP shell wouldn't last long enough to be of any use when hitting steel armor or reinforced concrete. There are some nose fused types designed to explode above the ground such as the "Firecracker" rounds that scatter 400 bouncing bettys all around.

To remove a base fuse, you need a screwdriver first. That's to take out the locking screw that prevents the base fuse from unscrewing itself. Please, no double entendres on that "unscrewing" discription. The 16" shells fired by Massachussets at the Battle of Casablanca had a problem with the base fuses falling out half way to their targets. One of the dud rounds is on display in town.

Actually, the round that sunk the Jean Bart was a dud but it went all the way through the after hull and cracked the stern casting. As the ship settled by the stern, the casting broke off.

No, I'm not going to dig out my plans now. I've been having computer problems and I bought it only last November. For some reason it won't talk to my scanner anymore, or vice versee.

[RAL's_pal?]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

No, I'm not going to dig out my plans now. I've been having computer problems and I bought it only last November. For some reason it won't talk to my scanner anymore, or vice versee.

Damn ex-shipfitter..... when are you going to learn you can't fix everything with a hammer? You should take your hammer with you when you go back to Circuit City to find the guy who put your system together.

[tlturbo]

Don't feel bad. I've been in data processing (new buzz word is Information Technology) since the 60's and I have been fighting with a printer,scanner/fax combo machine all weekend. Tried everything. Got pissed and turned it off for a day then back on and it is now happy again. Go figure!!

Thanks for the fuze answer. NOW, anyone got a spare base plug spanner wrench HA HA

So on a base fuzed HE shell, the nose piece is just a hardened pointed cone that screws into the adapter?

Terry

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by tlturbo

So on a base fuzed HE shell, the nose piece is just a hardened pointed cone that screws into the adapter?

Terry

Not necessarily. On an AP it would but on HE projectiles I have seen they have a brass nose. That may be a nose fuse in ADDITION to a base fuse or a time delay charge. I don't recall the cutaway drawings I have that well, but some rounds are actually dome-shaped with a sheet metal ogive nose. Those are usually BLP's (Blind Loaded Plugs or dummies) and the empty nose cone is used to fill with a dye marker.

Then again some aren't and do have a small charge in the dome casing.

Since I can't get an FFL to own one of the guns and my lot isn't big enough to store it, I only paid attention to the outside diameters to build a rolling display stand for one.

[Shipwreck]

Originally Posted by tlturbo

Is a 16" 50 cal HE projectile nose or base fused?

16-inch HiCap had both PDF and BDF.

[Shipwreck]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

Second question: This is going to be a tough one. Since it is the government's decision to keep the ship in semi-Class B reserve, we think the government should pay for cathodic protection and dehumidification.

What's the situation on the two Iowas that are already museums (USS New Jersey and USS Missouri) ? Who pays for what ?

[tlturbo]

Rusty,
A rolling display stand for one? Just the man I need to talk to. I don't suppose you could give me some details on what it looks like and what you made it out of please?

Do you happen to know just exactly what a MK 14 Mod 0 projectile is?

Terry

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

What's the situation on the two Iowas that are already museums (USS New Jersey and USS Missouri) ? Who pays for what ?

So far as I've heard, they are all personally funded and the only interest the Navy has in them is to make sure they can be recalled to active duty. In other words, the museum associations cannot activate the main propulsion machinery, galleys or navigational equipment.

Funny thing about that restrictive paragraph in the Navy letter, by omission it allows you to reactivate the guns.

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by tlturbo

Rusty,
A rolling display stand for one? Just the man I need to talk to. I don't suppose you could give me some details on what it looks like and what you made it out of please?

Do you happen to know just exactly what a MK 14 Mod 0 projectile is?

Terry

I'll have to look through my plans. I think I have one on that model. As for the rolling stand that took me 3 weeks to build, it got lost during a warehouse move and I don't think I have the sketches anymore.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

So far as I've heard, they are all personally funded and the only interest the Navy has in them is to make sure they can be recalled to active duty. In other words, the museum associations cannot activate the main propulsion machinery, galleys or navigational equipment.

Funny thing about that restrictive paragraph in the Navy letter, by omission it allows you to reactivate the guns.

Yes we have a very long list of things we arent aloud to touch. And if needed too would have to have a Naval representative present and follow said guidelines already laid down.

We are inspected twice a year as far as New Jersey goes. I would imagine Whiskey may be watched even more closely.The others I am unsure of.

[RAL's_pal?]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Yes we have a very long list of things we arent aloud to touch.

How about some quick examples of what's not allowed to be touched?

[Dreadnought]

Well Pal,
We are not permitted to touch as Rusty said the powerplant, turbines etc. We cant cycle the pumps, shafts, builge, radar of any kind with exception of the Nav radar installed when she was on her "tow" home. The turrets, shell/powder handling hoists and elevators as well as shell decks and interlocks to turret rotation/elevation. No access beyond the forward bulkhead in the turrets, gun pit, gun captains local control for turret. No hydraulics whatsoever as to my knowledge, Windlass and all equipment there in...wildcats,capstans etc. Blowers only run when we need them. All valves are tagged and locked out to vital systems and feed lines some are even monitored by camera. Broadway to us (crew/workers) we can access however no public can access this area so engineering, gunplot for both the 16" & 5" are inaccessable, Boiler rooms, Fire Rooms, Hospital, Aftersteering con stations. Brig,Metal shps etc. We dont touch the conning tower stations for steerage or original fire control stations located above on the open Nav bridge. They look great for pics and we keep them in fine shape. The CEC is pretty well protected as far as "touch" wise but you can look all you want.

The CIWS consoles arent there because the Navy still uses them in some applications but radar,Tomahawks,Harpoons,Air radar,Surface radar etc are up and illuminated for the curious. The CEC is very much alive with instrumentation and sound as they would be in her days at sea. No access to inside helo ops control center however you can still view through its shielding, Fantail Helo and those associated with.
No access above the 06 level, So no mast stations, ECM's,FCR, "SKY" stations or anything that pertains to such from us "ladder acrobats"

The vast majority of these spaces that are "off limits" and "non-powerable" equipment to the public have been laid up and preserved for long term storage if she was ever to be recalled into service. They know it is in the very same condition as her last inspections since the day they turned her over to Camden. And doing quite well I might add.

To my own knowledge we are not permitted to "touch" an etire ration list of things without representation from or specific written permision from the USN or the foundation that hold responsibility for her.Which Im sure they will seek the USN appoval for before giving the ok.

From what the OOD and the Chief tell us there are many many systems active onboard her as she sits. And many that are "hibernating" These are interlocked so that even a "touchy" person couldnt possibly damage her mobility nor capabilities.

But still we keep to "hands off" at all times and respect the asset which we are entrusted with by the USN.

When we raise the guns it is done manually and it takes several hours to do using what we call "alot of ass"..lol or so our 80 some year old expert (former gun captain) on the turrets would say.