Originally posted by Gun Grape
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And to answer Bildgepump's question below, 16-inch shots required all decks up to 04 level to be cleared of all personnel. Exceptions were allowed during target practice when the big guns were fired at 90 or 180 degree azimuths. But even then no one was allowed aft of the after stack or forward of the bridge. Ummm, one more exception, if the guns are fired directly athwartships camera personnel (both uniform and non-uniform) were allowed up to the anchor hawse pipes.
Supposedly there were some cases in WW II where selected AA gunners were ordered to keep at GQ such as those in the 40mm stern gun tubs and the 20mm bow tubs. All other AA gunners amidships remained at GQ. As for those on top of Turrets II & III, I would recommend they head for the nearest coffee pot if I were the Captain or Gunnery Officer. Those turrets would be changing angles and elevations constantly while trying to take out their big targets and the AA crews would just be wasting ammo. Besides, there are no ammo passing scuttles on up the side of the turrets so what they had in their stowage racks behind the shields was all they got.
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