Ask An Expert- Battleships

bbvet said:
TBM3FAN . Now, in contrast, go visit USS YORKTOWN at Patriots Point, SC - THAT'S a wonderful, well maintained museum ship. I have not had the privilege to visit HORNET yet, but if I ever get to the left coast, I will make that a priority visit!

Hank
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Too bad deep below decks it isn't so dry and cozy. Plus she has been somewhat modified for the ease of visitors. Meanwhile there have been no modifications made to the Hornet for the ease of visitors or any other reason other than two hanger deck rest rooms. Below decks some volunteers are still trying to find the location on the keel where USS Kearsarge was engraved before the name was changed. Other than lack of good air it is dry way down below.
 
tbm3fan said:
Too bad deep below decks it isn't so dry and cozy. Plus she has been somewhat modified for the ease of visitors. Meanwhile there have been no modifications made to the Hornet for the ease of visitors or any other reason other than two hanger deck rest rooms. Below decks some volunteers are still trying to find the location on the keel where USS Kearsarge was engraved before the name was changed. Other than lack of good air it is dry way down below.
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Unfortunately, the general public (me!) isn't privy to some of the more elusive areas that you, as a volunteer, are able to see. I wasn't aware of below decks problems on YORKTOWN, but it doesn't surprise me. Common with museum ships, I guess (lack of scheduled maintenance, etc.). Not all the ships are maintained to the same degree and this simply (IMHO) represents the politics getting involved where decisions should be based on needs and requirements.
 
bbvet said:
That statement is not quite true - NEW JERSEY has had Turret 2 barbette altered by physically removing portions of the circular projectile handling areas below the turret in order to provide a space for visitors to see the loading procedures for the turret. This has permanently altered the integrity of these spaces rendering (for all intents and purposes) the turret useless. In addition, IOWA has never had her Turret 2 rebuilt after the 1989 turret explosion.

The other limiting factor in any recomm of IOWAs is the simple fact that very few experienced crewmen are available today to man these ships. We were lucky in 1967-68 to be able to find without any trouble IOWA class veterans from the mid-50s who were either still in the Navy or were willing to re-enlist. That was a bit harder in the '80s for recomm of all 4 IOWAs and I dare say now would be quite difficult.

While the museum alterations are probably reversible (plumbing/elec/HVAC etc) the turret conditions (mentioned above) are not. Theoretically speaking, I could only slightly see IOWA or WISCONSIN being even remotely considered for reactivation, in spite of IOWAs Turret 2 condition. NEW JERSEY would require major machinery overhaul in addition to her Turret 2 conditions. I doubt MISSOURI would be considered as her political position in Pearl Harbor outweighs any usefulness at this point.

Just an opinion, nothing more. I seriously doubt any IOWAs will ever taste blue water again.

H. M. Strub
exPN3, USN, USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62)
X Division 09/68-12/69
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IIRC Rusty said that the barbette could he repaired but maybe I read that wrong. Hmm I'll look tomorrow. Also the Iowas turret apparently wasn't that bad and they have all the parts to repair it. Not advocating another recommission just saying ;)
 
Smooth bore Naval guns?

Smooth bore Naval guns?

Random idea that I wanted to run by everyone. The M1 Abrams MBT uses a smoothbore cannon with specialized shells that stabilize it's flight thus not needing rifling and still able to penetrate armour. Now I did not look into this very well just using my limited knowledge on these but say someone wanted to build their own BB, is this a viable and cost effective (compared to IF we had the option to build a traditional gun TODAY) option on idea alone? Only thing I wasn't sure was range. Idea would be to have a smoothbore 16" gun that could use sabot rounds to extend the range. This is just a fun thought that I'm curious about.
 
Looking for Measured Drawings of Details

Looking for Measured Drawings of Details

To finish my computer model, I am looking for measured drawings of the following Iowa class details:

Nixie Bolsters
Armored Box Launchers
Life Raft Holders
Phalanx Guns
SATCOM Antenna
SQL-32 Antenna
Bow Roller Chock
16" Range Finder Hoods
MK 37 Director
MK 38 Director
AN/SPS-6 Antenna
AN/SPS-10 Antenna
New Jersey/Iowa Bow Bulwark
Funnel Caps

I'm willing to share the data I have.
 
I was wondering if any of the experts knew the placement of the Iowa Class twin 20mm gun mounts. The four Iowa Class ended WW2 with a number (I believe 6 or 12) of twin 20mm mountings. I am trying to find out which 20mm mounts on the Iowa's as of 1945 were single or twin. I am building a model of USS Missouri as at the time of the September 1945 surrender ceremony and I'm questioning where the mounts go.

Thanks in advance,

Don Murphy
 
Don,

Not to disparage or in any way downplay this forum, but if you're building a model of MISSOURI (circa 09/45), you probably would find many, if not all of your questions answered over on The Ship Model Forum (http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4683) - this link takes you directly to the Calling All USS IOWA (BB-61) Fans forum, which is set up for those building models of IOWA class battleships. The forum is devoted to MODELERS and so....what can I say??

But, since you asked - you didn't give any modeling details re. your project, but Sept. 45 is a end date for most WWII IOWA class models as it's the configuration at the end of hostilities. Since you are building MO, then any of the other 3 ships don't apply here. The ships all varied in their suite of 20mm mounts. Here are two photos of MISSOURI during 09/45 and I don't see any DUAL 20mm mounts - only singles:
BB63x19-14Jul45_resized.jpgBB63x22-2Sep45_resized.jpg While these photos do not show the entire ship, I feel confident that my answer is correct.

I am currently bashing the Trumpeter 1:200 scale MISSOURI kit in order to build a 1968-69 vintage NEW JERSEY. I don't believe the 1945 MISSOURI had any dual 20mm mounts as there are none in this kit and from that aspect only, the kit is quite correct.

Hope this helps,

HMS III - USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 1968-69
 
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Just checked my copy of "The Floating Drydocks "BB-63 2 Sept 1945 Plan Book"

No twin 20mm.

Don, if you're building the Missouri at the surrender then you need to find the above book
 
Gun Grape said:
Just checked my copy of "The Floating Drydocks "BB-63 2 Sept 1945 Plan Book"

No twin 20mm.

Don, if you're building the Missouri at the surrender then you need to find the above book
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Sumrall states all four ships had 8 twin 20mm mounts by April 1945.
 
Don,

It doesn't matter what AOTS says. Three separate and informed members just gave you the correct answer to your original question.
 
jdm4791 said:
AOTS lists twin 20's as well but doesn't state where they are.
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This is an Anatomy of the Ship book for the Iowas? If so, when did that come out?

The text of Sumrall says;

"The Armament Summaries of the Bu Ord indicate that the Iowas were each fitted with eight twin 20mm mounts in 1945 for evaluation purposes. It is uncertain if this installation was carried out in any of the class."

Holy equivocation, Batman!
 
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bigjimslade said:
This is an Anatomy of the Ship book for the Iowas? If so, when did that come out?

The text of Sumrall says;

"The Armament Summaries of the Bu Ord indicate that the Iowas were each fitted with eight twin 20mm mounts in 1945 for evaluation purposes. It is uncertain if this installation was carried out in any of the class."

Holy equivocation, Batman!
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My apologies - it is the Sumrall book and not an AOTS. "It is uncertain if this installation was carried out in any of the class." An interesting reason to feel it occurred would be that USS Washington and USS North Carolina were in the same battle area and have numerous twin 20's. Now in an opposite turn of events, none of my NC texts mention twins yet they are there when you visit the ship.

Cheers,


Don
 
With all due respect, Sumrall isn't to be taken lightly.
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While I respect Robt. Sumrall and all he has done for US Naval history, etc. there were NO dual 20mm mounts on MISSOURI or any of the other 3 IOWAs that I can find from well over 100 photos of these ships. I think the operative clause in his complete statement is this: "It is uncertain if this installation was carried out in any of the class."
 
bigjimslade said:
To finish my computer model, I am looking for measured drawings of the following Iowa class details:

Nixie Bolsters
Armored Box Launchers
Life Raft Holders
Phalanx Guns
SATCOM Antenna
SQL-32 Antenna
Bow Roller Chock
16" Range Finder Hoods
MK 37 Director
MK 38 Director
AN/SPS-6 Antenna
AN/SPS-10 Antenna
New Jersey/Iowa Bow Bulwark
Funnel Caps
Click to expand...

I need to add to this list, the same for the boat cranes.
 
Have a question regarding battleship propulsion


for U.S.S. Massachusetts (BB 59) form BRIEF DESCRIPTION - ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
"Each Boiler can change 16,500 gallons of water into steam at 600 lbs. per sq. in. pressure and 850 degrees F. Temperature in an hour. In order to do this it burns about 1400 gallons of fuel oil per hour."

BBs 61 to 64 used improved Babcock Wilcox Boilers. What was the designed steam output and fuel flow?

And btw is there somebody knowing the specific calorific value of the used fuel oil during WW2 [BTU/gal]
Thank you.
 
Here's a question. Did battleships get set on fire by small calibre gun fire?

I ask this because in this game I play, World of Warships, when I play a BB, a lot of CA, CL and DD try to gun fight me by peppering me with HE shells and setting me on fire. The fire does 10 times more damage to me than the explosions themselves. That's got to be wrong, no?
 
hboGYT said:
Here's a question. Did battleships get set on fire by small calibre gun fire?

I ask this because in this game I play, World of Warships, when I play a BB, a lot of CA, CL and DD try to gun fight me by peppering me with HE shells and setting me on fire. The fire does 10 times more damage to me than the explosions themselves. That's got to be wrong, no?
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Yes, it's wrong. But also yes, smaller caliber fire could and did certainly start fires on Battleships. Just ask South Dakota at Guadalcanal.

But as for a topside fire gradually sinking the ship like it does in the game....nope. That's totally unrealistic. As is the whole "don't show your broadside" business in the game. In real Battleships, the broadside is where your armor is. The game is fun, but don't treat it like a simulation...it's not.
Does have some darn nice graphics and ship modeling, though.
 
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