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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 20, 2014 12:16:22 GMT 12
Gotta love those HUGE 16-inch naval guns....   (click on either photograph to open an images archive page at the Los Angeles Times website) |
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Post by beagle on Jun 20, 2014 12:18:51 GMT 12
Didn't they rebuild a couple of ex battleships in the 80's or 90's and had them in service.
Are they still around, is one of them.
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Post by suthg on Jun 20, 2014 12:25:44 GMT 12
Love the wooden decking... man, see the shockwave flatten the sea surface out!
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Post by beagle on Jun 20, 2014 12:32:30 GMT 12
Just reading about them, the USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin. The USS Wisconsin served in the first conflict when Kuwait was held.
She had been sitting idle since 1958 and brought back to strength then decommissioned 3 years later.
How many millions, hundreds of millions did it cost to do that for 3 years service.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 20, 2014 13:01:57 GMT 12
Some great photos there Bruce. USS Missouri was another one, and its deck was where the end of WWII was signed by the Japanese Government representatives and those of the Allies. Air Vice Marshal Len Isitt signed on behalf of New Zealand. Missouri went onto greater fame, starring in the classic Steven Seagal film Under Siege.  I recall seeing on TV that the decks were cleared before the big guns fired on these ships because if a man was on deck he was sucked along with the shell and went firing off with it. That is powerful! |
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Post by TS on Jun 20, 2014 13:31:09 GMT 12
Yes and I have been told that when they would fire a broad side the whole ship would move side ways. Man that is powerful. Great to see the pic's thank you.
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Post by beagle on Jun 20, 2014 13:39:59 GMT 12
reminds me when told off by the mrs, house moves.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 20, 2014 13:41:11 GMT 12
Back in 1988 (Australia's bicentennial year), I was in Australia to visit my brother in Brisbane, visit a friend in Sydney, then attend the Bicentennial Airshow (all days, including the trade days). Myself and a friend were in Sydney for about 2½ weeks on that visit and one of the big Iowa-class battleships (I cannot recall which one) was on a visit to Sydney as part of the bicentennial celebrations. There was a lot of publicity about it sailing out through the heads on a particular date (which luckily coincided with our visit to Sydney), then opening up with several nine-gun broadsides out to sea, firing live rounds. On the date in question, my mate and I (and the friend from Sydney) drove up to the Manly Head (along with crowds of Sydneysiders) to watch the show. It was pretty spectacular and the noise was indescribable. Definitely one of those experiences you never, ever forget.
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Post by TS on Jun 20, 2014 13:42:23 GMT 12
Like this.....
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Post by nuuumannn on Jun 20, 2014 14:29:45 GMT 12
Great pics. All four ships of the class, (Iowa BB-61, New Jersey BB-62, Missouri BB-63, Wisconsin BB-64) often referred to as the New Jersey Class were modified for future service; on the images above, the long rectangular boxes on the Iowa's superstructure are for launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, whilst the four tubed launchers mounted amidships are for Harpoon anti-sub/anti-ship missiles. The ships also were fitted out to provide C3 (Command, Control, Communications) facilities for the fleet. All have now been placed in preservation. Missouri, with her role at the end of WW2 is on display next to Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 20, 2014 14:52:40 GMT 12
Then there is the movie “Battleship” (I've got a copy) where the “Mighty Mo” comes out of retirement from where she is on display, crewed by WWII veterans, and goes into battle against alien spaceships which are kicking the shit out of the US Navy and US Air Force. The “Mighty Mo” blows the alien command spaceship out of existence with her BIG GUNS and saves the day for planet earth. The movie is a total & absolute load of shit, but it is entertaining shit for a lazy day when you cannot be bothered engaging your brain and just want to be amused! |
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Post by nuuumannn on Jun 24, 2014 1:09:43 GMT 12
You mean this one?
Yeah, just leave your brain in neutral and its great!
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 27, 2014 16:11:29 GMT 12
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 27, 2014 16:14:03 GMT 12
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Post by sailorsid on Jun 27, 2014 17:12:24 GMT 12
I vaugly remember seeing a hole blown through a sixteen inch sheet of armour plate steel by a sixteen inch shell when I visited the Washington DC naval Yard in 1972. it was impressive.
Sailor Sid
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 27, 2014 19:22:01 GMT 12
I vaugly remember seeing a hole blown through a sixteen inch sheet of armour plate steel by a sixteen inch shell when I visited the Washington DC naval Yard in 1972. it was impressive. Sailor Sid It was still there when I visited in 1990. It was Japanese armour plate that the US tested after the war to see how good it was(n't)! Bloody impressive that a shell could penetrate something that thick. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 27, 2014 20:44:29 GMT 12
Was it the USS Iowa that had the turret blown up deliberately by a sailor after a spat with his boyfriend? These days they'd blame terrorists for that one.
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Post by sailorsid on Jun 27, 2014 21:43:22 GMT 12
I vaugly remember seeing a hole blown through a sixteen inch sheet of armour plate steel by a sixteen inch shell when I visited the Washington DC naval Yard in 1972. it was impressive. Sailor Sid It was still there when I visited in 1990. It was Japanese armour plate that the US tested after the war to see how good it was(n't)! Bloody impressive that a shell could penetrate something that thick. Must have been real good aiming because it wasn't a very big piece either. |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 28, 2014 1:49:49 GMT 12
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 28, 2014 1:50:22 GMT 12
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