MEDELMA@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU (Michael Edelman) (11/22/90)
From: Michael Edelman <MEDELMA@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU>
I just read an excellent account in the latest issue of Popular Science
on the investigation by Sandia Labs into the turret explosion on the
Iowa. The general concensus is that it was caused by a combination of
too high a rammer speed (ramming powder at the speed meant for ramming
projectiles) combined with a particular distribution of pellets in one or
more of the powder sacks.
Has such an explosion occurred before in WWII era battleships? Did any lose
turrets either in battle or in practice from an internal detonation?
--mike edelman medelma@cms.cc.wayne.eduwelty@lewis.crd.ge.com (richard welty) (11/29/90)
From: welty@lewis.crd.ge.com (richard welty)
In article <1990Nov21.213959.16901@cbnews.att.com>, Michael Edelman writes:
..about the Iowa turret explosion ...
*Has such an explosion occurred before in WWII era battleships? Did any lose
*turrets either in battle or in practice from an internal detonation?
such an explosion occurred in Maryland during a pre-invasion
shore bombardment in the pacific during wwii. as i recall
approximately 40 crewmembers were killed in the incident.
the turret remained attached to the ship; the force needed to
lift a turret from the barbette would be quite great, and
evidently there isn't enough explosive in the powder and shell
handling equipment at any point in time to do so.
[mod.note: I'll point out that the Maryland had double turrets, as opposed
to the Iowa's triples, so probably had a smaller turret crew. - Bill ]
richard
--
richard welty 518-387-6346, GE R&D, K1-5C39, Niskayuna, New York
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