And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
If I recall correctly, the powder bags weigh 100lbs. each. That's also what doomed the USS Iowa and led to the other Iowa class battleships being decommissioned and placed back in mothballs. The bags picked up a static charge when loading the gun and it all exploded prior to the breach being closed.
Actually, its 110 pounds apiece for full-power charges. About 61 pounds for the Reduced Power charges. http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7.php
And the "stray static charge" theory is something which never occurred once in 50 years of Naval service and firing, until that day. Along with similar non-occurrence for multiple other navies using similar arrangements, and probably every other gun system in Naval service for the last century.
Which is why I rate that theory as pure fanciful hogwash, and only slightly more credible than the "gay sailor spat" crapola the Navy tried to cobble together at the time.
We'll never know what actually happened, except that powder going off outside the closed breech in a gun turret is a really bad day for all involved. The Navy had a vested interest in making it human error, and the evidence was buggered from the get-go, for cause, because of that intent.
Anonymous 8:09, that's right up there with "McCain started the Forrestal fire." After a lot of floundering by the Navy, Sandia Weapons proved powder from the same lot as was used on the Iowa would ignite if it were compressed fast enough and hard enough. The powder on the Iowa was WW-II vintage and had at various times been stored in non-approved conditions. The ram for that particular gun was known to overtravel at high speed for no apparent reason. Put the two together and the Navy came up with a well-deserved black eye.
For more reading on the subject: ttps://www.amazon.com/Glimpse-Hell-Explosion-Iowa-Cover-Up/dp/0393047148
The silk was used as it burned up quickly and left fewer embers behind. Humidity at sea takes care of most static problems but the crew still is best served with cotton clothing and fire resistant overalls. The bigger problem was with the lift going from the powder magazine to the turret or enemy fire hitting a magazine.
Ryan Szymanski (sp) tells you about the 16" propellent here: https://youtu.be/-2oDJDgEGGU
OT- the three rounds never were shot together. They were staggered about .30 seconds apart because they would interfere with the trajectory because of turbulence if they all got fired at the same time.
Those gunpowder charges are gonna make a big boom! Very cool to see the setup. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBoom! Here comes the boom! Ready or not!
DeleteHow do you like me now?
https://youtu.be/HR5WdoyYcjU?t=47
~ Doctor Weasel
Fire that projectile over 21 miles?...
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly, the powder bags weigh 100lbs. each. That's also what doomed the USS Iowa and led to the other Iowa class battleships being decommissioned and placed back in mothballs. The bags picked up a static charge when loading the gun and it all exploded prior to the breach being closed.
ReplyDeleteThe powder was too old and they should not have been using it.
DeleteNo, no, no, no no. Don't you remember? It was a scorned homosexual sailor that blowed himself up!
DeleteActually, its 110 pounds apiece for full-power charges.
DeleteAbout 61 pounds for the Reduced Power charges.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7.php
And the "stray static charge" theory is something which never occurred once in 50 years of Naval service and firing, until that day. Along with similar non-occurrence for multiple other navies using similar arrangements, and probably every other gun system in Naval service for the last century.
Which is why I rate that theory as pure fanciful hogwash, and only slightly more credible than the "gay sailor spat" crapola the Navy tried to cobble together at the time.
We'll never know what actually happened, except that powder going off outside the closed breech in a gun turret is a really bad day for all involved. The Navy had a vested interest in making it human error, and the evidence was buggered from the get-go, for cause, because of that intent.
Anonymous 8:09, that's right up there with "McCain started the Forrestal fire."
DeleteAfter a lot of floundering by the Navy, Sandia Weapons proved powder from the same lot as was used on the Iowa would ignite if it were compressed fast enough and hard enough.
The powder on the Iowa was WW-II vintage and had at various times been stored in non-approved conditions.
The ram for that particular gun was known to overtravel at high speed for no apparent reason.
Put the two together and the Navy came up with a well-deserved black eye.
For more reading on the subject:
ttps://www.amazon.com/Glimpse-Hell-Explosion-Iowa-Cover-Up/dp/0393047148
Or, for a more condensed version, loathe as I am to quote them:
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iowa_turret_explosion
M-777 uses powder bags also. For training troops use a small load, why wear out the equipment? High zone load gets it 25 miles out.
ReplyDeleteWhat's an M-777?
DeleteTowed 155mm howitzer, latest lightweight version. Shell weight about 100 pounds.
DeleteI thought they used silk bags to help with the static?
DeleteHelp. Help is not a guarantee.
DeleteThe silk was used as it burned up quickly and left fewer embers behind. Humidity at sea takes care of most static problems but the crew still is best served with cotton clothing and fire resistant overalls. The bigger problem was with the lift going from the powder magazine to the turret or enemy fire hitting a magazine.
ReplyDeleteRyan Szymanski (sp) tells you about the 16" propellent here:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/-2oDJDgEGGU
OT- the three rounds never were shot together. They were staggered about .30 seconds apart because they would interfere with the trajectory because of turbulence if they all got fired at the same time.
A full broadside salvo was also known as "F**k you and your entire zip code!"
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITUlTUNdJOU