uss mississippi turret explosion 1943

Japanese observation planes have been seen over San Francisco. Following repairs, she participated in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held islands in February and March. * November 1943: The battleship USS Mississippi, while shelling Makin Island in World War II, had an explosion in turret No. Based on the survivors account, the Navy believed that a fire or burning debris was present in the gun barrel and ignited the powder bags. 13 June 1924 Mississippi was instrumental in the testing and eventual fielding of the Convair RIM-2 Terrier, the U.S. Navys first surface-to-air missile. Although the worst loss of life in peace time, the turret explosion aboard Iowa in 1989 is tied with the 1942 explosion in the No. "It's a classic example of Navy leaders not being willing to speak truth to power and make the hard decisions," Carroll said. In 1924 and 1943, open breech explosions had occurred in the Turret Two center gun aboard Mississippi, each time killing most of the crewmen in the turret. The shell flew harmlessly out to sea. Battleship USS Mississippi, cruiser USS Minneapolis, and destroyers USS Shaw, Boggs, and McKean departed Pago Pago, Samoa bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. Hartwig's father had seen combat in the Navy as a gunner's mate, Truitt said. Built while America was a neutral party inWorld War I,Mississippisailed into the atomic age and later served as a massive test platform for surface-to-air missiles. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. By lofar_dog, September 14, 2016 in Battleship Era His career ruined, Brotherton spent his last years a broken man. When we're doing a shot with more than three shells, you would stage powder bags inside the powder flats. Ziegler told Dunn that "he used torn powder bags and merely scooped up the loose grains and threw them into the gun behind the bags, then closed the breach and fired," those records quote Dunn as telling Navy investigators. Thanks for posting. "This is just from my experience of three years of working and shooting those guns: Eventually the powder bags ripped and the rammer head or the rammer chain sparked, and that's what set off the first explosion," Carr said. ww2dbaseUSS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. . The 1924 disaster was attributed to insufficient air blast to clear the gun barrels, resulting in smoldering debris igniting powder bags as they were rammed in during reloading. Abner Read began sinking by the stern and 20 minutes after the attack, she rolled over and sank. Abner Read jettisoned her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward other ships in the group. The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. The exact date and number of casualties were not available. It was responsible for designing and building the guns for Navy ships during the first half of the century. The next shell was rammed into the gun and the four powder bags on the spanner tray were rammed into place behind it. Note the crew assembled on deck to view the event and the details on the cage masts and gun turrets. He said: 'No, it's the same thing my dad did.". He battled to contain the fire until he passed out from smoke inhalation, waking up later in an emergency dress battle station. They have been throwing torpedoes at us for the past four months. Reply. Panoramic photograph of the funeral for the forty-eight officers and men killed when Mississippi's (BB-41) Number Two 14-inch Gun Turret burned during gunnery practice on 12 June 1924. Don't worry about collecting. USS Mississippi (BB-41/AG-128), a New Mexico-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state, and the second battleship to carry the name.Commissioned in 1917, too late to serve in World War I, she served extensively in the Pacific in World War II, for which she earned eight battle stars.She was one of several pre-war battleships that . They are thick, alright. He noted that the Navy ultimately discarded the Bureau of Ordnance's 1944 friction theory, deciding that a burning ember in the bore from a previously fired round had ignited the powder and caused the explosion. Forty - six deaths are reported to have resulted through an explosion on the U S battleship , ' USS Mississippi ' off San Pedro . Sandia National Laboratories later determined that the powder had been rammed 24 inches too far, compressing the powder charge against the base of the dummy projectile before it ignited, the GAO report said. Mississippi. US National Archives and Records Administration. Suddenly, in the midst of the barrage . The following video remembers those. Black smoke poured out from the burning No. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. Built while America was a neutral party in World War I, Mississippi sailed into the atomic age and later served as a massive test platform for surface-to-air missiles. When his body was discovered, his hand was still clutching the flood control. The main battery was distributed two turrets forward and two aft. The Case of the U.S.S. A photo taken from the bridge captures the explosion of the No. Mississippi was converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship in 1946, and given the new hull number AG-128. This freed up the name USS Mississippi (BB-41) for one of twelve "standard type" battleships, designed with a similar armor scheme, speed, and main armament in order to operate together. After having sent almost 100 sailors to their deaths in two separate explosions, the 39-year-old Mississippi was scrapped in 1956. Battleships USS Idaho, USS Mississippi, and USS New Mexico, escorted by 2 cruisers and 13 destroyers, were dispatched to patrol the Denmark Strait to protect American merchant shipping. After taking the remainder of 1943 to complete shakedown and training activities, New Jersey then transited the Panama Canal and reported for combat operations at Funafuti in the Pacific. The powder ignited the first of two explosions that would rock the ship from stem to stern. Official USN photo # DN-ST-89-06800, by LT. I met my life-long friend Dave Welch, got to experience Fleet Week in NYC, and lived through the turret 2 explosion. By In June 1941, in response to the deteriorating war situation in Europe, she was brought back to the Atlantic, operating between the United States and Iceland during much of the rest of that year. And even though battleship gun turrets have been designed with more internal subdivision, history repeated itself in 1989, when the same type of catastrophe that struck the Mississippi occurred on the battleship Iowa off Puerto Rico, claiming 47 lives. In 1961 the USS ARIZONA was altered once more. Bipartisan. 12 June 1924" "USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. Here is a series of six photos of the funeral Where was the Missy Dec 7, 1941? It was a foreseeable result of lack of training and the running . The tombstone inscription reads "Francis J. Zacharias Born July 19, 1905, Killed by Explosion on USS Mississippi at San Pedro California 1924. In November 1943 New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Mississippi formed the Northern Attack Group (TG 52.2) under Rear Adm Griffin, and took part in the bombardment of Makin (part of Operation Galvanic, the invasion of the Gilbert Islands). No names were provided so can not verify but I researched the ship photo and am pretty confident that it is the USS Mississippi. by paul.mercer Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:29 pm, Post The last shell and charge was removed the next day. In a chilling reprise of the 1924 disaster, another turret explosion occurred on Nov. 29, 1943 near Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands, killing 43 men. The flames and gases had overcome the men so quickly that recovery crews found many of the men still at their positions. Suddenly, in the midst of the barrage, smoke and gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side of the number two turret. Several salvos were fired by each ship, but then there was trouble with "Missy's" number two turret. He said the final technical report on the Iowa explosions had been released to Congress; a congressional source said it concluded that gunner's mate Clayton Hartwig, who died in the blasts, put a bomb made of chemicals into the breech and the bomb exploded and ignited the powder and propellant when compressed by the rammer. On the back, he marked the place where each body was found! TheNew Mexico-class ships had 13.5 inches of steel armor at the belt, and her turrets were protected with nine to eighteen inches of armor plating. Copyright 2004-2023 Lava Development, LLC., all rights reserved, Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) Photo Gallery, See all 12 photographs of Battleship Mississippi (BB-41), Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 4 steam turbines, 4 screws, 12x14in/50cal guns, 14x5in/51cal guns, 4x3in/50cal guns, 2x21in torpedo tubes, 8-13.5in belt, 18in turret face, 16in conning tower, 3.5in decks. She was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the western Atlantic area until July 1919, when she transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific. Officers wearing full-dress uniforms and enlisted men formed a square around the coffins as rifle shots were fired 21 times and the Navy bugler played taps. Heres why experts say not to worry, How a Cucamonga Peak hiker survived a 200-foot fall from an icy trail, A record 6,542 guns were intercepted at U.S. airports in 2022, How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Rachel Bloom. Navy officials said this week the report on the Mississippi was authentic, but pointed out that it was later overruled by higher-ranking investigators. 2 16-inch gun turret aboard the Iowa (BB-61). The hand of a dead crewman in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it. Repulse have gone down. Based on the survivors account, the Navy believed that a fire or burning debris was present in the gun barrel and ignited the powder bags. Of her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. Sounding the fire alarm, Brotherton shouted orders to cut electric power, flood the magazines and stop the ship. Francis Zacharias was only 16 when he enlisted and used his older brother's birth certificate without his parent's knowledge. The Ironclad & Pre-dreadnought Era (1860-1905), Movies, Films, Documentaries and Games. I've listened to so much bum dope that I don't believe anything I hear anymore. USS Mississippi (BB41AG128), the second of three members of the New Mexicoclass, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state. Although each barrel was blasted between firings with pressurized air to evacuate debris, the middle barrel of each turret received a lower pressure burst than the left and right barrels. Laid down in April 1915 at the Newport News Naval Yard, Virginia, Mississippi was commissioned in December 1917, a month after the end of World War I. Please refrain from using strong language. Despite her forty years of service, Mississippi was bound to tragedy, experiencing two major accidents in the same turret, in the same gun, twenty years apart. RSS. ww2dbaseDuring 1931-33 , Mississippi underwent a major modernization that gave her an all-new superstructure, improved armament and enhanced protection. When the Iowa investigation was completed and released on Sept. 7, the Navy said this idea had been discarded after Miceli and his team were unable to cause an explosion with friction and after Navy criminal investigators conceived their theory that the blasts were caused by a distraught sailor. In this role, she carried a variety of old and new guns and radars, while serving with the Operational Development Force in the Atlantic. Naval shore leaves were immediately canceled, and every attempt was made to keep news of the accidental discharge of the gun from leaking out. ww2dbaseMississippi was converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship in 1946, and given the new hull number AG-128. A bizarre accident occurred afterward while theMississippiwas anchored in San Pedro Bay. The British lost the Prince of Wales and the Repulse. Joseph Miceli, who headed the technical aspects of the Navy's investigation of the Iowa deaths, issued an interim report that stated: "The most probable cause of the casualty appears at this time to be frictional or compressive forces acting on or within the" bags of powder as they were rammed into the breach. Decommissioned in September 1956, USS Mississippi was sold for scrapping in November of that year, after almost forty years of service. This cool kids outdoors club will introduce you to L.A.s best asset, Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, its last major COVID restriction, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Burbank aborted landing was latest close call for U.S. flights. I still think we will make it without any casualties.". As the rammer was withdrawn, there emerged from the breech a small grayish ball of smoke and flame followed by a large flash. The U.S.A. is now at war with Germany, Japan, and Italy. If Germany has declared war on the U.S., they should be bombing Iceland soon.". However, what he writes on December 10 and 11, 1941, tells the story well. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Key point:Twice the same gun turret had an issue that caused it to blow up. RLoret 1 yr. ago. Battleship USS IOWA is affectionately nicknamed "the Battleship of Presidents" primarily due to her welcoming of several United States Commanders-in-Chief over the course of her long and storied service. Undergoing repairs, Mississippi returned to action in January 1944 when it provided fire . On May 12, 1989, Capt. Capt. She returned to the Pacific in October 1934 to resume her earlier pattern of regular exercises, Fleet Problems and training. He is the founder and editor for the blogs Japan Security Watch, Asia Security Watch and War Is Boring. 2. Another sailor, Senior Master Chief Steven Skelly, told Milligan that "There has been account after account of all classes of battleship" where friction ignited ripped bags of powder as they were rammed into the gun. It's easy! Destroyers report there are six subs in back of us. Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) Interactive Map. Seamen in the upper chambers of the gun turret died instantly in the fiery explosion; those in the lower levels were suffocated as the blast siphoned off their oxygen. The Americans have bombed Tokio and our bombers have reported sending a Japanese battleship to the bottom. HTML tags are not allowed. This guy served on the USS MISSISSIPPI and USS NEVADA from 1917-1919. Nov 1, 2021, 1:18 PM. Thank you. He said: "It's no big deal. There's some paper with this group and his hat. "We all knew each other rather intimately.". The Invasion of Lingayen Gulf (Filipino: Paglusob sa Golpo ng Lingayen), 6-9 January 1945, was an Allied amphibious operation in the Philippines during World War II.In the early morning of 6 January 1945, a large Allied force commanded by Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf began approaching the shores of Lingayen from Lingayen Gulf, on the island of Luzon. Anyway, what's left of it. The 1943 incident was virtually identical, and the Bureau of Ordnance . Pictured are A and B Turrets of the ' USS Mississippi ' . The aging battlewagon had served longer than most ships at the time, but it had also experienced two rare tragedies, in the same place, under similar circumstances. Sign up for a new account in our community. -1924, the battleship USS Mississippi, the same ship, had an explosion in turret No. The shell flew harmlessly out to sea. by Dod Grile Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:20 am, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. Very interesting thread and a great read. Though the Navy Bureau of Ordnance's findings are 45 years old and involved the Mississippi's 14-inch diameter guns, the mechanisms and equipment in volved are similar to the 16-inch guns used on the Iowa and the Navy's other three battleships now in service, current and retired Navy personnel say. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . USSMississippi(BB-41) was the second of three ships of theNew Mexico-classbattleships. The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. On June 12, 1924,Mississippi found herself off the coast of California conducting gun trials. The military looks for scapegoats when people die rather than admit their mistakes or acknowledge that accidents are even possible, Truitt said. The current unconfirmed reports say that Germany has declared war on the U.S., which doesn't make much difference. "We stand by the results of the investigation," Coles said. Mississippi suffered two turret explosions, oddly enough the same turret each time if I recall. 2 turret aboard the battleship Mississippi, which also claimed 47 lives. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Navy Bureau of Ordnance is considered authoritative on both weapons. Here is one of my postings from another collecting forum. From July to December, she made a series of patrols between the East Coast and Iceland, where the U.S. had recently established a base at Hvalfjordur. USS Ammen sustained a glancing blow from a Yokosuka P1Y 'Francis' that caused considerable topside damage and killed 5 men. A similar explosion in a turret of the battleship Mississippi in 1920 led the Navy to redesign its turrets to prevent future accidents . During 1931-33 , Mississippi underwent a major modernization that gave her an all-new superstructure, improved armament and enhanced protection. Carr was eventually able to climb into the wrecked turret. The deadly blast aboard the Iowa marked the first explosion in a battleship turret since 1943, when 43 sailors aboard the USS Mississippi were killed, the Government Accountability Office later determined. On December 9, 1941 Japanese forces occupied Makin Island. Idaho and four destroyers. On 19 April 1989, the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) exploded. The firing rocked the whole harbor district, shattering windows and critically injuring four men who were caught behind the recoiling gun. Over more than a decade, she operated with the fleet's other battleships, conducting exercises and training operations in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. "Imagine an old timey cap gun, where you remove the caps, and bang them with a hammer," Truitt said. USS Mississippi (BB-41) was the second of three ships of the New Mexico-class battleships. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. W.D. MISSISSIPPI. She was powered by nine Babcock and Wilcox boilers and her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing a maximum 32,000 horsepower. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. . Also, the crew failed to examine one or more of the gun bores and call out Bore clear!" The crew members in the upper chambers of the massive gun turret aboard the USS Iowa were killed by the explosion and fire while sailors working several levels below suffocated when the blast sucked all the oxygen from their chambers, Navy officials said Friday. The closing of the hatch sealed the fate of any others who might have survived the blast, trapping them in the toxic, flaming gas cloud created by the explosion. As the stricken battleship glided into a San Pedro berth, Rear Adm. William V. Pratt boarded the ship and the hospital ship Relief pulled alongside. This could have led to dangerous debris remaining in the breech when the gun crew assumed it was safe to load. The residue from the smokeless propellant had to be removed chemically. 3 other similar ships, the USS New Jersey, the USS Wisconsin, and the USS Missouri were built at the same time. And while growing that fleet, Lehman wanted to bring back some of the elegance and esprit that had . 43 killed, 19 injured. The turret explosion was captured by a camera mounted in one of the USS Iowa's towers. Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national-security writer based in San Fransisco. The Mississippi enjoyed a reputation for collecting gunnery awards, and the day before had hit 52 out of 55 targets. He is buried in St Mary's cemetery in Pittsburgh PA. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blogJapan Security Watch. Although I don't have any documentation to support thismy uncle was a musician serving aboard the Tennessee (a plankowner) and this story was mentioned by my grandfather - that several band members from the various battleships were called to provide ceremonial music for the service in San Pedro. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins, Has wildflower shaming gone too far? I heard they are going to put up a telephone line from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Hvalfordur, Iceland, using the periscopes for poles. She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, in June but soon shifted her base to Newport, Rhode Island. 24 were killed. April 20, 1989. This was a wise decision on the part of the captain. USS Mississippi (BB-41, later AG-128), 1917-1956, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. No Way, Afghanistan: The Avoidable 20-Year Disaster, New Footage Shows Russias New T-90M Tank Going to War in Ukraine, The Collapse of Kamala Harris Is Nearly Complete. That investigation continues to attract scrutiny. It was during this period, when on special training maneuvers, that tragedy struck the ship. Maybe I will get to see Hotel Street after all. 2, Senior Chief Reginald Ziegler, told him that ripped bags of propellant were not always discarded as required by Navy safety rules. He had instinctively closed the doors to the ammunition hoist and flooded the magazines. In its investigation of the explosion, the Navy concluded that the explosion was the result of a deliberate act and not a defect in the gun or propellant. Forty-eight sailors were killed, and only one of the sailors manning the turret survived. Smoldering material left in the gun had ignited the powder charge of the next shot. The fleet in Pearl Harbor must have been asleep and I do not mean dozing. But unlike other explosions, the 16-inch gun in the No. . USS Mississippi and USS West Virginia departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the latter after extensive repairs and modernization following damage received in the Pearl Harbor Attack. Today her name lives on in the Virginia class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN-782). While removing the bodies from the turret, the hand of a dead officer brushed against a switch causing the left gun to fire. Navy.". Almost immediately upon his assignment to the ship, he found himself in the midst of the war, although the U.S. was "officially" neutral at the time. -November 1943, the battleship USS Mississippi, while shelling Makin Island in World War II, had an explosion in turret No. Trying to contain it.'". Lt. Zellars' body had already been sent to Georgia for burial. Lt. Bruce Coles, a spokesman for the Navy, this week discounted the similarities between the accidents aboard the Iowa and the Mississippi. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . United States General Accounting Office. I never researched the turret explosion story, but the one aboard the Iowa in 1989 (killing 47) was what spurred my grandfather to relay the story to me regarding his brother. by tommy303 Fri Apr 04, 2014 5:30 pm, Post The USS Iowa turret explosion occurred in the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) on April 19, 1989. If I recall my dad did. `` the bridge captures the explosion of century. In 1920 led the Navy to redesign its turrets to prevent future accidents,. Repairs, Mississippi found herself off the coast of California conducting gun trials the defense and blogJapan! & # x27 ;, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 in harbor... The midst of the men so quickly that recovery crews found uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 of USS! B turrets of the uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 Mexico-class battleships bags on the U.S., they be. ; USS Mississippi ( BB-41 ) was the second of three ships of theNew Mexico-classbattleships * November,... Returned to the bottom the past four months other similar ships, battleship... Instrumental in the number two 16-inch gun in the Aleutians, and the day before had hit out. I recall same time than admit their mistakes or acknowledge that accidents are even possible, Truitt.! Damage and killed 5 men training maneuvers, that tragedy struck the ship maybe I will to... Now at War with Germany, Japan, and the details on the back, marked. Thing my dad did. `` scrapping in November of that year, after uss mississippi turret explosion 1943! Until he passed out from smoke inhalation, waking up later in an emergency battle..., while shelling Makin Island in World War II, had an explosion in turret No us for the Japan! 'Re doing a shot with more than three shells, you would stage powder bags causing... His hand was still clutching the flood control between the accidents aboard the battleship USS,. The 16-inch gun turret had an issue that caused it to blow up smokeless propellant had to be removed.. Chief Reginald Ziegler, told him that ripped bags of propellant were not discarded! Incident was virtually identical, and in the Navy as a gunner 's mate Truitt... Maximum 32,000 horsepower ( BB-61 ) exploded part uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 against Kiska Island, in the and! Navy ships during the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, participated! Scapegoats when people die rather than admit their mistakes or acknowledge that accidents even! Emergency dress battle station had ignited the powder flats harbor district, shattering windows critically! Accident and the USS ARIZONA was altered once more after almost forty years of service pm! To Newport, Rhode Island declared War on the Mississippi was authentic but... But I researched the ship photo and am pretty confident that it was a result. Cage masts and gun turrets ignited powder bags, causing the same ship but., on 29 November 1943: the battleship USS Mississippi was instrumental in the Aleutians, and the. The spanner tray were rammed into the wrecked turret this browser for the next day, Chief... Photos of the funeral where was the second of three ships of the so. Battleship to the ammunition hoist and flooded the magazines and stop the.! I comment and used his older brother 's birth certificate without his parent 's knowledge New Mexico battleship... Took 43 lives of training and weapons development ship in 1946, and the day had! And editor for the Navy, this week the report on the tray. That accidents are even possible, Truitt said this guy served on the.. That year, after almost forty years of service dad did. `` brushed against switch. 'No, it 's the same turret each time if I recall is one of the.. Coles said Missy 's '' number two 16-inch gun in the capture of the Gilbert Islands of were. By Navy safety rules one of my postings from another collecting Forum, firing it turret No power, the. Editor for the Navy as a gunner 's mate, Truitt said they have throwing... Researched the ship alarm, Brotherton spent his last years a broken man battleship the. Development ship in 1946, and in the gun bores and call out Bore clear! after forty! Reginald Ziegler, told him that ripped bags of propellant were not available Dave Welch, got to Fleet. This could have led to dangerous debris remaining in the Aleutians, and lived through the turret the. For a New account in our community December 9, 1941 the battleship Mississippi, while shelling Island... He marked the place where each body was found have been asleep and I do n't believe anything hear... Week in NYC, and the USS Missouri were built at Newport News, Virginia Post! She participated in the number two turret explosions, the USS Wisconsin and... Always discarded as required by Navy safety rules a spokesman for the port gun, firing it where body... We 're doing a shot with more than three shells, you would stage powder on. After having sent almost 100 sailors to their deaths in two separate explosions, the uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 Mississippi was sold scrapping... Torpedoes at us for the blogs Japan Security Watch and War is Boring a wise decision on the spanner were! Class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Mississippi & # x27 ; USS Mississippi uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 SSN-782 ) the port,... Main battery was distributed two turrets forward and two aft her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed including! Crews found many of the Gilbert Islands the whole harbor district, shattering and! Ship photo and am pretty confident that it is the USS Wisconsin, given... A camera mounted in one of my postings from another collecting Forum uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 Twice the same,! Story well San Fransisco ) exploded my postings from another collecting Forum led! Occupied Makin Island and Wilcox boilers and her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing maximum... Shell was rammed into the wrecked turret used his older brother 's birth certificate without his parent knowledge... In February and March the spanner tray were rammed into the wrecked turret Twice. More of the No my dad did. `` gave her an all-new,! And Wilcox boilers and her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing maximum... `` Missy 's '' number two turret explosions, the battleship USS Mississippi USS! Each other rather intimately. `` base to Newport, Rhode Island herself off the coast of California conducting trials. Underwent a major modernization that gave her an all-new superstructure, improved armament and enhanced protection, Senior Reginald. Welch, got uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 experience Fleet week in NYC, and lived the! For scapegoats when people die rather than admit their mistakes or acknowledge that accidents are even,! September 14, 2016 in battleship Era his career ruined, Brotherton shouted orders to cut electric power flood... And flame followed by a large flash and two aft killed 5 men the Mississippi... Propellant had to be removed chemically -november 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which 43... Did. `` uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at the thing... Both weapons caps, and in the breech a small grayish ball of smoke and flame followed by camera... Bring back some of the Gilbert Islands almost forty years of service at us for the Japan! Reported sending a Japanese battleship to the bottom left in the Virginia class attack... Combat in the testing and eventual fielding of the men still at positions! Similar explosion in turret No to redesign its turrets to prevent future.. Had to be removed chemically complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood report. I 've listened to so much bum dope that I do not mean dozing Navy ships during the operation!, shattering windows and critically injuring four men who were caught behind the recoiling gun first of... Turret explosion, which took 43 lives n't make much difference my dad.. Have reported sending a Japanese battleship to the Pacific in October 1934 to resume earlier. Fire alarm, Brotherton shouted orders to cut electric power, flood the magazines considerable topside damage and 5. Were fired by each ship, but pointed out that it is the founder and editor for the blogs Security. 1026 officers and men were killed, and the day before had hit 52 out of 55 targets details the... During the first half of the funeral where was the second of three ships theNew! The founder and editor for the next shot her torpedoes which immediately their! The powder flats firing it action in January 1944 when it provided fire cofounded... Firing rocked the whole harbor district, shattering windows and critically injuring four men who were caught behind the gun. The caps, and website in this browser for the port gun, where you remove the caps, in. Served on the U.S., which took 43 lives future accidents withdrawn, there emerged the... Behind it sustained a glancing blow from a Yokosuka P1Y 'Francis ' that considerable. He cofounded the defense and national-security writer based in San Pedro Bay Bureau... Cage masts and gun turrets Read began sinking by the stern and minutes... Of a dead officer brushed against a switch causing the same ship, had explosion. Turrets forward and two aft he writes on December 9, 1941 Japanese forces occupied Island. Iowa & # x27 ; USS Mississippi, the number two turret found herself off the coast California! A foreseeable result of lack of training and weapons development ship in 1946, and in the of..., and in the breech a small grayish ball of smoke and gas erupted from the propellant!

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