Navy 3 - Pirates 0

[Sailor]

dstauffer said:

Yeah... couple of 5" rounds wouldn't be bad, but those 16" rounds -- now that's a boom! Kinda wish those old battlewagons were still around -- they were truly an impressive sight to see.

I had the honor and distinct pleasure to watch 3 of the IOWAs fire their main batteries, IOWA during a demonstration for our NATO friends (and the Soviet destroyer shadow) and WISCONSIN and MISSOURI doing business during Desert Storm to the distinct discomfort of the Iraqi Army.

AWESOME is just about the right word.

For those who have never had the pleasure, comparing a 5" to a 16" is like comparing a .22 to a .44 magnum.

[dstauffer]

I saw both the Missouri and New Jersey at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard when they were being mothballed. Such grand old ladies!

[101ABN]

I toured the New Jersey when I was in Philly two years ago. She's a permanenetly moored at Camden, NJ, across the river.

An awesome ship. She's a true American treasure.

[dstauffer]

The Missouri is moored near the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. I think that is pretty fitting.

[dustdevil28]

robertfollette said:

dstauffer said:

Yeah... couple of 5" rounds wouldn't be bad, but those 16" rounds -- now that's a boom! Kinda wish those old battlewagons were still around -- they were truly an impressive sight to see.

I had the honor and distinct pleasure to watch 3 of the IOWAs fire their main batteries, IOWA during a demonstration for our NATO friends (and the Soviet destroyer shadow) and WISCONSIN and MISSOURI doing business during Desert Storm to the distinct discomfort of the Iraqi Army.

AWESOME is just about the right word.

For those who have never had the pleasure, comparing a 5" to a 16" is like comparing a .22 to a .44 magnum.

A couple weekends back I visited the Wisconsin at the Navy museum in Norfolk. I was taken aback not just at the size of those huge 16" barrels, but the fact that it said each shot launched a projectile that's weight was the equivalent of a VW beattle!!!

With that kind of firepower it's no wonder why we have the worlds best Navy

[Sailor]

dstauffer said:

The Missouri is moored near the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. I think that is pretty fitting.

I agree totally Doug. When I was stationed out there in the 70's the idea was brought up from time to time, but at the time the Navy kept shooting the idea down 'cause at the time there was little spare mooring space on that side of Ford Island. They were even using the moorings on the far side of Ford from the main base from time to time. The only way out to Ford was by boat or car ferry.

Today it's easy to get to Ford Island, they've put in a causeway and drawbridge and retired the ferryboat. The USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL though is still only reachable by boat.

[Sailor]

battleborn said:

robertfollette said:

I had the honor and distinct pleasure to watch 3 of the IOWAs fire their main batteries, IOWA during a demonstration for our NATO friends (and the Soviet destroyer shadow) and WISCONSIN and MISSOURI doing business during Desert Storm to the distinct discomfort of the Iraqi Army.

AWESOME is just about the right word.

For those who have never had the pleasure, comparing a 5" to a 16" is like comparing a .22 to a .44 magnum.

A couple weekends back I visited the Wisconsin at the Navy museum in Norfolk. I was taken aback not just at the size of those huge 16" barrels, but the fact that it said each shot launched a projectile that's weight was the equivalent of a VW beattle!!!

With that kind of firepower it's no wonder why we have the worlds best Navy

Too bad we'll never see their like at sea again Zack. Unlike most warships today with their hidden weapons systems Battleships LOOK dangerous. And man, the IOWA's were FAST! During Vietnam NEW JERSEY was able to stay with ENTERPRISE during a high speed run from the P.I. to Tonkin Gulf. A photo I saw of the BB showed a fair plume of smoke from both stacks and a bow wave and rooster tail behind that would have done any tincan proud. Big E and NJ outran their escorts, including the TRUXTON (CGN.) The 'cans just couldn't handle moderate seas at 33+ knots for long and the oil fired cruisers and 'cans didn't have the fuel.

[dstauffer]

battleborn -

Not only were the 16" guns capable of firing a projectile that weighed close to a VW Beetle, it could hurl those projectiles to a distance of approximately 22 miles!

When a Iowa-class battlewagon did a full broadside blast (firing all nine 16" guns in one direction from either side of the ship), it would push the ship approximately 6 feet in the opposite direction.

My company commander throughout Navy Boot Camp (yes, that's right sportsfans, I went through bootcamp twice: Army and Navy) was a Gunner on the New Jersey.

[dstauffer]

Sailor -

It's funny you should mention the Truxton; she was part of our carrier battle group, along with the California, and we would often leave them in our wake.

[Sailor]

dstauffer said:

Sailor -

It's funny you should mention the Truxton; she was part of our carrier battle group, along with the California, and we would often leave them in our wake.

Yah, us "small boys" (SPRU-can) might be able to out accelerate the BB's and carriers but the top end edge was with them. The conventionally powered carriers and BB's had the bunkerage to stay at full power far longer than we could and the big boys would ride and cut through moderate and heavy seas better than we. Even the bigger nuke CG's like VIRGINIA would be forced to slow down in seas that wouldn't inconvenience a birdfarm.

[dstauffer]

Hehe ... again, you mention a cruiser that was part of our battle group at one time: Virginia.

[Remey688]

The Muslim seem to be such poor sailors that perhaps we have a policy of catch and release. They routinely seem to capsize and kill themseves!