Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!bingvaxu!sunybcs!rutgers!att!cbnews!military@att.att.com From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Update on USS Iowa Message-ID: <5795@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 21 Apr 89 03:28:46 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Lines: 56 Approved: military@att.att.com From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) From tonight's CNN Headline news: The 47 killed crewman (all of whom were within the turret) have been flown to Dover AFB, having been unloaded from the Iowa in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Services will be held in Norfolk Naval Base. 12 firefighters were slightly injured. 11 crewman deeper in the turret structure (CNN referred to the powder magazine, but from the area their graphic indicated, I believe they meant the powder handling room) were uninjured. Iowa herself is now en route to Norfolk. All damage is confined to the #2 turret, and the ship's seakeeping ability is unimpaired. The Navy seems confident that they will be able to repair the turret without replacing it (which would be, I'd think, a prohibitively costly process). This is considered the worst naval accident in 12 years. (What was that accident ?) The Navy first considered the possibility of ignition by residual embers; this was the first firing of #2 turret (according to CNN, #1 turret had fired 4 rounds previously). They apparently now are considering the possibility of "volatiles from the powder." ---- A little information on Iowa's turrets: Weight: 1700 tons Diameter of barbette interior: 37'3" Firing cycle: 30 seconds Armor: Face: 19.7" Sides 9.5" Rear 12" Roof 7.25" (From Campbell, _Naval Weapons of World War Two_, 1985, Naval Inst. Press.) I'm unable to find the figure for turret crew: 47 sounds about right for the actual gunhouse section of the turret (i.e, discounting the lower structure). For what it's worth... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bill Thacker moderator, sci.military military@att.att.com (614) 860-5294 "War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied." - Sun Tzu