Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!texsun!sun-barr!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: btni!ferrel@uunet.UU.NET (Roger Ferrel)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: U.S.S. Iowa
Keywords: battleship explosion oxygen-masks gun-turret
Message-ID: <6502@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 12 May 89 02:47:35 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Boys Town National Institute, Omaha
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: btni!ferrel@uunet.UU.NET (Roger Ferrel)


A question came to mind shortly after the expolsion on the U.S.S
Iowa.  Since I have not seen it addressed here it is.

My understanding is that most of the deaths (espically on the
decks below the guns) were due to asphyxiation.  My question is
why not have oxygen masks on the wall for everyone in the
turret?  It seems to me a supply lasting only a few minutes is
needed.  (Just long enough for air from that outside to resupply the
oxygen.)

Perhaps these are already there and the concussion from the
expolsion kept the men from putting the masks on.  Does anyone
know?  Could this simple addition reduce the deaths the next
time this happens or increase the hazard?
-- 
Roger L. Ferrel (402) 498-6618
INTERNET:  ferrel%btni.uucp@uunet.uu.net
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[mod.note.  Beats me.  Sounds like a pretty good idea, to me,
though I'd want to use compressed air rather than oxygen.  - Bill ]