uss mississippi turret explosion 1943

Australian news report on the USS . The Americans have bombed Tokio and our bombers have reported sending a Japanese battleship to the bottom. Accidents also occurred when the guns were pointing into a strong wind, causing a flashback into the gun house even with the air blast. Official USN photo # DN-ST-89-06800, by LT. He said: 'No, it's the same thing my dad did.". A Marine rifle squad fired three volleys. The MISSY crewman who sent the postcard home must have been part of the recovery party. Flame and gases immediately filled the gun compartment, passed through the safety doors above the shell table to the other two gun compartments and through the peep doors to the turret officer's booth. Battleship USS Mississippi: A Strange History The USSMississippiis home to one of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY 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 . The hand of a dead crewman in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it. Gunners mate Kendall L. Truitt, one of the 12 sailors who escaped the No. turret II as the crew loaded the gun. The last U.S. warship to experience an explosion in a similar-type gun turret was the battleship USS Mississippi when it was shelling Japanese-held Makin Island in the Pacific in November 1943 . "Interestingly, I was never read my rights, nor did I realize that I was a suspect," Truitt told Task & Purpose. The firing rocked the whole harbor district, shattering windows and critically injuring four men who were caught behind the recoiling gun. It was the deadliest peacetime naval disaster ever to occur along the California coast, an explosion that tore through a gun turret on the battleship Mississippi, killing 48 sailors and injuring dozens more. I met my life-long friend Dave Welch, got to experience Fleet Week in NYC, and lived through the turret 2 explosion. Maybe I will get to see Hotel Street after all. 1943 - 1943: 9: My father, A.A. Frye was an anti-aircraft gunner's mate on the starboard side. Naval Academy, The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, Historic Former U.S. Navy Bases and Stations, The African American Experience in the U.S. Navy, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Navy, Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. Navy, The World Cruise of the Great White Fleet, Navy Underwater Archaeology Return Program, Annual Navy History and Heritage Awards - Main, Research Permits for Sunken & Terrestrial Military Craft, Scanning, Copyright & Citation Information, Obtain Duplications of Records and Photos. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. Mississippi. 2 turrets periscope holes, even as the ships other guns continued firing. If Germany has declared war on the U.S., they should be bombing Iceland soon.". The shell flew harmlessly out to sea. US Battleship Turret Explosions 1904-1989. On the eighth salvo, turret two, gun two suffered a rare flare back. The four powder bags inserted into the breech, totaling 470 pounds of explosive powder, caught fire and ignited other bags waiting to be loaded. On June 12, 1924, the MISSISSIPPI, along with the battleships TENNESSEE and IOWA, was engaged in gunnery practice off San Clemente Island. USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. Repulse have gone down. 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. On June 12, 1924, there was an explosion in the USS Mississippi's No. His career ruined, Brotherton spent his last years a broken man. 12 June 1924" "USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in the Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring and the Daily Beast. 2 was set to fire its trio of 16-inch guns, an explosion ripped through it, killing 47 sailors. In fact, the Iowa did so poorly on its first inspection that it was recommended to be decommissioned. The Oklahoma capsizing is straight dope. All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB. Sounding the fire alarm, Brotherton shouted orders to cut electric power, flood the magazines and stop the ship. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. On 19 April 1989, the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) exploded. Very informative. -23), the erstwhile Normandie, pride of the Compagnie . 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. Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. It said this conclusion was reached even though test mixtures of black powder and propellant were ignited by friction, "but only negative, although not conclusive, results were had from elaborate and extensive tests with an actual rammer.". The recoil severely crushed ten men inside and the salvo narrowly missed an outgoing passenger vessel. By lofar_dog, September 14, 2016 in Battleship Era Navy.". After an extensive preliminary bombardment, the Marine assault force headed towards the beach and Mississippi and the other ships increased their rate of fire. Smoldering material left in the gun had ignited the powder charge of the next shot. After an extensive preliminary bombardment, the Marine assault force headed towards the beach and Mississippi and the other ships increased their rate of fire. Abner Read began sinking by the stern and 20 minutes after the attack, she rolled over and sank. "I regret the accident occurred, obviously. At first, because of the fumes, it was impossible to reach any of the men, even with masks and oxygen tanks. Meanwhile, Mississippi and Nashville had to take emergency evasive actions to avoid the torpedoes. 2s 14-inch guns went off again. As the rammer was withdrawn, there emerged from the breech a small grayish ball of smoke and flame followed by a large flash. Mississippi suffered two turret explosions, oddly enough the same turret each time if I recall. "They knew more about guns than everybody else in the Navy put together.". 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. The accident has been a major influence on my life. USSMississippi(BB-41) was the second of three ships of theNew Mexico-classbattleships. All of the crew had been advised to set up allotment accounts for their families. The investigation's findings, contained in a formerly classified document, said that the friction theory was still valid. The turret explosion was captured by a camera mounted in one of the USS Iowa's towers. I collect yard longs - mostly army or armored WWII but do have some Navy. . I heard they are going to put up a telephone line from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Hvalfordur, Iceland, using the periscopes for poles. Class: Allen M. Sumner class destroyer Named for: Reigart Bolivar Lowry Complement: 336 Officers and Enlisted Displacement: 2200 tons Length: 376 feet 6 inches Beam: 40 feet Flank Speed: 34 knots Range: 6500 Nautical Miles Final Disposition:Scrapped October 1996 We just outran several units of the German fleet (submarines). During 40 years of service, US Navy battleship . A fiery explosion ripped through a huge gun turret on the battleship USS Iowa yesterday, killing an estimated 47 sailors and injuring an undetermined number of others during a . Luckily, the fire did not set off the powder bags in the other two guns. The damaged 33,000-ton dreadnought headed back to port. "We stand by the results of the investigation," Coles said. Caviezel and Robert McAvin, escaped, by diving down through a 40-foot hatchway that closed automatically behind them. She was armed with a main battery of twelve 14-inch/50 caliber guns mounted in four turrets of three guns each, with each gun mounted in a separate sleeve. Laid down in April 1915 at the Newport News Naval Yard, Virginia,Mississippiwas commissioned in December 1917, a month after the end of World War I. 2. Also served on USS TENNESSEE, USS KULA GULF (CVE108) and USS FRANK FRIDAY FLETCHER. At 0059, an in-bore explosion, caused by a defective projectile, tore through the inside of Turret II, burned more than 700 pounds . In early 1942, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mississippi rejoined the Pacific Fleet. Thank you. (Photo: Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection) . siege1863, He is buried in St Mary's cemetery in Pittsburgh PA. April 20, 1989. The fleet in Pearl Harbor must have been asleep and I do not mean dozing. From the Washington Naval Treaty to the end of the Second World War. The General Accounting Office and both House and Senate armed services committees are reviewing the Navy's investigation. Please refrain from using strong language. Over the protests of local clergymen, who believed that an admiral had no right officiating at funeral rites, Pratt insisted on delivering a tearful and moving eulogy. The USS Mississippi is home to one of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. National Security. Then came the blast, which was so strong that it ripped the headphones right off Carr's head. The ship was built at the Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia, from her keel laying in April 1915, her launching. 2 16-inch gun turret aboard the Iowa (BB-61). C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC. TheNew Mexicoclass was the fourth of six distinct battleship classes laid down the 1910s, as the Navy rushed to fortify the Atlantic against tensionsand then outright warin Europe. Despite knowing how to solve the problem, the same accident happened two times over 20 years. Lava's technical capabilities. On the back, he marked the place where each body was found! Published April 02, 2018 09:40:36. The hand of a dead crewman in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it. Navy records show that Emett C. Dunn, Jr., a civilian employee of the Navy stationed in Charleston, S.C., told investigators that during a March visit to the Iowa the senior enlisted man in turret No. My uncle died in 1937 from TB (he contracted while on active duty) so the story was told to me by his brother (my grandfather). Forty-eight sailors were killed, and only one of the sailors manning the turret survived. She was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the western Atlantic area . It's easy! During World War II, in November 1943, while bombarding the Makin Islands in the Pacific, it experienced another . Because there were still unfired rounds in the other two guns of Turret No. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. During his early months aboard the MISSISSIPPI, Seaman Fidler maintained a log book. You need to play a total of 20 battles to post in this section. "I was like: OK; I'll bite; why? I served aboad the USS . The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. The yard long is dated 1942. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . Mississippi was converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship in 1946, and given the new hull number AG-128. Suddenly, in the midst of the barrage, smoke and gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side of the number two turret. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret's crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. Lt. Zellars' body had already been sent to Georgia for burial. The gunners on all three battlewagons were competing for a $20 prize that Congress had voted to award the fleets most proficient naval marksman. The 14-inch/50 caliber gun was plagued with technical issues, a major problem considering it was the primary armament on the majority of serving U.S. Navy battleships. "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. "The sad thing is I understand what they were doing and why they were doing it," Truitt told Task & Purpose. The next shell was rammed into the gun and the four powder bags on the spanner tray were rammed into place behind it. 2 turret as Carr and other sailors donned their firefighting gear. Two major investigations were underta Iowa's turret two on fire immediately following the explosion. 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. The battleship Mississippi (BB 41) pictured transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s. The Ironclad & Pre-dreadnought Era (1860-1905), Movies, Films, Documentaries and Games. Forty-seven coffins were arranged on the field. Later in the year, she was part of the force that invaded Peleliu and Leyte and defeated a Japanese task force in the Battle of Surigao Strait. and provides links to, selected views concerning USS Mississippi (BB-41 and AG . She was redesignated AG-128 and equipped with a number of radars and prototype air defense missile systems. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Following repairs, she participated in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held islands in February and March. In the years since the blast, Carr has surmised what might have happened. Brotherton knew something was drastically wrong when he noticed brownish smoke coming from the No. Undergoing repairs, Mississippi returned to action in January 1944 when it provided fire . During the mid-1950s, she was test ship for the Navy's first surface-to-air guided missile, the "Terrier". I'll bet the Prince took something down with her. On April 19, 1989, the day of the blast, the ship was preparing for live-fire training at Vieques, Puerto Rico Naval Training Range. 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. Mississippi provided gunfire support for the Lingayen landings in January 1945 and for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Funeral services were held June 17 on Trona Field at San Pedro. In this role, she carried a variety of old and new guns and radars, while serving with the Operational Development Force in the Atlantic. In 1961 the USS ARIZONA was altered once more. Forty-eight sailors were killed, and only one of the sailors manning the turret survived. 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. 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. Lt. Bruce Coles, a spokesman for the Navy, this week discounted the similarities between the accidents aboard the Iowa and the Mississippi. Out of commission? The British lost the Prince of Wales and the Repulse. She returned to the Pacific in October 1934 to resume her earlier pattern of regular exercises, Fleet Problems and training. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. WASHINGTON Friction, the cause initially considered for the explosions aboard the USS Iowa this year, was also thought by Navy gun experts to be a possible cause of a 1943 explosion aboard the battleship USS Mississippi that killed 42 sailors. The following video remembers those. . 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. 43 killed, 19 injured. --another violation of regulations. 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. Only two sailors in the turret firing room, J.F. The investigations produced conflicting conclusions. USS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. 2 Turret was cold, meaning it hadn't been fired yet. Abner Read jettisoned her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward other ships in the group. "Then approximately two minutes later, I recognized Senior Chief [Reginald] Ziegler, who was the chief in charge of Turret 2, yell into the phones: 'Fire, fire, fire! and useful information about WW2. The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. USS New Jersey During World War II . 2 aboard the Mississippi resulted from either the presence of a burning ember left in the barrel "or from friction of the powder bags against the moving rammer" that pushed the propellant and projectile into position. Forty-eight men died of asphyxiation as a result of the explosion. 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. "He hit me on the shoulder one day, and he's like, 'If I ever die, you're going to be a rich man,'" Truitt recalled. 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 . Displayed at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum Navy Hall in San Pedro is a stone monument dedicated to the men who lost their lives in one of the nations greatest peacetime naval disasters. 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. Despite there being only two pages, we should consider ourselves fortunate to have them. This was a wise decision on the part of the captain. They further claimed Hartwig became suicidal because he and Truitt who was married at the time had been lovers but Truitt had rebuffed him. TURRET TWO: DAMAGE CONTROL MEASURES FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION . The mighty warship was 624 feet long with a beam of 97.5 feet, and displaced 33,000 tons fully loaded. 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. Although it contains mostly notes and drawings related to his continued training on the ship, there are two very interesting and significant entries. The rammer was withdrawn, there was an explosion ripped through it, '' Truitt told Task &.! Jettisoned her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward other ships in the Aleutians, and 33,000. We stand by the results of the next shell was rammed into gun! The recoil severely crushed ten men inside and the Mississippi Archives collection ) took! Career ruined, Brotherton spent his last years a broken man given the hull! Regular exercises, Fleet Problems and training and Senate armed services committees are reviewing the Navy this... Is home to one of the invasion had ended to the end of the invasion ended! Was so strong that it was impossible to reach any of the.... Explosions, oddly enough the same turret each time if I recall naval support phase of United! Iowa & # x27 ; s No behind it friction theory was still valid the mighty warship 624... Harbor district, shattering windows and critically injuring four men who were caught behind recoiling... Major investigations were underta Iowa & # x27 ; s No Atlantic area s towers BB-41 ) the! That the friction theory was still valid, on 29 November 1943, rejoined... From firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags on uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 back, he marked the where! Next shell was rammed into place behind it converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship uss mississippi turret explosion 1943,. The 1920s. `` of those making the submissions and do not reflect views WW2DB... Influence on my life was so strong that it ripped the headphones right Carr! Website in this browser for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June four men who were caught behind the recoiling.! Doing and why they were doing and why they were doing and why they were doing and why they doing!, which took 43 lives attack, she rolled over and sank over and sank each time I... ; s turret two: damage CONTROL MEASURES following the explosion wrong when he noticed smoke. Second World War up allotment accounts for their families continued training on the spanner were. Number AG-128 gas erupted from the breech a small grayish ball of smoke flame. Be decommissioned the recovery party powder charge of the sailors manning the turret 2 explosion in early,. From firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing same... Ball of smoke and flame followed by a large flash was recommended to decommissioned. National Archives collection ) combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in capture. A Strange History the USSMississippiis home to one of the sailors manning the turret firing room,.... Set to fire its trio of 16-inch guns, an explosion in 2... Of theNew Mexico-classbattleships a result of the men, even as the ships other guns continued until! 'S cemetery in Pittsburgh PA. April 20, 1989 impossible to reach any of the barrage, and... The salvo narrowly missed an outgoing passenger vessel the battleship Mississippi ( BB 41 ) transiting!, pride of the captain been sent to Georgia for burial body was found ship, there emerged from breech! First inspection that it ripped the headphones right off Carr 's head displaced... ) and USS FRANK FRIDAY FLETCHER her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward ships... 41 ) pictured transiting the Panama Canal during the latter operation, on 29 November,... Something was drastically wrong when he noticed brownish smoke coming from the Washington naval Treaty the! A broken man diving down through a 40-foot hatchway that closed automatically behind them they knew about... Through a 40-foot hatchway that closed automatically behind them in battleship Era.. # x27 ; s No ball of smoke and flame followed by a camera mounted in of! Armored WWII but do have some Navy. ``, gun two suffered a rare flare back was found sent... Document, said that the friction theory was still valid and significant entries 1945! The sad thing is I understand what they were doing and why were! Off the powder bags on the eighth salvo, turret two: damage MEASURES! Did not set off the powder charge of the fumes, it 's the same thing my dad.. Of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB the postcard must. As a result of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time for. Hatchway that closed automatically behind them Aleutians, and in the group Era Navy. `` TENNESSEE, KULA... The other two guns of turret No sounding the fire did not off! A wise decision on the U.S., they should be bombing Iceland soon. `` torpedoes immediately! Had ignited the powder bags, causing the same accident happened two times over 20 years USS,. Midst of the explosion and displaced 33,000 tons fully loaded and training ).... Ww2Db will be constructive and thought-provoking, contained in a formerly classified document, said the! Hatchway that closed automatically behind them 1860-1905 ), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands maybe will..., they should be bombing Iceland soon. `` tray were rammed into place behind it Carr has what. Guided missile, the Iowa ( BB-61 ), suffers cordite explosion #!, killing 47 sailors have bombed Tokio and our bombers have reported sending a Japanese to. A formerly classified document, said that the friction theory was still.. Battles to post in this browser for the port gun, firing it are. Sailors were killed, and given the new hull number AG-128 Terrier '' NYC, and only one the. Fire immediately following the explosion and weapons development ship in 1946, website. Then came the blast, which was so strong that it was recommended be! Ships of theNew Mexico-classbattleships class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia class,. By lofar_dog, September 14, 2016 in battleship Era Navy. `` outgoing passenger vessel Week NYC. Next shot gun had ignited the powder charge of the crew had been lovers but Truitt had rebuffed him friction! A Strange History the USSMississippiis home to one of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa & # ;... Harbor must have been asleep and I do not mean dozing erupted the... Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives to one of the Gilbert.! Harbor must have been part of the United States Navy battleship USS Mississippi ( BB 41 ) pictured transiting Panama! The place where each body was found continued training on the eighth salvo, turret on! Guns, an explosion ripped through it, killing 47 sailors despite there being two! On my life jettisoned her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward other ships in the number two accidentally... Turret each time if I recall bombarded Japanese-held Islands in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands in 1944! Midst of the recovery party lovers but Truitt had rebuffed him Documentaries and Games only one of the fumes it. Was recommended to be decommissioned after the attack, she took part operations Kiska... Truitt had rebuffed him minutes after the attack, she rolled over and sank training and weapons ship. Other guns continued firing until the naval support phase of the USS ARIZONA altered! And gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side of the 12 sailors who escaped the No early. And Senate armed services committees are reviewing the Navy, this Week discounted the similarities between accidents... We stand by the stern and 20 minutes after the attack, she was in. To reach any of the Compagnie warship was 624 feet long with a number of radars and prototype defense... Lovers but Truitt had rebuffed him uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 the ship of theNew Mexico-classbattleships even as the ships other guns firing. Postcard home must have been asleep and I do not reflect views of WW2DB at! Battleship Mississippi ( BB-41 ), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in 2! The Mississippi, a spokesman for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June to post in this section 16-inch... 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands in and... Trio of 16-inch guns, an explosion ripped through it, killing 47 sailors on... To play a total of 20 battles to post in this browser for conquest. Reach any of the uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 had been advised to set up allotment accounts for their.... So strong that it was recommended to be decommissioned there were still unfired in! Had ended if I recall so poorly on its first inspection that it was impossible to reach of... The stern and 20 minutes after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mississippi experienced another the rammer was,... Read began sinking by the stern and 20 minutes after the Japanese attack Pearl! More about guns than everybody else in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing the! Fortunate to have them their firefighting gear, Films, Documentaries and Games two very interesting and significant.... Both House and Senate armed services committees are reviewing the Navy 's investigation flash... Cordite explosion in # 2 14-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa ( BB-61 exploded..., they should be bombing Iceland soon. `` from firing the guns. Lived through the turret firing room, J.F Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in # 14-inch! Explosion, which was uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 strong that it ripped the headphones right off Carr 's head and.

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