Loaded or not?

Coupla comments

Hardcase,

The rate of fire of the 76 mm gunmount is up to 85 rounds/min. When you and I were still around it at was 60.

I never knew of a 45 going off, but I remember one day in Oslo, Norway when Signalman Seaman Hudson let the slide go forward during his turnover and the whole danged pistol slipped out of his hand and went over the side. We had to fly in some UDT guys to go fish it out of the water. At that point the skipper told the gunner to put a lanyard on the pistol that the petty officer of the watch would be issued. The other end of the lanyard was connected to the petty officer of the watch. That feature became known as the Hudson Lanyard.

Old Grump,

Jessus. Canberra was a while ago. I came in in 69 and just barely remember her. Last of the Baltimore class?
 
Doc,
Not sure what watch you are refering to but on our "Roving Sentry", we carried a 1911 but no ammo. Who would trust a Deck Ape or Snipe with ammo?? :confused:
However, I did carry one round in my jumper pocket. Barney would have been proud !!! ... :)




Be Safe !!!
 
For those talking about battleships firing their main guns, you might want to look at this video of the USS Wisconsin...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkx68UdcPA0

To get that realistic feeling, connect your computer's sound output to your amplifier and make sure you turn up both the amp and stereo. You'll know you got it right when it's hard to breathe during the guns firing. :D

IIRC it was the USS New Jersey that sank an island. The ship's crew turned a small enemy-occupied island in one of Vietnam's rivers into a submerged sandbar in about 18 hours. :eek:
 
As Ronald Reagan always said, "Well....."

To Pahoo,

Petty Officer of the Watch on the Quarterdeck. Armed with a .45 and ammo in a clip but no clip in the pistol.

To BillCA,

Best way to describe the effect of a 16 inch round, "It changes the topography."
 
IIRC it was the USS New Jersey that sank an island. The ship's crew turned a small enemy-occupied island in one of Vietnam's rivers into a submerged sandbar in about 18 hours.
Click to expand...


That was Tiger Island in 1967. It was the target because it was honeycombed with caves.

In 1969 a patrol boat was ambushed from a small river island. The bodies of that patrol boat were in our cooler. When we picked them up only one man was still alive and he was on only one leg. he died before we could get him to sick bay and I saw it. Our 8" guns didn't have enough penetration, that is why the Jersey was called in. We also had a supply problem, there was only one source for our cannon fodder and we shot it up faster than they could make it and get it to us. Yes it was a long time ago.

We were supporting the marines as was the New Jersey and this particular little island only took minutes to reduce it to half its size and destroy the bunkers. It was the only time when I was aboard that we operated together. My next Nam tour was aboard the Truxtun with a completely different mission.

On quarter deck, missile watch, ASROC watch or roving patrol we were armed with 45's and a loaded magazine. In port the outboard sentries were armed with carbines. Aboard the Farragut the ASROC watch took possession of his 45, inserted magazine, let the slide forward and pulled the trigger, slightly out of sequence, Inserting magazine last instead of first. He put a round through the flying bridge as the Captain was standing there and he was not a happy man. When our guard was relieved he was still standing their with his arm up, the gun pointed in the air and his eyes and his mouth were both open. They had to pry the gun from his hands.

He was relegated to outboard sentry after that but since he wasn't allowed a gun he was armed with a night stick and a whistle.

6 months later the corpsman took his buck knife away and threw it overboard and then took him to ships store and told the supply clerks running the store they were not allowed to sell him anything sharp or with an edge. He had stabbed himself three times in the upper thigh trying to demonstrate his knife fighting skills. I loved that guy but I hope when he got out he took a job where he wasn't exposed to anything he could hurt himself with.
 
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