MOA of a 16" artillery / naval gun

A question about Vietnam ground based artillery, did we have a shell that transmitted data back to the gun crew? I was told a story about this but had never heard of this before.
 
Little David wins the prize for largest bore diameter and probably heaviest projectile weight, but its range of 6 miles doesn't get it in the long range club.
 
Regarding the spotting of ship gun projectiles, in decent conditions shooting at surface targets, one can give good deflection spots before they splash. I could see through the rangefinder at 12X or 24X 5" projectiles arcing down towards the target. When splashed, I would optically range on the splash, subtract target range then given add or drop spot to the MK1A computer operators in the plotting room. When they reported back "Plot set!" I knew the salvo warning alarms would soon sound and 2 seconds later the next targeting shot would fire.

When bracket and halving straddled the target in range and deflection, I would report to plot, "Target straddled. No change." The battery officer's next command were to commence firing with ammo type and fuse settings.
 
these were daylight engagements with visual spotting only, unlike Suriago Straight which was a night engagement, where American fire control radar played a significant role.
Click to expand...

The amazing part is that W.V. scored a hit in the first salvo; yeah FC Radar and that Ford most certainly played a significant role.
 
Be worth looking into railway guns which were Navy tubes on railroad carriage mounts.
Click to expand...

Why not also look at the M1895 12", M1907 14" disappearing guns, or the M1919 16"/50 Caliber coastal defense guns?
 
In 1968, I was on DLG-29 tied up across the pier from USS Helena CA-75 in Subic Bay, Philippines. Spent some time watching all nine 8"/55 barrels "re-gunned."

Barrel liners were hydraulically popped loose then pushed out the back of the turrets. New liners were pushed back into each barrel. Fascinating to watch.

Lookin' for pictures.........
 
Last edited:
In 1968, I was on DLG-29
Click to expand...
Jouette. Eternal Vigilance. No doubt I saw her when I was leaving the docks to go fishing out of S.D. back in the day.

I'll bet you still have both your Shellback AND your Neptune Cards from your WestPack Days.

Two thrown back in your honor.
 
During VN war, a FAC had a target but it was out of range of any fire base, and available aircraft were engaged or bingo fuel. FAC called any available aircraft, and got a strange call sign answer. He ran it thru the authenticator table and it was legit. He relayed coordinates to fire for effect, and received an "on the way" response. Shortly, the jungle just blew up.

The shooter sent "waiting for corections..." The FAC couldn't believe the hole remaining. It was bigger than that made by the BLU-82. No corrections, target destroyed.
When the FAC got back to base he looked up the call sign / authenticator and it was the USS Missouri. 16" MOA=close enough.
 
USS Missouri was tied up in the Pacific reserve fleet at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA, during the Vietnam war. I was there from June,1966 to June, 1967 as part of the DLG-29's nucleus pre-commissioning crew.

I was the officer of the deck on the mid watch (2345 to 0345 hours) the day Jouett was commissioned; Dec 3, 1966. Coldest watch ever; drizzling rain in freezing temperatures. My messenger of the watch was glad he got to go below decks to the CPO mess every half hour to get hot coffee.
 
Last edited:
I was the officer of the deck on the mid watch (2345 to 0345 hours) the day Jouett was commissioned; Dec 3, 1966. Coldest watch ever; drizzling rain in freezing temperatures. My messenger of the watch was glad he got to go below decks to the CPO mess every half hour to get hot coffee.
Click to expand...

I can commiserate with you buddy. I stood many OOD in-port midwatches. Fortunately, Mayport FL doesn't have too many of those cold miserable days.
 
DaleA..I thought he said it was the Missouri, maybe the New Jersey...but IT was one of the WW II battleships that was pulled out of mothballs and refitted for service in VN.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top