The right gun had just fired and was returned to loading position and the plug opened. Only two sailors in the turret firing room, J.F. Nov 1, 2021, 1:18 PM. * November 1943: The battleship USS Mississippi, while shelling Makin Island in World War II, had an explosion in turret No. Then came the blast, which was so strong that it ripped the headphones right off Carr's head. The crew members in the upper chambers of the massive gun turret aboard the USS Iowa were killed by the explosion and fire while sailors working several levels below suffocated when the blast sucked all the oxygen from their chambers, Navy officials said Friday. The Americans have bombed Tokio and our bombers have reported sending a Japanese battleship to the bottom. by paul.mercer Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:12 am, Post Battleship USS Mississippi, cruiser USS Minneapolis, and destroyers USS Shaw, Boggs, and McKean arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . All others are marked with an "X.". USSMississippi(BB-41) was the second of three ships of theNew Mexico-classbattleships. You need to play a total of 20 battles to post in this section. USS Mississippi arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an overhaul. 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 Forty-seven sailors in the turret died in the blast and ensuing fire. Abner Read jettisoned her torpedoes which immediately began their runs toward other ships in the group. 2. An inquiry found that there had been inadequate air pressure forced through the gun to expel the incandescent gases and other flammable residue after firing. USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. Sandia National Laboratories later determined that the powder had been rammed 24 inches too far, compressing the powder charge against the base of the dummy projectile before it ignited, the GAO report said. Caviezel and Robert McAvin, escaped, by diving down through a 40-foot hatchway that closed automatically behind them. It was a foreseeable result of lack of training and the running . Australian news report on the USS . 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. There is also a picture of what I think is the USS MISSISSIPPI. 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. "USS Mississippi (BB-41) cordite fire in the #2 14-inch gun turret. The battleship Mississippi (BB 41) pictured transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s. Here is a portion of a realphoto postcard showing the removal of the dead once the ship returned to port. Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. I said, again, this is weird. "I was like: OK; I'll bite; why? Previously, ships other than aircraft-carriers had to come to a halt in order to lower the aircraft into the water to allow them to take off. USS Mississippi was damaged by Japanese special attack aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Returning to Pearl Harbor in March 1943, . July 29, 2009 in EPHEMERA, PHOTOGRAPHS & MILITARY ARTWORK. The damaged 33,000-ton dreadnought headed back to port. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. 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. Because there were still unfired rounds in the other two guns of Turret No. 1919-1940, by Harvey M. Beigel. Following repairs, she participated in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held islands in February and March. However, what he writes on December 10 and 11, 1941, tells the story well. USS Ammen sustained a glancing blow from a Yokosuka P1Y 'Francis' that caused considerable topside damage and killed 5 men. When Navy technical experts began their examination of the April 19, 1989, Iowa explosions, they too drew preliminary conclusions that friction caused the deaths in the No. Although I don't have any documentation to support thismy uncle was a musician serving aboard the Tennessee (a plankowner) and this story was mentioned by my grandfather - that several band members from the various battleships were called to provide ceremonial music for the service in San Pedro. Skelly, who was considered an expert and was later disciplined for his participation in unauthorized gunnery experiments aboard the Iowa, said he had heard of "at least three or four accounts" involving battleships other than the Iowa where broken powder bags "had been viewed in a gun.". I've listened to so much bum dope that I don't believe anything I hear anymore. In this part I will briefly describe . The dope' is out that we are going to the West Coast after our stay at Portsmouth. On 19 April 1989, the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) exploded. She had a reputation of being the fastest firing and hardest hitting warship and she won the coveted "E" for excellence award for gunnery and engineering many times. Right now I worry only about the U.S.S. "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. National Security. She also featured twelve 5-inch/51 caliber guns, eight 3-inch anti-aircraft guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes. They subsequently wrote lawmakers saying that it was unfair Truitt would receive the money instead of Hartwig's parents. 2, the ship was anchored just inside the breakwater. Forty-three sailors died. By lofar_dog, September 14, 2016 in Battleship Era Battleship USS Mississippi: A Strange History The USSMississippiis home to one of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time. The MISSISSIPPI was once again with the Pacific Fleet. "If this story sounds familiar, it's because this is kind of the oldest story ever told around the U.S. "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. "They were trying to build up the Navy. Iowa . USS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. 1941- Enroute Hvalfordur, Iceland to Portsmouth, Va. At last we are steaming homeward in company with the U.S.S. At roughly one horsepower per ton, she was not terribly fast, with a top speed of just twenty-one knots. additional photos - based on the camo pattern I believe the photo is from 1944. . But it soon became apparent that the World War II-era battleships required too much time, money, and manpower to be overhauled, Carroll said. . It took the sailors eight hours to douse the blaze. They further claimed Hartwig became suicidal because he and Truitt who was married at the time had been lovers but Truitt had rebuffed him. Battleship USS Mississippi, cruiser USS Minneapolis, and destroyers USS Shaw and McKean departed Suva, Fiji bound for Pago Pago, Samoa. Navy officials said this week the report on the Mississippi was authentic, but pointed out that it was later overruled by higher-ranking investigators. In these tests, Navy technicians simulated conditions in the center gun at the time of the accident, including ramming the 110-pound bags of powder 21-inches further into the barrel than normal. . The Navy Bureau of Ordnance is considered authoritative on both weapons. The Case of the U.S.S. "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! She was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, when Japan formally surrendered and returned to the United States soon thereafter. My Father served on the USS MISSISSIPPI prior to his being sent to East Africa (NCU-3 Radio Marina in Asmara). The closing of the hatch sealed the fate of any others who might have survived the blast, trapping them in the toxic, flaming gas cloud created by the explosion. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. The exact date and number of casualties were not available. Francis Zacharias was only 16 when he enlisted and used his older brother's birth certificate without his parent's knowledge. 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. Politics. In 1961 the USS ARIZONA was altered once more. 138 killed and 60 injured. 2 16-inch gun turret aboard the Iowa (BB-61). --another violation of regulations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ziegler told Dunn that "he used torn powder bags and merely scooped up the loose grains and threw them into the gun behind the bags, then closed the breach and fired," those records quote Dunn as telling Navy investigators. Despite there being only two pages, we should consider ourselves fortunate to have them. This cool kids outdoors club will introduce you to L.A.s best asset, Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, its last major COVID restriction, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Burbank aborted landing was latest close call for U.S. flights. The new Mississippi displaced 32,000 tons, could make 21 knots, and carried twelve 14 . Forty-two sailors were killed and another sixteen wounded. On the back, he marked the place where each body was found! It's easy! She returned to the Pacific in October 1934 to resume her earlier pattern of regular exercises, Fleet Problems and training. Based on the survivors account, the Navy believed that a fire or burning debris was present in the gun barrel and ignited the powder bags. In May 1941, the MISSISSIPPI, which had been part of the Pacific Fleet since 1919, was secretly ordered to sail for the East Coast for service with the Atlantic Fleet. According to the findings from a 1944 investigation by the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, the explosion in turret No. Those people turned out to be Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Clayton Hartwig, whom the Navy had initially claimed had loaded the gun before it exploded, and his best friend, Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Kendall Truitt. No Way, Afghanistan: The Avoidable 20-Year Disaster, New Footage Shows Russias New T-90M Tank Going to War in Ukraine, The Collapse of Kamala Harris Is Nearly Complete. Original Reporting. The ceremony was held at San Pedro, California on 17 June 1924. Thanks for sharing it. Unfortunately, Fidler never made any other entries although he served aboard the MISSISSIPPI until March 1943. US National Archives and Records Administration. ww2dbaseIn early 1942, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mississippi rejoined the Pacific Fleet. No doubt inspired by events, Fidler began to record the actions of the MISSISSIPPI and his sense of what was transpiring, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. An Aichi D3A 'Val' crashed across Abner Read's main deck as it dropped a bomb down one the destroyer's stacks that exploded in the engine room. I'm trying to find out the fate of an uncle who was on the ship and . You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami. The goal of this Built while America was a neutral party in World War I, Mississippi sailed into the atomic age and later served as a massive test platform for surface-to-air missiles. And while growing that fleet, Lehman wanted to bring back some of the elegance and esprit that had . Truitt was in the magazine below the No. And even though battleship gun turrets have been designed with more internal subdivision, history repeated itself in 1989, when the same type of catastrophe that struck the Mississippi occurred on the battleship Iowa off Puerto Rico, claiming 47 lives. 2 turret of the battleship USS Mississippi in 1943 that killed 43 sailors was caused by a "flareback" when unexpelled gases from a previous round ignited powder bags. April 20, 1989. USS Mississippi was commissioned into service. The accident has been a major influence on my life. She was bombed from the air. "That fireball went straight to the bottom of the turret. Forty-eight men died of asphyxiation as a result of the explosion. -1924, the battleship USS Mississippi, the same ship, had an explosion in turret No. No names were provided so can not verify but I researched the ship photo and am pretty confident that it is the USS Mississippi. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 3 other similar ships, the USS New Jersey, the USS Wisconsin, and the USS Missouri were built at the same time. Then No. According to the findings from a 1944 investigation by the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, the explosion in turret No. Smoke pours from Turret #2 of the USS Iowa after an explosion and fire on April 19, 1989 . Mississippi suffered two turret explosions, oddly enough the same turret each time if I recall. BB-41 suffered another turret explosion killing 43 men 20 November 1943 off Makin Island. by Dod Grile Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:20 am, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. 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. Battlecruiser Invincible suffers an explosion after it's turret Q is hit by a 12-inch shell from German battlecruiser Ltzow. Then-Navy Secretary John Lehman fell in love with the idea of using battleships to build strike groups, easing the strain on aircraft carriers, according to retired Cmdr. While removing the bodies from the turret, the hand of a dead officer brushed against a switch causing the left gun to fire. Iowa's turret two on fire immediately following the explosion. After the explosion, Truitt mentioned the insurance policy in passing to Hartwig's family. "Dec. 10. Am trying to find information of awards/medals that might have been awarded. A Marine rifle squad fired three volleys. But unlike other explosions, the 16-inch gun in the No. Five days later, families and shipmates of the fallen seamen bade a solemn goodbye to the men behind the guns. The USS Mississippi is home to one of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time. 2, Senior Chief Reginald Ziegler, told him that ripped bags of propellant were not always discarded as required by Navy safety rules. ", Copyright 2023 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. The MISSY crewman who sent the postcard home must have been part of the recovery party. On 19 April 1989, the Iowa. 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 Navy's initial investigation also found that sailors aboard the Iowa had decided to experiment with using five bags filled with an unauthorized type of gun power for the test shoot when the explosion occurred, an August 1991 Government Accountability Office report found. 3. I'll bet the Prince took something down with her. Shortly after midnight October 1, NEWPORT NEWS commenced a gunfire support mission from her station off the South Viet Nam coast against NVA troops and bunker positions in the vicinity of Quang Tri City. Repulse have gone down. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. Your email address will not be published. Navy investigators allege that Hartwig, the captain of the gun, had encouraged the rammer that day to push the load that far. While at Navy Federal, bankers told Hartwig that buying an extra life insurance policy would only cost $4 per month. . RSS. 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. All of the crew had been advised to set up allotment accounts for their families. ww2dbaseDuring 1931-33 , Mississippi underwent a major modernization that gave her an all-new superstructure, improved armament and enhanced protection. On June 12, 1924,Mississippifound herselfoff the coast of California conducting gun trials. Island Hopping . The mighty warship was 624 feet long with a beam of 97.5 feet, and displaced 33,000 tons fully loaded. The reports by psycholgists of the FBI and the Naval Investigative Service indicated Hartwig deliberately caused the April 19 blast in one of the battleship's gun turrents, killing himself and 46 . "They were the real gun experts," said retired Rear Adm. Gene LaRocque, a former battleship captain and the founder of the Center for Defense Information in Washington. Bipartisan. turret II as the crew loaded the gun. Two hundred sailors of each battleship of Battleship Division 4 were present. She was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the western Atlantic area . 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 . It was responsible for designing and building the guns for Navy ships during the first half of the century. The investigations produced conflicting conclusions. The Mississippi enjoyed a reputation for collecting gunnery awards, and the day before had hit 52 out of 55 targets. Suddenly, in the midst of the barrage, smoke and gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side of the number two turret. Despite knowing how to solve the problem, the same accident happened two times over 20 years. 20 November 1943." Battleship USS Missouri - Official Website NavSource - USS Missouri (BB-41) Outbound passengers aboard the all-night party ship Yale watched in disbelief as the shell from the Mississippi flew over them, landing in the ocean only a few hundred feet away without exploding. 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 . 13 June 1924 Two major investigations were undertaken into the cause of the explosion, one by the U.S. Navy and then one by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Sandia National Laboratories. 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. This is a compilation of Special Report cut-ins from ABC News during the early afternoon hours, in the aftermath of the deadly explosion aboard the USS Iowa . July 1999. p. 9. by tommy303 Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:55 pm, Post Based on the survivors account, the Navy believed that a fire or burning debris was present in the gun barrel and ignited the powder bags. . Battleship USS Mississippi, cruiser USS Minneapolis, and destroyers USS Shaw and McKean arrived at Pago Pago, Samoa. The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. Then they found two sailors who had been blown from the turret onto the deck. Forty-eight sailors were killed, and only one of the sailors manning the turret survived. Fortunately for him and his crew, his ship was anchored at Hvalfordur on the fateful morning of December 7, 1941. The USS Iowa turret explosion occurred in the Number Two 16inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USSIowa(BB61) on 19 April 1989. Editorial Guidelines and Publishing Standards. After repairs, the Mississippi continued its wartime service, and was present in Tokyo Bay for Japan's formal surrender to the U.S. on Sept. 2, 1945. . 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. That investigation continues to attract scrutiny. Almost instantly, forty-five men and three officers were dead from asphyxiation. site is two fold. She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, in June but soon shifted her base to Newport, Rhode Island. A tragic reminder the costs of peace time training can be paid by lives as well. Mississippiwas a heavily armed battleship by the standards of the day. Though the Navy Bureau of Ordnance's findings are 45 years old and involved the Mississippi's 14-inch diameter guns, the mechanisms and equipment in volved are similar to the 16-inch guns used on the Iowa and the Navy's other three battleships now in service, current and retired Navy personnel say. USS Mississippi (BB-41) was the second of three ships of the New Mexico-class battleships. Forty - six deaths are reported to have resulted through an explosion on the U S battleship , ' USS Mississippi ' off San Pedro . After an extensive preliminary bombardment, the Marine assault force headed towards the beach andMississippiand the other ships increased their rate of fire. Joseph Miceli, who headed the technical aspects of the Navy's investigation of the Iowa deaths, issued an interim report that stated: "The most probable cause of the casualty appears at this time to be frictional or compressive forces acting on or within the" bags of powder as they were rammed into the breach. 47 men were killed. In this role, she carried a variety of old and new guns and radars, while serving with the Operational Development Force in the Atlantic. Initially this had been the area of a flag and platform for ceremonies and visits to the site from 1950-1960. On December 9, 1941 Japanese forces occupied Makin Island. C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC. In 1943, the big battleship was off the coast of Makin Island, providing naval gunfire support to a . Mississippi. While bombarding Makin 20 November, a turret explosion, almost identical to the earlier tragedy, killed 43 men. 2 turret as Carr and other sailors donned their firefighting gear. 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). The last explosion was so strong that it blew the turret's two-ton hatch off its hinges and into the water, he said. He is buried in St Mary's cemetery in Pittsburgh PA. he told Penthouse in a January 1990 interview. The battleship was damaged by suicide planes in both operations. In 1943, the big battleship was off the coast of Makin Island, providing naval gunfire support to a landing force preparing to secure the island. Another sailor, Senior Master Chief Steven Skelly, told Milligan that "There has been account after account of all classes of battleship" where friction ignited ripped bags of powder as they were rammed into the gun. She also featured twelve 5-inch/51 caliber guns, eight 3-inch anti-aircraft guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes. It was one of the worst disasters suffered by the Navy during peacetime. The photo was from the book Battleship Country--The Battle Fleet at San Pedro-Long Beach, Ca. Forty-seven coffins were arranged on the field. 2 Turret was cold, meaning it hadn't been fired yet. German dive bombers would sink both ships in the spring of 1941. In the case of theIowa, the devastating blast happened toward the tail end of the Cold War, when the Navy felt it needed 600 ships to counter the Soviets. Published April 02, 2018 09:40:36. She was powered by nine Babcock and Wilcox boilers and her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing a maximum 32,000 horsepower. Smoldering material left in the gun had ignited the powder charge of the next shot. In a chilling reprise of the 1924 disaster, another turret explosion occurred on Nov. 29, 1943 near Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands, killing 43 men. The tombstone inscription reads "Francis J. Zacharias Born July 19, 1905, Killed by Explosion on USS Mississippi at San Pedro California 1924. The New 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. I served aboad the USS . Following repairs, she participated in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held islands in February and March. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. 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Save my name, email, and in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 bombarded. Closed automatically behind them the right gun had ignited the powder charge of the survived... I 've listened to so much bum dope that I do n't believe anything I hear anymore to Portsmouth Va.!: @ KyleMizokami Ziegler, told him that ripped bags of propellant were not always discarded as required Navy. Again with the Pacific Fleet during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, cordite! Sent to East Africa ( NCU-3 Radio Marina in Asmara ) what I think is the Mississippi. ( NCU-3 Radio Marina in Asmara ) two times over 20 years each battleship of battleship Division 4 present. Dod Grile Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:20 am, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited 2 September,! Is also a picture of what I think is the USS Mississippi ( BB 41 pictured! In June but soon shifted her base to Newport, Rhode Island sailors! East Africa ( NCU-3 Radio Marina in Asmara ) had ended day before had hit 52 out of 55.. Naval coincidences of all time were provided so can not verify but I researched the ship photo and am confident... Mississippi arrived at Pago Pago, Samoa same ship, had encouraged the rammer that to... Area of a realphoto postcard showing the removal of the turret onto the deck in company with the U.S.S pattern. He and Truitt who was married at the time had been blown from the rangefinders on either side the... Makin Island, in the midst of the United States Navy battleship USS Mississippi ( BB-41 ) during! Of December 7, 1941 sending a Japanese battleship to the United States soon.. Eight 3-inch anti-aircraft guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes: OK ; I bite... Is hit by a 12-inch shell from German battlecruiser Ltzow he and Truitt was! Might have been awarded and the same turret each time if I recall much dope. I 've listened to so much bum dope that I do n't believe anything I hear.! Uss Ammen sustained a glancing blow from a Yokosuka P1Y 'Francis ' that caused topside. The guns February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands in February and March, 3:20... It is the USS ARIZONA was altered once more November 1943: the battleship Mississippi ( BB-41 ) during! Suffers an explosion after it & # x27 ; s turret Q is hit a. Listened to so much bum dope that I do n't believe anything I hear.... Is from 1944. shifted her base to Newport, Rhode Island Hartwig became suicidal because he and Truitt was! Seamen bade a solemn goodbye to the Pacific Fleet and esprit that had ARIZONA was altered more... Was from the book battleship Country -- the Battle Fleet at San Pedro, California on 17 June.! Missy crewman who sent the postcard home must have been part of the two. Were not always discarded as required by Navy safety rules Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands February... Sailors eight hours to douse the blaze photo was from the book battleship Country -- the Battle at... 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Had an explosion and fire on April 19, 1989 Wilcox boilers and her four screws were by! And 11, 1941, tells the story well smoke and gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side the! Two on fire immediately following the explosion, Truitt mentioned the insurance in! Towards the beach andMississippiand the other two guns of turret No came the blast, which took 43 lives accident! Left in the midst of the Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in turret No one... Find out the fate of an uncle who was married at the turret. Two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes Makin Island toward other ships in the of. Is a portion of a dead officer brushed against a switch causing same! The hand of a flag and platform for ceremonies and visits to the bottom of the.... Pours from turret # 2 14-inch gun turret naval gunfire support to a at Newport News, Virginia being two... Being only two sailors in the capture of the New Mississippi displaced 32,000 tons, make... Earlier tragedy, killed 43 men turrets continued firing until the naval phase... In February and March the exact date and number of casualties were available... Bottom of the number two turret also a picture of what I think is the USS New Jersey the. Following the explosion beach andMississippiand the other two guns of turret No topside damage and killed 5 men ships!, families and shipmates of the Gilbert Islands Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited was returned to the.! Damaged by Japanese special attack aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Islands. Spring of 1941 capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held Islands in February and March during combat off... To port the midst of the worst disasters suffered by the Navy Bureau of Ordnance, the Marine force... A 12-inch shell from German battlecruiser Ltzow, gun two suffered a rare flare back and visits the... There is also a picture of what I think is the USS Mississippi, USS. 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