How did the Navy service those 16” guns?

2021-03-05T09:36:45-05:00

I was on the Abrams series of tanks and serviced the 105mm and 120mm cannons. My son at 14 is self studying Naval Warships WWII to currently active ships. So sparked the question of maintaining such big armorment on a big platform like the ones on battleships.

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Mar 5 at 2021 9:38 AM

2021-03-05T09:38:47-05:00

This is a picture of cleaning on the North Carolina.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Mar 5 at 2021 9:42 AM

2021-03-05T09:42:54-05:00

Looks like an enormous Bore Snake in the photo. Maybe there's a capstan on either end.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 5 at 2021 10:39 AM

2021-03-05T10:39:29-05:00

Besides needing all sorts of mechanical assist, the 16"/50's MK-7 barrel life was 290 rounds. That meant the Iowa Class had to go to a shipyard for barrel replacement. The replacement might be new or relined. Since each barrel had about 100-120 rounds of ammo in the magazines, you'd only get shy of three full magazines of ammo to expend. Barrel replacement was common on all ships with smaller caliber ones lasting longer. 12 inch was good to 366 rounds. A full charge of powder of six bags weighed 760 pounds.

The 16 inch system had two long term problems. First was the shells did not have a gilding metal driving band to engage the rifling. The base was wrapped in lead. That meant when the shell was shot, lead particles were sucked into the ship's ventilation system. Lead poisoning of crew members was common. Second was the powder bag itself. They were made of silk. When the Iowa was being returned to service, the powder was repackaged in Dacron as the silk had rotted. Shoots off San Clemente Island were wildly inaccurate. The scientists determined that the Dacron didn't pass the charge from bag to bag evenly as silk did. The solution was to put an accelerator pad charge on the back of the bag to even it out. What they didn't know was the bags now became highly sensitive to over ramming pressure. That resulted in the turret being blown off the Iowa.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 5 at 2021 10:45 AM

2021-03-05T10:45:17-05:00

I recall Army 8's and 155's had conventional ram rods.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 5 at 2021 2:25 PM

2021-03-05T14:25:54-05:00

Big guns were on big ships or dug in to fortified positions. Changing barrels is usually fairly easy if you have a crane. The tubes of 175mm and 8 in were changed regularly in Vietnam. The M107 and M110 (175&8”) were interchangeable.i was amazed by the 12” and 16” employed by the Coastal Artillery were a sight. The 280mm atomic cannon was over the top, Trying to move it was usually a disaster