Naval Gunnery Question

[Gusington]

I just read that some of the largest naval guns of the WWI era could fire a projectile up to 35km. In my head that is roughly about 60 miles. So, in theory, a WWI battleship could have fired it's largest guns while sitting in New York Harbor and hit my house up at West Point. Is this true? It seems amazing.

[mirth]

You're converting in the wrong direction, Gus. 35km is about 21 miles. And that was roughly the max range for the largest naval guns (figure 15-inch) in WWI. Still pretty amazing.

[Gusington]

Oh. Well that's embarrassing. Now I feel like a ninny nanny. But there is a bright side. If a hostile yet backward power ever enters New York Harbor with WWI era battleships, my house is safe.

[mirth]

Trust me, if that's the worst thing that happens to you today you're doing just fine. And it is good to know that you'd be out of the danger zone of battleship fire. And you're probably okay should Godzilla come ashore in NYC. Looks like you might be effed if Indian Point ever went China Syndrome, though.

[LongBlade]

Trust me, if that's the worst thing that happens to you today you're doing just fine. And it is good to know that you'd be out of the danger zone of battleship fire. And you're probably okay should Godzilla come ashore in NYC. Looks like you might be effed if Indian Point ever went China Syndrome, though.

Agreed, Godzilla should be fine. Let's just hope he never saw Clash of the Titans.

[Gusington]

^Hmm. That may be an issue. My dog may be able to handle it though.

Indian Point is a concern. It may be close to getting shut down if our Governor has his way.

The range of that accidental blast would be at least 35km/60 miles :)

[mirth]

Much as I do love talking about Godzilla, the Kraken and nuclear disasters, here's a nice site about battleship gunnery:

http://www.cityofart.net/bship/gunnery.html

And a couple of cool pics of 15-inch guns:

[LongBlade]

Wow. Thanks for that. Good stuff.

[Gusington]

In the original article I was reading that led to me spouting this thread it was commented that there is probably no one left alive who has ever heard a 15 inch gun firing.

[LongBlade]

In the original article I was reading that led to me spouting this thread it was commented that there is probably no one left alive who has ever heard a 15 inch gun firing.

Something sits in the back of my mind that the last time a battleship fired its guns in anger was Gulf War I. I might be wrong there, but I think I'm not. It was the last thing done before the Iowa was retired, IIRC.

Could be I'm wrong - it appears that the New Jersey used its guns in Lebanon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iowa_%28BB-61%29

Maybe some naval gurus here can shed some light on that.

And oh-by-the-way the Iowa had 16 inch guns, not 15.  :o

[Gusington]

I definitely remember the USS Missouri using its guns in 1991, but I don't know how big the Missouri's guns are (15 inch or not).

[mirth]

Missouri's an Iowa-class. They carried 16-inch guns.

Edit: Sorry LB, you already said that.

[Greybriar]

I definitely remember the USS Missouri using its guns in 1991, but I don't know how big the Missouri's guns are (15 inch or not).

The USS Missouri had 16 inch guns. I Googled it and my memory was correct:

The nine 16-inch guns are the Mighty Mo's trademark feature. Each gun barrel is to  approximately 67 feet long, weighs an incredible 116 tons, and can fire a 2,700-pound shell 23 miles in 50 seconds — with pinpoint accuracy.

There are some photos of her guns being fired on this site.

[Gusington]

So I suppose the original author (over at SimHQ) was correct about the 15 inch guns.

[MIGMaster]

Rumour has it that after some of the Saudis witnessed a BB fire mission during Gulf War 1 they said they wanted to get one ! I forget what book I read that in - it may have been Sabre Squadron ????????