The Last Time The Battleship's Guns Were Fired: RARE FOOTAGE

Comments · 193

• JO

  @johnr2766 · 1 year ago

  A former coworker (who&apos;s long since passed) was a Fleet Marine in WW2 and stationed on a battleship. He said that after the war ended while on the way home they let whoever wanted to fire the 20 mm anti aircraft guns as much as they wanted to. Then, as they got close to the US, all the ammo that was left over went over the side.<br><br>I wonder if some of what&apos;s here was getting rid of old ammo that would never otherwise be used.

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• DA

  @DanFink-jm8md · 1 year ago

  The fire hoses are laid out because we had to go to General Quarters in order to fire the 16 inch guns. This was a result of the Iowa incident. Before the Iowa exploded, we went to Gunnery Stations to fire them.<br>At <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_fQonnUpI0&amp;t=292">4:52</a> in the video, you can see CAPT Bill Smith, our XO, full frame, wearing the standard blue windbreaker over his khakis, just as CAPT Ron Tucker, the CO did. &nbsp;<br>CAPT Smith was one of the best XOs I&apos;ve ever worked with. &nbsp;Back in those days, we were still in the &quot;screamer SWO&quot; culture in the surface navy; not that it has changed a lot (it hasn&apos;t), but it was really bad back then, so having a solid XO like Bill Smith was a welcome relief.

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• BI

  @bigsarge2085 · 1 year ago (edited)

  That 16 inch main gun footage is magnificent. &nbsp;Would have loved to witness it first hand.

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• BR

  @brianpreston3509 · 1 year ago

  The anomaly of the framed shot at the start of the VHS video would be caused by a filter being put on the camera. Usually installed to reduce glare. VHS video cameras were often affected by the magnetic fields of the radar. The huge shock of the guns definitely caused the image to distort.

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• RA

  @randyogburn2498 · 1 year ago

  I think the 16 inchers are the coolest to see fired. Because we will never likely see guns like again.

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• LI

  @LiveFreeOrDieDH · 1 year ago

  I appreciate the upload at 640x480 resolution. Perfect for VHS footage!

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• GR

  @GrimLotus · 1 year ago

  I imagine the array on the bow had to be shut off for those Marines to be up there. When I went aboard the Wisconsin, there were warning lables around it.

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• CH

  @chrismaverick9828 · 1 year ago

  Part of me feels it&apos;s a shame the Iowas never got the fleet battle they were designed for, both to see how well they would dish it out and also take it. The rest of me is thankful it never came to that.

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• PB

  @pb68slab18 · 1 year ago

  The M-14 was still used as a line-throwing gun as well as the standard shipboard rifle. Maybe a co- or substitute standard rifle. Their distinctive front sight/flash-hider was seen in the Hunt for Red October.

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• FO

  @foundersrule3496 · 1 year ago

  Libby and Ryan pack a lot of audio and visual information into the Monday to Friday nightly presentations. These type of subjects are priceless.

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• RO

  @rossedwards3053 · 1 year ago

  Those men you thought were marines with M14s were probably sailors. We were issued that battle rattle at that time.

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• SL

  @slowguy66 · 1 year ago

  My dad was second division 85 to 90 he said the mk38 25mm were installed and fired once that he saw before he got off the ship in early 1990.

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