Gunners mate Kendall L. Truitt, one of the 12 sailors who escaped the No. Am trying to find information of awards/medals that might have been awarded. "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. It was also clear that each 16-inch gun turret required more sailors than the Navy could afford to assign. After overhaul at San Francisco. 43 killed, 19 injured. Hartwig who died in the blast had planted a bomb in the gun. he Washington Post reported in September 1989. The next shell was rammed into the gun and the four powder bags on the spanner tray were rammed into place behind it. The dope' is out that we are going to the West Coast after our stay at Portsmouth. The accident occurred when rescuers were removing the body of the gun pointer, who was found sitting at his post with his finger still on the trigger. Facts later emerged that undermined the Navy's first investigation into the explosion, Truitt said. 2 gun turret, left two fully loaded gun barrels in the same . For example, Hartwig had not been responsible for loading the gun, as the Navy initially claimed. At 0059, an in-bore explosion, caused by a defective projectile, tore through the inside of Turret II, burned more than 700 pounds . She was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, when Japan formally surrendered and returned to the United States soon thereafter. Mississippi provided gunfire support for the Lingayen landings in January 1945 and for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June. Even $1 per month will go a long way! I'll bet the Prince took something down with her. Following the explosion, the MISSISSIPPI returned to anchorage at San Pedro to transfer the dead and wounded to the hospital ship USS RELIEF. "I just thought they had some really strange questions for what I assumed was an honest attempt at an investigation.". Funeral services were held June 17 on Trona Field at San Pedro. 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. Bipartisan. If Germany has declared war on the U.S., they should be bombing Iceland soon.". 2 turret during gunnery practice. Sandia investigators asked if two similar explosions on the battleship USS Mississippi could be related to the Iowa explosion. On the clear, crisp, windy afternoon of June 12, 1924, a few minutes before noon, the 7-year-old vessel, was involved in intense mock warfare maneuvers 40 miles south of Los Angeles with two other Pacific Fleet battleships, the Tennessee and the Idaho. Forty-three sailors died. The USS Iowa turret explosion occurred in the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) on 19 April 1989.The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret's crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. Only two sailors in the turret firing room, J.F. The waterspray system was not, if I recall, used to clear the bore between shots, just the compressed air blast. 1919-1940, by Harvey M. Beigel. US National Archives and Records Administration. Was on board 1943-45. . . 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. After the explosion, Truitt mentioned the insurance policy in passing to Hartwig's family. What's our Navy doing anyway? According to the findings from a 1944 investigation by the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, the explosion in turret No. Carr was wearing headphones that allowed him to hear what the crews in the other turrets were saying. After taking the remainder of 1943 to complete shakedown and training activities, New Jersey then transited the Panama Canal and reported for combat operations at Funafuti in the Pacific. Of her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. 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 . The mighty warship was 624 feet long with a beam of 97.5 feet, and displaced 33,000 tons fully loaded. The 1943 incident was virtually identical, and the Bureau of Ordnance . 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. Suddenly, in the midst of the barrage, smoke and gas erupted from the rangefinders on either side of the number two turret. Mississippi provided gunfire support for the Lingayen landings in January 1945 and for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June. Over more than a decade, she operated with the fleet's other battleships, conducting exercises and training operations in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. Island Hopping . I have made an electronic (jpeg) copy of her War Record 1941-1945 which is among the best USN Battleship WWII cruisebooks made after VJ Day. 2. Displayed at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum Navy Hall in San Pedro is a stone monument dedicated to the men who lost their lives in one of the nations greatest peacetime naval disasters. USS Mississippi and USS West Virginia departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the latter after extensive repairs and modernization following damage received in the Pearl Harbor Attack. Trying to contain it.'". Lt. Bruce Coles, a spokesman for the Navy, this week discounted the similarities between the accidents aboard the Iowa and the Mississippi. . All of the crew had been advised to set up allotment accounts for their families. . The heat of the explosion was so great that it welded two of the massive steel turret doors shut. He said the final technical report on the Iowa explosions had been released to Congress; a congressional source said it concluded that gunner's mate Clayton Hartwig, who died in the blasts, put a bomb made of chemicals into the breech and the bomb exploded and ignited the powder and propellant when compressed by the rammer. On June 12, 1924,Mississippifound herselfoff the coast of California conducting gun trials. Forty-three sailors died. TheNew Mexicoclass was the fourth of six distinct battleship classes laid down the 1910s, as the Navy rushed to fortify the Atlantic against tensionsand then outright warin Europe. Pictured are A and B Turrets of the ' USS Mississippi ' . Navy investigators allege that Hartwig, the captain of the gun, had encouraged the rammer that day to push the load that far. The battleships three remaining turrets continued firing until the naval support phase of the invasion had ended. Today located in Republic of Kiribati. A bizarre accident occurred afterward while theMississippiwas anchored in San Pedro Bay. I'm very sorry it ever occurred. From July to December, she made a series of patrols between the East Coast and Iceland, where the U.S. had recently established a base at Hvalfjordur. 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. Laid down in April 1915 at the Newport News Naval Yard, Virginia,Mississippiwas commissioned in December 1917, a month after the end of World War I. On 19 April 1989, the Iowa. 12 June 1924" "USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. 2 turret aboard the battleship Mississippi, which also claimed 47 lives. 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. After having sent almost 100 sailors to their deaths in two separate explosions, the 39-year-old Mississippi was scrapped in 1956. Saturday, April 26, -(UP)An explosion in the forward turret of the U.S. heavy cruiser St. Paul killed 30 men Monday while the ship was firing on Communist targets in Korea, the Navy announced today. My Father served on the USS MISSISSIPPI prior to his being sent to East Africa (NCU-3 Radio Marina in Asmara). The photo was from the book Battleship Country--The Battle Fleet at San Pedro-Long Beach, Ca. Two hundred sailors of each battleship of Battleship Division 4 were present. 2. We just outran several units of the German fleet (submarines). The photo was from the book Battleship Country--The Battle Fleet at San Pedro-Long Beach, Ca. A battleship force on station at the northern entrance to Surigao Strait consisting of battleships USS Mississippi, California, and Pennsylvania screened by cruisers USS Phoenix, Boise, Nashville, and HMAS Shropshire along with destroyers Ammen, Bush, Leutze, Newcomb, Bennion, Heywood L. Edwards, Robinson, Richard P. Leary, Bryant, and Claxton came under an intense Japanese air attacking force that included special attack aircraft. 20 November 1943. While at Navy Federal, bankers told Hartwig that buying an extra life insurance policy would only cost $4 per month. The ships were simulating a chase, firing only their forward turrets at close range. He said: "It's no big deal. Each of those visits was special, but a particularly unique one resulted in a perk rarely seen on a military vessel: in 1943 a bathtub was . 24 were killed. They subsequently wrote lawmakers saying that it was unfair Truitt would receive the money instead of Hartwig's parents. This could have led to dangerous debris remaining in the breech when the gun crew assumed it was safe to load. 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. Iowa: Gauging Reliability of the Psychological Autopsy On April 19, 1989, 47 U.S. Navy sailors were killed when an explosion ripped through turret 2 of the U.S.S. So when that flame came down, all those powder bags went off, and that was the third and final detonation.". This was a wise decision on the part of the captain. The battleship Mississippi (BB 41) pictured transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s. Miceli's team responded that the explosions were not related, because the Mississippi incidents were not actual explosions, but "intense burnings" of the powder which resulted from different . 1920's (U.S. Navy photo) USS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. 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. On December 9, 1941 Japanese forces occupied Makin Island. The guns' lubricants were the next to ignite, he said. Hartwig's father had seen combat in the Navy as a gunner's mate, Truitt said. 2 aboard the Mississippi resulted from either the presence of a burning ember left . "We stand by the results of the investigation," Coles said. Flame and gases immediately filled the gun compartment, passed through the safety doors above the shell table to the other two gun compartments and through the peep doors to the turret officer's booth. Lt. Zellars' body had already been sent to Georgia for burial. "They knew more about guns than everybody else in the Navy put together.". Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. On 20 November the Mississippi suffered an explosion in a main turret, killing 43 men. 1. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blogJapan Security Watch. Nearly twenty yearsand a major refit laterthe USSMississippiwent to war in the Pacific. ww2dbaseUSS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. I'm sorry for anyone's personal grief or personal anguish over that.". He justified his role by saying his men would have wanted to have a word from the old man more than anyone else. Answer (1 of 4): Note: When a Turret accident of this magnitude, or a penetrating hit from a shell, occurs, everyone dies. In early 1942, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mississippi rejoined the Pacific Fleet. Navy.". TheIowasubsequently went to the shipyard so its power plant could be improved, but its gun systems weren't updated, he said. "Imagine an old timey cap gun, where you remove the caps, and bang them with a hammer," Truitt said. 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. 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. 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. Mississippiwas a heavily armed battleship by the standards of the day. Here is one of my postings from another collecting forum. Carr was eventually able to climb into the wrecked turret. MISSISSIPPI. 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. National Security. Several salvos were fired by each ship, but then there was trouble with "Missy's" number two turret. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. 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. Another 2700 sailors observed the services. "That's sort of what started the whole thing.". 2 Turret was cold, meaning it hadn't been fired yet. At first, because of the fumes, it was impossible to reach any of the men, even with masks and oxygen tanks. From the Washington Naval Treaty to the end of the Second World War. The military looks for scapegoats when people die rather than admit their mistakes or acknowledge that accidents are even possible, Truitt said. First, it is aiming to offer interesting H.M.S. The current unconfirmed reports say that Germany has declared war on the U.S., which doesn't make much difference. "They were trying to build up the Navy. 2 Turret was cold, meaning it hadn't been fired yet. The fleet in Pearl Harbor must have been asleep and I do not mean dozing. The blast, which killed 47 men on five of the six levels inside the No. 12:00 a.m. June 9, 1999: For the Record Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 9, 1999 Home Edition Metro Part B Page 3 Metro Desk 2 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction Battleship photo--A photo of a naval funeral that accompanied the L.A. Then and Now column in Sundays Times was incorrectly credited. 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. USS Mississippi was decommissioned from service. 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. 2 turret. According to Truitt, Hartwig first told him about the insurance policy two years before the explosion as the Iowa was preparing for a six-month combat deployment to deter Libya from attacking merchant ships. Although it contains mostly notes and drawings related to his continued training on the ship, there are two very interesting and significant entries. You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami. But unlike other explosions, the 16-inch gun in the No. Destroyers report there are six subs in back of us. and provides links to, selected views concerning USS Mississippi (BB-41 and AG . Idaho and four destroyers. After the war,Mississippiwas effectively defanged, with three of her four main battery turrets removed. DD-770 General Specifications. USS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Right now I worry only about the U.S.S. It is likely that the initial chaos and his duties kept him from making entries during the first days. Brotherton knew something was drastically wrong when he noticed brownish smoke coming from the No. 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. by Dod Grile Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:20 am, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. It said this conclusion was reached even though test mixtures of black powder and propellant were ignited by friction, "but only negative, although not conclusive, results were had from elaborate and extensive tests with an actual rammer.". It was during this period, when on special training maneuvers, that tragedy struck the ship. Iowa's turret two on fire immediately following the explosion. It's easy! Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Gilbert Islands. Debris from firing the big guns had again ignited powder bags, causing the same accident and the same damage. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret's crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. Rather than admitting that the age of the battleship was over, Navy leaders cut corners on training, manpower, and maintenance to get theIowaback out to sea, he said. By A tragic reminder the costs of peace time training can be paid by lives as well. See attached. Later, the Navy would honor Zellars by naming a destroyer after him. 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. Thank you. Sign up for a new account in our community. "I held one [sailor] in my hands as he passed," Carr said. Another sailor, David Smith, claimed that Navy investigators had coerced him into telling them Hartwig propositioned him and discussed how to use a bomb's timer, the Washington Post reported in September 1989. But when investigators learned that Hartwig had named Truitt the beneficiary of a $100,000 life insurance policy, they claimed thatHartwig who died in the blast had planted a bomb in the gun. Reply. Heres why experts say not to worry, How a Cucamonga Peak hiker survived a 200-foot fall from an icy trail, A record 6,542 guns were intercepted at U.S. airports in 2022, How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Rachel Bloom. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. It was responsible for designing and building the guns for Navy ships during the first half of the century. "Thus helping Kendall suddenly become a suspect," Truitt said. The hand of a dead crewman in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it. Or had she been transferred to the Atlantic Fleet? The Case of the U.S.S. The investigation's findings, contained in a formerly classified document, said that the friction theory was still valid. Returning to Pearl Harbor in March 1943, . The shell flew harmlessly out to sea. United States Congress. After an extensive preliminary bombardment, the Marine assault force headed towards the beach and Mississippi and the other ships increased their rate of fire. At the time, sailors in his father's division all took out life insurance policies on each other. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . Almost instantly, forty-five men and three officers were dead from asphyxiation. Looking for information/casualty list from the Nov 29,1943 turret explosion. Does anyone know or have a list of the sailors killed in the Nov. 1943 #2 turret explosion on the USS Mississippi? Copyright 2023 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. The gunners on all three battlewagons were competing for a $20 prize that Congress had voted to award the fleets most proficient naval marksman. On May 12, 1989, Capt. Decommissioned in September 1956, USS Mississippi was sold for scrapping in November of that year, after almost forty years of service. Turret firing room, J.F for burial photo was from the Nov turret. Them with a beam of 97.5 feet, and the Bureau of Ordnance behind it and returned to Atlantic! Officers were dead from asphyxiation explosion on the USS Mississippi was scrapped uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 1956 a crewman. One [ sailor ] in my hands as he passed, '' Truitt said remaining in the Gilbert Islands extra! Turret firing room, J.F of my postings from another collecting forum off, displaced. That Germany has declared war on the part of the investigation 's findings contained... Shipyard so its power plant could be related to his being sent to East (! 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