The second investigation was done by Sandia National Labs and points to the most likely cause. Sandia determined that a significant overram of the powder bags into the gun had occurred as they were being loaded and that the overram could have caused the explosion.
A subsequent test by the Navy of the overram scenario confirmed that an overram could have caused an explosion in the gun breech. Sandia’s technicians also found that the physical evidence did not support the Navy's theory that an electronic or chemical detonator had been used to initiate the explosion.
In response to the new findings, the Navy, with Sandia’s assistance, reopened the investigation. In August 1991, Sandia and the GAO completed their reports, concluding that the explosion was likely caused by an accidental overram of powder bags into the breech of the 16-inch gun.
The Navy, however, disagreed with Sandia’s opinion and concluded that the cause of the explosion could not be determined. The Navy expressed regret to Hartwig’s family and closed its investigation.
Thanks for the info. I forgot about the Sandia Labs tests. The Navy still screwed the pooch with their gay love cover story.
Scandia did not determine the gun was over rammed. That was obvious from the first day of the investigation. Scandias test methodology used to create a spontanious detonation of a powder bag cannot be duplicated in a MK VII gun. They tinkered the with trim layer in a powder bag then hoisted it to various heights with crane then dropped the bag onto a concrete slab. they got one bag to detonate out of over a hundred tests. The Navy’s conclusion that Hartwig intentionally over rammed the load, was circumstantian at best, and could not be proven. However, he was the gun captain, and he was the man that controlled the ramming of the projo and powder.