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To: Taxman
Wow, those broadsides are impressive on TV, I can't imagine what they must be like in person.

Not to mention being on the receiving end...

1,033 posted on 08/27/2002 10:02:57 AM PDT by Tony in Hawaii
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To: Tony in Hawaii
Unfortunately, no man will witness the awesome spectacle of a 16" 54 calibre naval rifle firing ever again. The 4 Iowa class BBs are mothballed, 2 preserved in a "Readiness" state for possible reactivation and the other 2 as museums.

All four are permanent museums, but two of them (New Jersey and Wisconsin??) are being maintained in a higher state of preservation, I believe. But they will not be back in the Fleet, unless I become SECNAV (LOL! Fat chance of that happening!).

More's the pity, too. Ground troops appreciated the physical and psychological effect 2700 lbs of steel and high explosive had on the bad guys. PGMs have taken over, and with candor, they are more accurate, albeit more expensive.

Also, if a BB was within 25 miles of so of the front line, the BBs big stuff was availble to the grunts 24/7. As close and as quick as the nearest fire control radio -- "Dial BB for help." And the BB could lay offshore and keep up round-the-clock shore bombardment, which airpower probably cannot do.

Quite obviously, I, a retired Naval Aviator, am a huge fan of the BB.

I'll dictate my thoughts about witnessing a gun shoot into my tape recorder and transcribe them. If the written version is any good, I'll send it to you.

If any of you FReepers reading this post get a chance to visit one of the Iowa class BBs, you should do so. Quite an experience.

1,034 posted on 08/27/2002 1:08:50 PM PDT by Taxman
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