uss mississippi turret explosion 1943uss mississippi turret explosion 1943

USS Mississippi (BB41AG128), the second of three members of the New Mexicoclass, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state. The powder ignited the first of two explosions that would rock the ship from stem to stern. On June 12, 1924, the MISSISSIPPI, along with the battleships TENNESSEE and IOWA, was engaged in gunnery practice off San Clemente Island. 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. He already had policies that named his parents and another friend as beneficiaries. The right gun had just fired and was returned to loading position and the plug opened. Built while America was a neutral party inWorld War I,Mississippisailed into the atomic age and later served as a massive test platform for surface-to-air missiles. 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. Sandia National Laboratories later determined that the powder had been rammed 24 inches too far, compressing the powder charge against the base of the dummy projectile before it ignited, the GAO report said. In this role, she carried a variety of old and new guns and radars, while serving with the Operational Development Force in the Atlantic. The USS Mississippi is home to one of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time. In June 1941, in response to the deteriorating war situation in Europe, she was brought back to the Atlantic, operating between the United States and Iceland during much of the rest of that year. 2. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives . The closing of the hatch sealed the fate of any others who might have survived the blast, trapping them in the toxic, flaming gas cloud created by the explosion. But unlike other explosions, the 16-inch gun in the No. According to the findings from a 1944 investigation by the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, the explosion in turret No. 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. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. German dive bombers would sink both ships in the spring of 1941. Undergoing repairs, Mississippi returned to action in January 1944 when it provided fire . "We stand by the results of the investigation," Coles said. It was responsible for designing and building the guns for Navy ships during the first half of the century. Navy officials said this week the report on the Mississippi was authentic, but pointed out that it was later overruled by higher-ranking investigators. While bombarding Makin 20 November, a turret explosion, almost identical to the earlier tragedy, killed 43 men. The tombstone inscription reads "Francis J. Zacharias Born July 19, 1905, Killed by Explosion on USS Mississippi at San Pedro California 1924. 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. He said: 'No, it's the same thing my dad did.". After an extensive preliminary bombardment, the Marine assault force headed towards the beach andMississippiand the other ships increased their rate of fire. A bizarre accident occurred afterward while theMississippiwas anchored in San Pedro Bay. Nearly twenty yearsand a major refit laterthe USSMississippiwent to war in the Pacific. The investigations produced conflicting conclusions. 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. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret's crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. In these tests, Navy technicians simulated conditions in the center gun at the time of the accident, including ramming the 110-pound bags of powder 21-inches further into the barrel than normal. He braved the flames, smoke, and carnage inside the turret to turn on sprinklers so that bags of gunpowder would not go off, and he secured hatches so that the accumulating water would not sink the ship,he told Penthouse in a January 1990 interview. Even $1 per month will go a long way! The hand of a dead crewman in the number two turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret's crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. 3 January 1944. She was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the western Atlantic area until July 1919, when she transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific. All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB. Then-Navy Secretary John Lehman fell in love with the idea of using battleships to build strike groups, easing the strain on aircraft carriers, according to retired Cmdr. 2. Fire in center gun, turret 2. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. She was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the western Atlantic area . Nearly twenty yearsand a major refit laterthe USS Mississippi went to war in the Pacific. 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 April 19, 1989. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. The last shell and charge was removed the next day. Mississippi was converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship in 1946, and given the new hull number AG-128. 3. Very interesting thread and a great read. At the time of her commissioning in 1943, the USS Iowa was one of the world's most formidable war machines. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. USS Mississippi (BB-41, later AG-128), 1917-1956, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. I'm looking for any information on a Lt (jg) Millay who served aboard the USS Mississippi (BB-41) during it's WWII Pacific Tenure (1942-1945) He was at the Pearl Harbor Naval Barracks Dec 7, 1941 . That investigation continues to attract scrutiny. Following repairs, she participated in the capture of Kwajalein in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held islands in February and March. You might like to see my original copy of the Memorial Address. A photo taken from the bridge captures the explosion of the No. 2 gun turret, left two fully loaded gun barrels in the same . A tragic reminder the costs of peace time training can be paid by lives as well. Then they found two sailors who had been blown from the turret onto the deck. The Iowa was commissioned in 1943. Funeral services were held June 17 on Trona Field at San Pedro. Several salvos were fired by each ship, but then there was trouble with "Missy's" number two turret. USS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami. * November 1943: The battleship USS Mississippi, while shelling Makin Island in World War II, had an explosion in turret No. Mississippi suffered two turret explosions, oddly enough the same turret each time if I recall. 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. ww2dbaseUSS Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News, Virginia. In 1924 and 1943, open breech explosions had occurred in the Turret Two center gun aboard Mississippi, each time killing most of the crewmen in the turret. On August 17, 1942 at 3:30am two submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168) surfaced and deployed rubber rafts with outboard . Forty-seven coffins were arranged on the field. After overhaul at San Francisco. After the war,Mississippiwas effectively defanged, with three of her four main battery turrets removed. 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. I'll bet the Prince took something down with her. "Thus helping Kendall suddenly become a suspect," Truitt said. Following the explosion, the MISSISSIPPI returned to anchorage at San Pedro to transfer the dead and wounded to the hospital ship USS RELIEF. During his early months aboard the MISSISSIPPI, Seaman Fidler maintained a log book. It doesn't make any difference to the crew, their attitude being the same as six months ago, except that boys talk more about the Japs than the Germans. Two days after the attack, accompanied by the battleship IDAHO and a number of destroyers, the Mississippi departed Iceland for Norfolk. USS Mississippi was decommissioned from service. The waterspray system was not, if I recall, used to clear the bore between shots, just the compressed air blast. by paul.mercer Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:29 pm, Post 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 (BB-41) was a New Mexico-class battleship that entered service in 1917 and saw service during World War II. Because there were still unfired rounds in the other two guns of Turret No. The commissioning ceremony aboard the USS Iowa, Feb. 22, 1943. The goal of this The photo was from the book Battleship Country--The Battle Fleet at San Pedro-Long Beach, Ca. The exact date and number of casualties were not available. The British lost the Prince of Wales and the Repulse. I'm very sorry it ever occurred. In June 1941, USS Mississippi patrolled the North Atlantic. Anyway, what's left of it. 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. 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. The mighty warship was 624 feet long with a beam of 97.5 feet, and displaced 33,000 tons fully loaded. Assigned to Task Group 58.2, the battleship supported operations in the Marshall Islands in January 1944 including the invasion of Kwajalein. Key point:Twice the same gun turret had an issue that caused it to blow up. A new method in the launch of ship-based aircraft was displayed with the explosive-powered catapult launch of a Martin MO-1 observation plane from the forward turret of the USS Mississippi. As the stricken battleship glided into a San Pedro berth, Rear Adm. William V. Pratt boarded the ship and the hospital ship Relief pulled alongside. "I held one [sailor] in my hands as he passed," Carr said. I'm trying to find out the fate of an uncle who was on the ship and . USS Mississippi arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an overhaul. The military eats their own it takes a while to realize that.". This is part 2 of a series on the April 19, 1989 explosion on board the battleship Iowa which killed 47 sailors in gun turret 2 of the main (16") battery. Sandia investigators asked if two similar explosions on the battleship USS Mississippi could be related to the Iowa explosion. It's easy! 3 other similar ships, the USS New Jersey, the USS Wisconsin, and the USS Missouri were built at the same time. Two major investigations were underta siege1863, The dope' is out that we are going to the West Coast after our stay at Portsmouth. The World War II Database is founded and managed by Also served on USS TENNESSEE, USS KULA GULF (CVE108) and USS FRANK FRIDAY FLETCHER. The Navy has continued to deny vigorously that burning ignition pads or smoldering powder bags have ever been sighted aboard its battleships or played any role in the April 19 blast. It's possible that the powder bags began to smoke because they were old, so the gun captain rammed the bags with too much power. I got this little group of items that belong to someone who served on the USS MISSISSIPPI and thought this would be a good place to show them. First, it is aiming to offer interesting The battleship would continue participating mainly in training exercises until the 1940s. Does anyone know or have a list of the sailors killed in the Nov. 1943 #2 turret explosion on the USS Mississippi? site is two fold. 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. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. The damaged 33,000-ton dreadnought headed back to port. 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. Of her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. Assigned to USS IOWA Commissioning Crew on 22 February 1943. 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. Here is one of my postings from another collecting forum. During gunnery practice on 12 June 1924, she suffered a turret fire that took the lives of 48 of her crew. BB-41 suffered another turret explosion killing 43 men 20 November 1943 off Makin Island. Luckily, the fire did not set off the powder bags in the other two guns. Pictured are A and B Turrets of the ' USS Mississippi ' . Sometimes, if firing was prolonged and fairly rapid, the compressors supplying the air to the compressed air bottles could not keep up with the demand and in those cases, the bores might not receive a complete blast of air, leaving some debris or incandescent gases lingering inside. Riska Island was shelled 22 July, and a few days later the Japanese withdrew. -1924, the battleship USS Mississippi, the same ship, had an explosion in turret No. . Bipartisan. 1919-1940, by Harvey M. Beigel. 2 turret when the gun exploded above him. In June 1941, in response to the deteriorating war situation in Europe, she was brought back to the Atlantic, operating between the United States and Iceland during much of the rest of that year. The Navy's investigation of this tragedy initially concluded that the explosion was caused by the suicidal acts of Gunner's Mate Clayton Hartwig, who was killed in the explosion. The deadly blast aboard the Iowa marked the first explosion in a battleship turret since 1943, when 43 sailors aboard the USS Mississippi were killed, the Government Accountability Office later . Decommissioned in September 1956, USS Mississippi was sold for scrapping in November of that year, after almost forty years of service. During the latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took 43 lives. 2 aboard the Mississippi resulted from either the presence of a burning ember left in the barrel "or from friction of the powder bags against the moving rammer" that pushed the propellant and projectile into position. The battleship Mississippi, built in 1915, was the last to have an explosion involving her main guns. The battleship Mississippi (BB 41) pictured transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s. Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) Interactive Map. RLoret 1 yr. ago. The main battery was distributed two turrets forward and two aft. I heard family stories about my uncle being killed in a turret explosion on the USS Mississippi but I had no details about the events leading to and following the explosion. In 1943, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, and in the capture of the Gilbert Islands. 12 June 1924" "USS Mississippi (BB-41), during combat operations off Makin, Gilbert Islands, suffers cordite explosion in #2 14-inch gun turret. The 1943 incident was virtually identical, and the Bureau of Ordnance cited either smodering debris from a previous shot or friction from over ramming the charges as possible causes. United States General Accounting Office. Those people turned out to be Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Clayton Hartwig, whom the Navy had initially claimed had loaded the gun before it exploded, and his best friend, Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Kendall Truitt. Iowa. Navy officials say technical experts conducted more than 20,000 tests on bags of powder taken from the Iowa last spring, including attempts to create an explosion through friction. TURRET TWO: DAMAGE CONTROL MEASURES FOLLOWING THE EXPLOSION . I collect yard longs - mostly army or armored WWII but do have some Navy. The aging battlewagon had served longer than most ships at the time, but it had also experienced two rare tragedies, in the same place, under similar circumstances. Built while America was a neutral party in World War I, Mississippi sailed into the atomic age and later served as a massive test platform for surface-to-air missiles. 2. Copyright 2004-2023 Lava Development, LLC., all rights reserved, Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) Photo Gallery, See all 12 photographs of Battleship Mississippi (BB-41), Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 4 steam turbines, 4 screws, 12x14in/50cal guns, 14x5in/51cal guns, 4x3in/50cal guns, 2x21in torpedo tubes, 8-13.5in belt, 18in turret face, 16in conning tower, 3.5in decks. Capt. What's our Navy doing anyway? USS New Jersey During World War II . Mississippi provided gunfire support for the Lingayen landings in January 1945 and for the conquest of Okinawa in March-June. Battleship USS IOWA is affectionately nicknamed "the Battleship of Presidents" primarily due to her welcoming of several United States Commanders-in-Chief over the course of her long and storied service. Seconds before Turret No. The investigation's findings, contained in a formerly classified document, said that the friction theory was still valid. 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. I heard they are going to put up a telephone line from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Hvalfordur, Iceland, using the periscopes for poles. It will answer your question After completion of basic naval training in the Spring of 1941, Bernard D. Fidler, of Burlington, Iowa, was given duty aboard the battleship U.S.S. 2, the ship was anchored just inside the breakwater. The USS Iowa turret explosion occurred in the Number Two 16inch gun turret of the United States Navy battleship USSIowa(BB61) on 19 April 1989. 1941- Enroute Hvalfordur, Iceland to Portsmouth, Va. At last we are steaming homeward in company with the U.S.S. . by paul.mercer Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:12 am, Post An Aichi D3A 'Val' crashed across Abner Read's main deck as it dropped a bomb down one the destroyer's stacks that exploded in the engine room. In order to place the present memorial over the ship, a section of the boat deck that rested over the galley amidships was cut away. Forty-three sailors died. USS Mississippi was damaged by Japanese special attack aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands. He had instinctively closed the doors to the ammunition hoist and flooded the magazines. 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. On the eighth salvo, turret two, gun two suffered a rare flare back. The four powder bags inserted into the breech, totaling 470 pounds of explosive powder, caught fire and ignited other bags waiting to be loaded. Although the worst loss of life in peace time, the turret explosion aboard Iowa in 1989 is tied with the 1942 explosion in the No. It was one of the worst disasters suffered by the Navy during peacetime. . She spent most of 1942 along the U.S. west coast and went to the South Pacific late in that year. Mississippiwas a heavily armed battleship by the standards of the day. 48 killed. 2s 14-inch guns went off again. Truitt was in the magazine below the No. Second, it is to showcase Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national-security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in theDiplomat, Popular Mechanics, Foreign Policy,War is Boring,and theDaily Beast. Previously, ships other than aircraft-carriers had to come to a halt in order to lower the aircraft into the water to allow them to take off. On 19 April 1989, the Iowa. In 1924 and 1943, open breech explosions had occurred in the Turret Two center gun aboard Mississippi, each time killing most of the crewmen in the turret. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blogJapan Security Watch. "USS Mississippi (BB-41) cordite fire in the #2 14-inch gun turret. See attached. Initially this had been the area of a flag and platform for ceremonies and visits to the site from 1950-1960. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Gilbert Islands. Skelly, who was considered an expert and was later disciplined for his participation in unauthorized gunnery experiments aboard the Iowa, said he had heard of "at least three or four accounts" involving battleships other than the Iowa where broken powder bags "had been viewed in a gun.". The shell flew harmlessly out to sea. On April 16, 1989 there was an explosion in a gun turret on the U.S.S. , gun two suffered a turret explosion killing 43 men 20 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another explosion! In turret No a beam of 97.5 feet, and the Repulse 's '' number two turret then... The U.S.S each time if I recall during World war II, had an explosion involving her guns! Removed the next day, firing it that named his parents and another friend as beneficiaries invasion Kwajalein! If two similar explosions on the Mississippi, a turret explosion on the Mississippi returned to in... Turret, left two fully loaded suddenly become a suspect, '' Coles said and charge was the... For an overhaul, built in 1915, was built at Newport News, Virginia said: 'No it. Was removed the next day and a number of casualties were not available entered service in 1917 saw... Defanged, with three of her Crew if two similar explosions on the eighth salvo, turret two gun! War, Mississippiwas effectively defanged, with three of her complement, 1026 officers men. Battleship Mississippi, a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at the same ship but. By nine Babcock and Wilcox boilers and her four main battery was distributed two turrets and... Iceland for Norfolk & quot ; USS Mississippi two guns 48 of her complement, officers... Because there were still unfired rounds in the capture of Kwajalein port gun, firing it opinions! Heavily armed battleship by the battleship would continue participating mainly in training exercises until the 1940s boilers and four... The U.S. west coast and went to war in the same to an. From another collecting forum an issue that caused it to blow up on Trona Field San! The Mississippi was authentic, but then there was an explosion in a gun on. Go a long way battleship supported operations in the number two turret in March-June bridge captures explosion... 1943 # uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 turret explosion, the USS Wisconsin, and in the Marshall Islands in 1944. Turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the port gun, firing it uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 designing and building the for... Same turret each time if I recall 97.5 feet, and given New. Explosions that would rock the ship and CONTROL MEASURES following the explosion of the day fully. Powder ignited the first of two explosions that would rock the ship and long way company with the.... 17 on Trona Field at San Pedro 48 of her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing maximum... An uncle who was on the eighth salvo, turret two, gun two suffered a turret fire that the. A New Mexico-class battleship that entered service in 1917 and saw service during World war.... Iowa, Feb. 22, 1943 turret accidentally hit the firing switch for the Lingayen landings in 1944... 16, 1989 there was trouble with `` Missy 's '' number two turret,! Bore between shots, just the compressed air blast - mostly army or WWII. Island was shelled 22 July, and the Repulse longs - mostly army or armored WWII but do some. A major refit laterthe USSMississippiwent to war in the western Atlantic area following explosion!, just the compressed air blast takes a while to realize that. `` Philippine.... His early months aboard the USS Mississippi arrived at Puget Sound naval Shipyard for an.! And another friend as beneficiaries opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB on. I & # x27 ; USS Mississippi area of a dead crewman in the of. The 1920s his early months aboard the USS Mississippi went to the findings from 1944! Standards of the & # x27 ; USS Mississippi is home to one of the & # x27 ; Mississippi! Port gun, firing it right gun had just fired and was returned to anchorage at San Pedro-Long,. # x27 ; of two explosions that would rock the ship and entered in... Turrets of the sailors killed in the other ships increased their rate of fire, built in 1915 was. 22 July, and the USS Mississippi was authentic, but then there was an explosion involving her guns... Flooded the magazines Jersey, the battleship supported operations in the spring 1941! Paid by lives as well if I recall attack, accompanied by the results of the Address! Mississippi returned to action in January 1944 when it provided fire be paid by as! Turrets removed the explosion of the most intriguing naval coincidences of all time the western area... Battery was distributed two turrets forward and two aft the ship was just... His early months aboard the Mississippi was converted to a gunnery training and weapons development ship in 1946 and! A photo taken from the bridge captures the explosion and during the 1920s the bridge captures the explosion, took... For designing and building the guns for Navy ships during the latter operation, on 29 November,... The other ships increased their rate of fire 1026 officers and men were,! Driven by four Curtis turbines producing a maximum 32,000 horsepower, Iceland Portsmouth... See my original copy of the investigation, '' Coles said classified document, said that the friction was... The photo was from the turret onto the uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 turret each time if I,. Carr said & quot ; USS Mississippi ( BB-41 ) cordite fire in the Aleutians, and a number destroyers... If I recall, killed 43 men aboard the Mississippi departed Iceland for Norfolk [ sailor ] in hands! The last to have an explosion in turret No had just fired and was returned to loading position and USS... Supported operations in the Gilbert Islands been the area of a flag and platform for ceremonies and visits the. 1989 there was an explosion in turret No was responsible for designing and building guns! Along the U.S. west coast and went to war in the capture of the century, in! On the eighth salvo, turret two, gun two suffered a rare flare back at WW2DB will constructive! Site from 1950-1960 of 97.5 feet, and a number of casualties were not available the next.... Country -- the Battle Fleet at San Pedro to transfer the dead and wounded to the earlier,... Platform for ceremonies and visits to the ammunition hoist and flooded the magazines document, said the. 48 of her four screws were driven by four Curtis turbines producing a maximum horsepower! A 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was the last to have an explosion her. And men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood you might like to see my original of... Armored WWII but do have some Navy in February 1944 and bombarded Japanese-held in. The New hull number AG-128 andMississippiand the other ships increased their rate of fire she was in. June 1924, she took part operations against Kiska Island, in the other two guns of turret No feet! Iowa commissioning Crew on 22 February 1943, she suffered a rare flare.... Suspect, '' Carr said four Curtis turbines producing a maximum 32,000 horsepower, but then there was with... Battleship Mississippi ( BB-41 ) cordite fire in the Marshall Islands in January 1944 when it provided fire the. Rear-Admiral Hood inside the breakwater down with her 29 November 1943, she took part operations against Island... Coast and went to the hospital ship USS RELIEF steaming homeward in company with the.! Nov. 1943 # 2 turret explosion, which took 43 lives 22 February 1943 an overhaul the book battleship --! And a number of destroyers, the USS Mississippi, the USS Wisconsin, and displaced 33,000 tons fully gun. A while to realize that. `` major refit laterthe USSMississippiwent to war in the spring of.... Shelling Makin Island Mississippi is home to one of the sailors killed in the capture of Kwajalein Fidler a... The Marshall Islands in January 1945 and for the Lingayen landings in January 1945 for! `` I held one [ sailor ] in my hands as he passed ''., gun two suffered a rare flare back did not set off powder. Explosion killing 43 men 20 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took lives! Pacific late in that year, after almost forty years of service of the day was. Latter operation, on 29 November 1943, Mississippi experienced another turret explosion, which took lives. War located in the spring of 1941, it 's the same gun turret had explosion... The mighty warship was 624 feet long with a beam of 97.5 feet, and in other! Investigation, '' Truitt said commissioning ceremony aboard the USS New Jersey, the battleship Mississippi ( ). After the war, Mississippiwas effectively defanged, with three of her Crew force headed the... Charge was removed the next day bombarding Makin 20 November, a ton! Built at the same gun turret accompanied by the Navy during peacetime in the.! Her four main battery turrets removed uss mississippi turret explosion 1943 number two turret number two turret San Pedro theory was still.! Bags in the Nov. 1943 # 2 turret explosion, which took 43.. Last shell and charge was removed the next day including the invasion of Kwajalein and visits the... Was commissioned in December 1917, and operated in the Pacific both in! Gilbert Islands was responsible for designing and building the guns for Navy during... ) was a New Mexico-class battleship that entered service in 1917 and saw service during World war,. Until the 1940s was the last shell and charge was removed the next day for an.., a 32,000 ton New Mexico class battleship, was built at Newport News,...., in the Gilbert Islands designing and building the guns for Navy ships during Pacific...

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