Roosevelt to and from casablanca, morocco, in november 1943. In addition, there was a despicable attempt to blame the incident on a single deceased sailor, claiming he triggered the explosion in. This routine training exercise led to a deadly explosion 1999. With a large shell tightly rammed into the barrel in front of the powder bags the force of the explosion had nowhere to go but backwards into the gun room. Navy disaster stirs aged ship debate this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. Featured article candidatesuss iowa turret explosion. Uss iowa turret explosion in 1989 naval history forums.
Apr 18, 2009 this is not the first time a large caliber gun suffered a turret explosion. In a glimpse of hell, former naval officer, newspaper reporter, and 60 minutes producer charles thompson has written an authoritative expose of the united states navy high commands consistent efforts to manipulate the evidence of that disaster and slander deceased seaman clayton hartwig. H0294 uss iowa turret explosion naval history and heritage. Uss iowa gun turret explosion australian tv news item 1989. Uss iowa turrett 2 explosion on wednesday, april 19, 1989, 47 sailors were killed in an explosion and fire aboard the battleship uss iowa about 300 miles northeast of puerto rico. Its been 30 years since an explosion inside the number two gun turret on the uss iowa killed 47 american sailors, but for mike carr, it still feels like first came the explosion. In addition, there was a despicable attempt to blame the incident on a single deceased sailor, claiming he triggered the explosion in response to being. Uss iowa, lead ship of a class of 45,000ton battleships, was built at the new york navy yard, brooklyn, new york. Two major investigations were undertaken into the cause of the explosion, one by. This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser. Uss iowa gun turret explosion this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. What exactly happened on the day of the turret explosion on.
A photo taken from the bridge captures the explosion of the no. May 28, 2012 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. Uss iowa battleshipbb61 16 inch guns huge accident. The explosion ripped through the turret just as the crewmen on the center gun had brought up five bags of powder, each weighing 110 pounds, and had closed the powder doors in preparation for. Historic stock footage archival and vintage video clips in hd. Tugs tow the battleship uss iowa bb 61 into avondale. 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. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Navy says the iowas turret can be repaired the new york. Careful observation of the three main turrets shows the barrels in various states of recoil.
While conducting gunnery exercises near puerto rico, there was an explosion in the center gun. The turret explosion was captured by a camera mounted in one of the uss iowa s towers. Coast guard patrol boat point spencer wpb 82349 is in the foreground. Note concussion effects on the water surface, and 16inch gun barrels in varying degrees of recoil dnst8505379. Uss iowa turret explosion, first navy investigation famous quotes containing the word preliminary. Battleship uss iowa with crew on deck after accidental gun. Urgent explosion kills at least 47 on battleship iowa ap news. After the explosion on april 19, killing 47 sailors, the ship returned to norfolk from puerto rico.
I realize that there was a botched investigation from nis and then there was a. Film of uss iowas horrific turret explosion absolutely. At 0059, an inbore explosion, caused by a defective projectile, tore through the inside of turret ii, burned more than 700. Iowa explosion executive summary executive summary jntroduction sandia national laboratories continued investigation of the explosion in the center gun in turret 2 of the uss iowa on april 19, 1989, has had three important thrusts. Uss iowa bb61 fires a full broadside of nine 16inch50caliber and six 5inch38caliber guns during a target exercise near vieques island, puerto rico, 1 july 1984. Pentagon sets final casualty toll at 47 upi archives. On wednesday, april 19, 1989, 47 sailors were killed in an explosion and fire aboard the battleship uss iowa about 300 miles northeast of puerto rico. The explosion aboard the united states navy battleship iowa killed 47. Richard milligan, in the findingsoffact section of his 1,100. Moosally was captain of the iowa when the center gun. The book describes the uss iowa turret explosion that took place on april 19, 1989, and the subsequent investigations that tried to determine the cause. Only an experienced eye can see it, can point out the telltale wounds still in. Mar 04, 20 no, the iowa was decommissioned partially as a result of the accident.
Naval history blog blog archive uss iowa turret explosion. The uss iowa disaster 27 years later the virginian. During world war two the us navy built 4 of the 45,000 tonne iowa class battleships to dominate the oceans and axis navies. Uss iowa bb61 battleship firing all 15 of its guns nine 16inch and six 5inch during a target exercise near vieques island, puerto rico, in 1984. I would think the department of the navy and the department of defense should be able to arrange recovery of some of the items taken by museums and arrange two week traning schedules of reserve units to get all those items out here. The explosion in center gun, turret ii, uss iowa bb 61 on 19 april 1989 resulted from a wrongful intentional act, says rear adm.
Upon its return to norfolk, turret 2 is still locked to starboard with blackened gunbarrels from the explosion. During his naval career, moosally served in many different assignments, including commander of a destroyer and the battleship uss iowa. If the concussion from the guns had knocked the alligator clips loose, a shell or. Remembering the uss iowa explosion and aftermath task. Using updated fire control radar and sensors coupled with new naval gun technology and missiles, it would be far deadlier. Gun turret 16 inch fired aboard uss missouri sixteen inch gun turret of uss. The explosion, which began in the gunpowder charge of the center gun, spread through the three gun rooms and much of the lower levels of the turret. The investigations produced conflicting conclusions. A navy officer tries to set the record straight, after the navy blames a 1989 explosion aboard the u. And while growing that fleet, lehman wanted to bring back some of the elegance and esprit tha. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. I downloaded this photo from the web but i belive that this is one of the photos i shot. On the morning of april 19, 1989 27 years ago today a horrific explosion and fire ripped through no. The fire and heat then ignited the 910kilos of powder bags that were stored in the area and a few minutes later a carbon monoxide build up caused a further explosion.
Iowa number 2 turret explosion uss iowa, battleship, us navy ships. Up to 300 former iowa sailors are expected to attend fridays ceremony, which has proven to be a catharsis for veterans still trying to cope with past trauma, he said. In this part i will cover the navys shoddy investigation, which in. Repair of iowas damaged turret may not be possible, skipper says. Commissioned in february 1943, she spent her initial service in the atlantic and carried president franklin d. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret s crewmen and severely damaged the gun turret itself. Download image of tugs tow the battleship uss iowa bb 61 into avondale shipyards inc. Moosally was captain of the iowa when the center gun of one of the ships main gun turrets exploded on april 19, 1989, killing 47 crewmen.
A glimpse of hell is a pretty good movie about the explosion and its aftermath. Download and buy high quality battleship sound effects. Australian news report on the uss iowa turret explosion 1989 in the investigation that followed the explosion, the navy blamed petty officer 2nd class clayton hartwig, saying that he had been jilted by a his homosexual lover, another sailor on the ship. The navys investigation of the uss iowa turret explosion. I would think the department of the navy and the department of defense should be able to arrange recovery of some of the items taken by museums and arrange two week traning. The uss iowa has long endured as one of the most recognizable symbols of the united states navy. Feb 12, 20 channel nine news item about the uss iowa gun turret explosion in 1989. On 19 april 1989, an explosion of undetermined cause ripped through her number two. Early in january 1944, iowa steamed to the pacific, where she took part in the marshalls campaign later in. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. The navys safety record, which has been improving in recent years, was dealt its most serious blow on april 19, 1989, when 47 sailors were killed in a gun turret blast aboard the battleship uss iowa. The navys investigation of the uss iowa turret explosion was. Apr 25, 1989 the commander of the battleship iowa said today that damage to a gun turret caused by an internal explosion last week might be so extensive that it cannot be repaired, since the technology and the. 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.
Owing to the cancellation of the montanaclass battleships, iowa is the last lead ship of any class of united states battleships and was the only ship of her class to have served in the atlantic ocean during world war ii. Uss iowa bb 61 is a retired battleship, the lead ship of her class, and the fourth in the united states navy to be named after the state of iowa. The original finding aid described this photograph as. Laurence garrett iii has ordered a halt to repairs to the uss iowa s gun turret no. Uss iowa bb61 fires a full broadside of nine 16inch50caliber and six 5inch38caliber guns during a target exercise near vieques island. H0294 uss iowa turret explosion united states navy. The explosion in the center gun room killed 47 of the turret s crewmen and damaged the gun turret itself. Scars of fatal blast still mar iowa turret daily press. Navy, concluded that one of the gun turret crew members, clayton hartwig, who died in the explosion, had deliberately caused it. With james caan, robert sean leonard, daniel roebuck, jamie harrold. Bow view of uss wisconsin with her main guns trained to port side, gulf of. The uss iowa has a great legacy, but it also had a horrible tragedy that claimed the lives of many innocents. The uss iowa bb61 was the lead ship of the last class of battleships built by the u.
Sorry about the quality but these tapes have deteriorated somewhat. Apr 19, 2016 iowa s turret two on fire immediately following the explosion. Two major investigations were undertaken into the cause of the explosion, one by the u. Egp352 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Gun turret 16 inch fired aboard uss missouri hd stock footage. A sixteen inch gun is loaded by the turret crew aboard uss missouri hd. This is part 3 of a series on the explosion on the uss iowa on april 19, 1989 that killed 47 men in turret 2 of the battleship. The ships damaged turret has been rotated under its own power back to the centerline position. Uss iowa investigation nswc dahlgren division participation. One of the gun crew was heard on the intercom yelling im not ready, perhaps the one responsible for closing the breech block. This massive vessel served proudly in wwii and the korean war, even having an entire class of battleships named after it. Uss iowa bb61 fires a full broadside of nine 16inch50caliber and six 5inch 38caliber guns during a target exercise near vieques island.
Iowa number 2 turret explosion koude oorlog, nummer 2, militair, geschiedenis. The explosion caved in doors, buckled bulkheads, and the fireball spread through all three gun rooms and the lower levels of the turret. The ship was participating in firing exercises during maneuvers with the us second fleet. The first has been to establish reference measurements for foreign materials. A news report about the uss iowa gun turret explosion in 1989. Uss new jersey bb62 in camden, new jersey, uss missouri bb63 in pearl harbour, hawaii and uss wisconsin bb64 in norfolk, virginia i needed to complete the set and visit the class. The explosion on the uss iowa and its coverup is a nonfiction book of investigative journalism, written by charles c. Uss iowa used same gun turrets since it was built 45 years ago. On that morning, there was a major malfunction of the 1650 caliber gun system on the uss iowa. Moosally born 4 october 1944 is a former captain in the united states navy. On april 19, 1989, turret two aboard the recommissioned battleship uss iowa exploded, killing 47 men. Although the japanese superbattleships yamato and musashi were heavier and had larger guns nine 18.
Moosally was captain of the iowa when the center gun of one of. Iowa s turret two on fire immediately following the explosion. In iowa s case it was a combination of having an inexperianced rammerman operating oblesent equipment yes, the iowa s 16 guns are obsolesent at best, and obsolete is probably a better description, having powder bags that had been retared and jacketed with artificial. Uss iowa survivors gather to remember sailors killed in 1989 blast a photo taken from the bridge captures the explosion of the no. An april day to remember aboard the battleship uss iowa bb. Uss iowa turret explosion on 19 april 1989, the number two 16inch gun turret of the united states navy battleship uss iowa exploded.
Aboard the ship, visitors can gain insight into the inner workings of the 887foot battleship, which carries the biggest guns ever sent to. Apr 23, 2014 the uss iowa turret explosion occurred in the number two 16inch gun turret of the united states navy battleship uss iowa bb61 on 19 april 1989. Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of a meaning of our life. Uss iowa turret explosion first navy investigation. Battleship sound effects royalty free battleship sounds pond5. Therefore, the uss iowa bb61 is the ship that won the cold war. Below is a conversation which took place in june of 2003 among bill jurens and the regular members of the turret 2 explosion discussion board.
May 26, 2012 turret 2 burns on uss iowa, april 16, 1989. The 70yearold uss iowa, which saw action in world war ii and the korean war, this month began welcoming visitors to its permanent berth in san pedro. Iowa s flag is flown at halfmast upon the ships return to norfolk after the explosion. Its been 30 years since an explosion inside the number two gun turret on the uss iowa killed 47 american sailors, but for mike carr, it still feels like yesterday.
The explosion in center gun, turret ii, uss iowa bb61 on 19 april 1989 resulted from a wrongful intentional act. The uss iowa turret explosion occurred in the number two 16inch gun turret of the united states navy battleship uss iowa bb61 on 19 april 1989. 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 naval exercise in. On 19 april 1989, the number two 16inch gun turret of the united states navy battleship uss. This routine training exercise led to a deadly explosion. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will. Things like that had happened before, so there was no cause for alarm. On 19 april 1989, the number two 16inch gun turret of the united states navy battleship uss iowa bb61 exploded. Uss iowa survivors gather to remember sailors killed in. Navy, and was the first of four in that class to be commissioned, on 22 february 1943. Most importantly, it would be better able to survive attacks than many other ships afloat now.
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