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Gregg -> RE: A Question concerning AP Bombs at Pearl Harbor (11/15/2015 11:35:34 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: witpqs
It's a little tough to see, but I think the diagram does say 409 mm.
The other interesting thing is the high dud rate in spite of the diagram noting TWO tails fuses to ensure detonation! I wonder if that was a post-Pearl Harbor modification?
No, the photo of the bomb found in the West Virginia clearly shows two fuse holes on the base.
As to the Arizona, the US Naval Institute in its magazine "Proceedings" had a detailed article many years go about exactly what happened to the Arizona. The bomb hit next to one of the forward turrets (I think that was turret number 2), and penetrated the first and second decks, then the armored third deck, either into or next to the Black Powder Magazine. The bomb detonation was enough to set off the black powder magazine, that was located next to the 14 inch powder magazine. The rest is history.
Black powder was used onboard for at least three things that I know of: First, the signal guns used for saluting used black powder charges. Second, the airplane catapults used a black powder charge to launch the airplane. Third, they used small bags of black powder in the big cordite main gun bags, to light off the cordite charges. They were still doing that on the Iowa class Battleships right to the very end. Originally it was thought a black powder bag was the cause of the number two turret gun explosion on the Iowa. Black powder is very easy to ignite.
Gregg
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