Evening star., 1934-04-15
Queer Accidents at Naval Target Practice


comes source of wonder to the r.
seasoned bluejackets who direct e.
them.
Occasionally an incident occurs Z
that may momentarily strike ter
Tor into the gun crews, then end
up in good, husky laugh that
provides humor along with the serious
business of battle efficiency These are
the gunnery freaks, and the queer
pranks played by an occasional shell or
torpedo are almost eerie.
AT recent battle practice off the
coast of Southern California the U. S.
S. Colorado fired a salvo at a target
several miles away. The target was
being towed by second ship.
When the 16-inch shells leave the
guns they can be seen for the first
mile despite their speed of almost $50
miles an hour. and observers on the
towing ship can see them when they
near the target. AS the four monsters
approached, state observers aboard the
towing ship, one shell descended and
struck the water short of the target.
While the others sped through the
bulls eye, this one leaped high into the
LuIlcu over anu dropped.
1t was, of course, thought that tha
projectile fell into the ocean, but when
bluejackets reached the target raft in
a small boat to go aboard and change
targets-there sat the derelict on the
deck of the raft. And that deck is
only 10 feet wide and approximately
40 feet long.
THE information was wig -wagged to
the towing ship. which relayed it
by radio to the Colorado. The latter
closed in at the end of the practice
and reclaimed the shell. hoisting it
aboard with a crane. Although USE
less for further firing, it was kept
aboard the Colorado as one of the
strangest freaks in the ships gunnery
history.
Several years ago the battleships
were equipped with the then new To-
inch guns; two in turret, and four
turrets on a ship. On one particular
dreadnaught the captains cabin was
quite close to one of the turrets, and
since the guns of this size had not
previously been fired on the ship, no
one knew what effect a salvo might
cabin during a practice.
An enterprising officer suggested til
ships mascot, goat, be locked inside a
turret fired. If the goat came out in goot
it probably wouldn't injure a man.
1t was done and the captain hurried
cabin to inspect the goat. Evidently it
been a pleasant experience because tt
was skinned slightly in few places as
In \, Lno oh ho
terrific jarring of the guns.
The goat charged the instant the cab
was opened, ramming the skipper am
and then plunging into the other
grouped about the doorway. Most of the
couldn't make cover got butted either
aft as they lodged for the nearest pro
At Dahlgren, Md, group of office
testing new long-range gun upon hu
tion of armor plate, set up in a convent
cation. A direct hit was made and WI
officers arrived at the target, they found
hole torn clear through it and were uncC
ably alarmed not to find the shell neart
the opposite side of the armor plate a
path led off across the ground so they f
this, not knowing what manner of dest
might be found when they caught up W
runaway.
A half mile farther they came upon 6
of excited boys and in the middle of the
lay the shell. They had seen it scootinl
the ground, followed it and now were il
upon the priority claim of finders k
and wanted to take the 2,000-pound pr
home with them.
CHORTLY after the u S. S. Iowa hs
- condemned, she was towed to sea off
ton Roads, Va, to be used as a target
other battleship. During the firing, one
shell, which descended at high angle,
the overhead of one of the Iowas
plunged through two steel decks and
upright upon its base on a narrow bt
feet below its point of entry.
An inspection party went aboard af
practice to see what damage had been il
upon the Iowa, and found the shell. tn
toed around it and tried to figure out "
thing hadn't exploded while crashing t
the heavy steel of the turrent and the
Finally it was decided that the shell was
tive and couldn't be set off, so sling ,
tached and the men started hoisting it
top deck.
About half way up it exploded, rippi
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