The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-07-12
By JOHN MUaOSO srd

By JOHN MOlOSO srd
ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP
NEVADA, June 22-lR-Delayed-
The battleship Nevada, which
many believed was put out of com
mission after five heavy Japanese
bombs and a torpedo struck her
at Pearl Harbor, is might:er than
ever. Her terrific gunfire sweeping
the Cherbourg Peninsula proves
that you can't keep a good ship
Gown.
She had had her tace lifted once
Lefore the attack in the Pacific.
Again she was rebuilt, went on to
Lombard the Japs at Attu and
then was put on Atlantic convoy
outy. Then she joined the inva.ion
fleet and wrote record of range
and accuracy seldom equalled in
modern warfare.
Her guns spoke 4,747 times in
an angry, devastating blast that
cost $l,5O0,O0O but destroyed Nazi
oefenses from Carentan to Barfleur
o. the bloody road to Cherbourg.
III effect she was combination
air force, artillery and infantry as
she cleared the way up the PENN
Sllla to the priZe mort.
With a range OF more than 3d.
coo yards-about II land miles
the Nevada's gunnery record for
accuracy probably bests that of
any other ship.
Captain Paul M. Rhea, So, of
Fayetteville, Ark, spoke of her
proudly when l visited his cabin.
He referred me to Lieut.. -Comman-
der Charles W. Travis, 81, of Muir
treesboro, Tenn, slim, catlike Of
ficer and probably the youngest
g,lnnery commander aboard an
american battleship. Travis show
ed me his log and here are some
incredible facts:
Seventy enemy guns - possibly
more-Were in the area the Nevada
attacked. She was handicapped by
having to work in a restricted area,
due to mines which blew up cev,
eral ships near her. Targets rang.
ed from nine to II miles.
The first real task was to breach
the seaWall so Allied tanks could
leave the beaches. Four huge holes
were blown through the wall while
the beaches were drenched with
fire.
TIE Nevada was ordered to fire
upon a battery of six 155mm gunc
$4,000 yards distant in Anneville
An aerial spotter reported three
, direct hits. The battleship ther
blasted the battery headquarters
and the spotter reported:
Guns, shelter, headquarters, al
completely demolished.
On June 8, the most exciting &C
ton took place when the Nevada
rlastered concentration of 81
tanks, and 20 lorriee in wooc
26,400 yards away and then turned
her 14-inch shells to the road or
which they were trying to escape
The spotter reported: Fire very
effective. All tanks and lorries DIES,
troyed or damaged. None go
way"
The greatest distance of firing
! was 80, 500 yards on a gun battery
The spotter reported back: 'Tw'
hits perfect in middle of four gun
-cease fire"
At then end of the third day
the Nevada went to a British por
to reload. Her men had been a
battle stations for 70 hours withou
sleep and with only k-rations. Sh
assault area.
The troops were so confident o
the Nevada's accuracy that sh
reloaded and rushed back to tn
was allowed to fire only 600 yard
ahead of the advancing soldiers
| Travis estimated that 2,113,05
pounds of powder projectiles wer
fired by the Nevada. Her 14-incl
guns fired 1875 shells, while tn
5-inchers talked 1851 times.
Right now the lads want to col
lect the silver dollars, cigars ant
handshakes the governor of Neva
Ola promised them. Most of all
they are hoping for presidential
citation.