Kookaburra2011
Sept. 30, 1986: USS MISSOURI fires a reduced charge, staggered 'broadside' off Sydney - Photo Cameron Martin, RAN.
3451. This is not STRICTLY a broadside, otherwise there would be nine, and not just two shells remarkably seen in the air to the left of this picture. An astounding piece of shutter speed photography by Petty Officer Cameron Martin, RAN, nonetheless.
But there are several remarkable things about this image. Another is the large group of guests gathered up on the battleship's forecastle, braving the blast effect, to witness this firepower demonstration by USS MISSOURI off Sydney on Sept. 30, 1986.
In fact, despite several hundred yards of flame, this firing is being done with reduced powder charges, and sequentially from the guns left to right to limit to the blast effect. Having once seen a Hollywood film - the one about the Sullivan Brothers from memory - in which sailors were several times swept away along the decks by blast effect - I would have liked to have read an account of this demonstration. What were the effects were up by the bows, and what other precautions were taken? Unfortunately, I was travelling in late '86 and would have missed any local reports.
As the 'MIGHTY MO' approached Sydney, media and RAN guests had been flown out to the battleship in Wessex helicopters to witness the demonstration, which began with phalanx close-in weapons systems firing, and the secondary twin 5-inch batteries. Then the 16-inch.
It was one of several occasions on which the IOWA CLASS battleships are recorded as giving these firepower demonstrations in different parts of th world. Now, while they survive as museum ships, it seems unlikely that such firings will ever be seen again.
Photo: POPH Cameron Martin, RAN, it appears in John Mortimer's book 'The Royal Australian Navy: A Pictorial Review' [Mortimer, Canberra 1987] p76.
Sept. 30, 1986: USS MISSOURI fires a reduced charge, staggered 'broadside' off Sydney - Photo Cameron Martin, RAN.
3451. This is not STRICTLY a broadside, otherwise there would be nine, and not just two shells remarkably seen in the air to the left of this picture. An astounding piece of shutter speed photography by Petty Officer Cameron Martin, RAN, nonetheless.
But there are several remarkable things about this image. Another is the large group of guests gathered up on the battleship's forecastle, braving the blast effect, to witness this firepower demonstration by USS MISSOURI off Sydney on Sept. 30, 1986.
In fact, despite several hundred yards of flame, this firing is being done with reduced powder charges, and sequentially from the guns left to right to limit to the blast effect. Having once seen a Hollywood film - the one about the Sullivan Brothers from memory - in which sailors were several times swept away along the decks by blast effect - I would have liked to have read an account of this demonstration. What were the effects were up by the bows, and what other precautions were taken? Unfortunately, I was travelling in late '86 and would have missed any local reports.
As the 'MIGHTY MO' approached Sydney, media and RAN guests had been flown out to the battleship in Wessex helicopters to witness the demonstration, which began with phalanx close-in weapons systems firing, and the secondary twin 5-inch batteries. Then the 16-inch.
It was one of several occasions on which the IOWA CLASS battleships are recorded as giving these firepower demonstrations in different parts of th world. Now, while they survive as museum ships, it seems unlikely that such firings will ever be seen again.
Photo: POPH Cameron Martin, RAN, it appears in John Mortimer's book 'The Royal Australian Navy: A Pictorial Review' [Mortimer, Canberra 1987] p76.