The nine 16 inch Mark IV gun
barrels that were being stored at the Long Beach California Naval Shipyard have been
disposed of by the US Navy. These barrels, which have a length of 68’ and weigh 106
tons, are powerful symbols of the strength and engineering magnificence of the
battleships.
Of the nine barrels, two have been sent to China
Lake Naval Air Test Facility for government tests. Six of the barrels have been cut in
half for scrapping. Thankfully, one of the barrels has been saved and is now on display at
the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. This will help give people a sense of how massive these
ships actually are.
The three key people at the Los Angeles Maritime
Museum coordinating the exhibit are Dr. William Lee, Cdr. Tom Goodall USN (ret.) and Mr.
I. Roy Coats.
ICPA is helping to coordinate the donation
of two 16 inch projectiles and 6 dummy powder bags. These are being obtained through the
cooperation of Mr. Bob Sawyer of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and the U.S. Navy
Supply Depot in Crane, Indiana. The combination of the barrel and the shells should make
for an impressive display. |
A floating crane taken from the Germans after WWII is used to
move a gun barrel into position on the New Jersey in 1984
at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard.
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