Calling all USS Nevada BB-36 and USS Oklahoma BB-37 fans

[Tracy White]

Oklahoma's Booklet of General Plans agrees.

[Brian K.]

Thanks guys! Now did Nevada have them?

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks guys! Now did Nevada have them?

Some good post PH photos of Nevada here.

Here is a photo from the NARA II branch of the National archives of Nevada post attach. Looks like there is a gun tub there, same as Okie.

And a crop...

80G32745crop.jpg (20.76 KiB) Viewed 8812 times

[tegunn]

Brian, keep in mind the tubs were the King Board modifications in process when the attack on PH occurred. The tubs were for the 1.1"s but 3"/50 were installed on various ships until more 1.1's were available. Both ships of the Nevada Class had the tubs; the Oklahoma had 3'/50's on 12/7/41 and I believe Nevada had 1.1's. Photos are difficult to see on the Nevada unless you can discover some shots from above of her salvage(hence the fun in modeling ships). The photo provided earlier MIGHT suggest 1.1's in the tubs.

[tegunn]

Wikipedia says the Nevada received 8 (4X2) 1.1's which seem 8 short.

[Tracy White]

In case it's of any help, I posted Nevada's Pearl Harbor Damage Report a bit ago. Photo reproduction quality wasn't all that good. I tried looking for better copies in the War Damage Reports group at NARA but there was nothing for this report there.

[tegunn]

Tubs circled on Oklahoma

[tegunn]

(Nevada) The tubs are there, but I don't find any compelling info showing what, if anything was in the tubs. I would leave them open/empty and add later if needed...

[Jeff Sharp]

Like Arizona, Nevada had four empty tubs. This is the Starboard aft tub.


Here is a view of the starboard forward tub.


There is also one excellent overhead photo of Nevada post attack that shows all four tubs empty. The forward port-side tub had an ammo locker in it, but the rest did not. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share this photo at this time but it will be available soon for all to see.

[Rick E Davis]

Here is a photo that I came across at NARA II that may be helpful. The photo, dated 12 December 1941, was taken from the bow looking aft showing the damage to USS NEVADA's forward deck and her bridge area. Note that her portside "Quad 1.1-in mount Tub" appears to be empty. See cropped view.





Here is another image that may be helpful. It is a cropped view from an overhead aerial photo of Pearl Harbor dated 28 March 1942 (80-G-45046) shows USS NEVADA being repaired. The aft tubs can't be made out, but the forward portside tub doesn't show either 3-in or quad 1.1-in gun mounts in place. A March 1942 photo isn't as much proof, given that if she DID HAVE quad 1.1-in mounts, they would have been removed for use elsewhere.

[tegunn]

Like Arizona, Nevada had four empty tubs. This is the Starboard aft tub.


Here is a view of the starboard forward tub.


There is also one excellent overhead photo of Nevada post attack that shows all four tubs empty. The forward port-side tub had an ammo locker in it, but the rest did not. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share this photo at this time but it will be available soon for all to see.

These photos are sweet! Thanks Jeff!

[Brian K.]

Thanks to all, I could never make out in the photo's I have if these 2 had the AA changes performed. Now I know!!!! Thanks again

[Jeff Sharp]

Something else worth noting. Notice what appears to be the start of a director platform just aft of the tub.

[Brian K.]

Anyone have any good pictures of Nevada and Oklahoma air defense stations installed at the base of the forward tripod mast?

[GaryJinNC]

Regarding the Mk. 49 director platform on NEVADA, I wonder if the platform would be similar to that mounted on ARIZONA? Shapeways/Model Monkey has a set for ARIZONA that might be adapted to NEVADA. It is apparent that NEVADA did not have her 1.1" mounts and Mk. 49 directors on December 7.

Also, where were the platforms located for the aft 1.1" mounts? If they had been fitted, it would seem that they would have been located on the structure immediately below the main mast.

[Mr. Bean]

I have a few questions about construction techniques for Nevada.
The first subject of interest is the torpedo blisters,...

Were the torpedo blisters a "framed up skin" laid over the plating and armor?
Were the blisters left void?
Were they originally welded or riveted construction?
Did the blisters have any openings to sea water for inlet, outlet or weapons purpose?


Mick

[Tracy White]

The blisters were not armor, there were just an extra void designed to both increase buoyancy and stability as well as provide some extra protection. The main purpose was to return the ships to their design waterline, as increasing weight had pushed them lower into the water and in some cases put the thick armor belt too low to protect against torpedo strikes. As an aside, the Navy learned at Pearl Harbor that having the outside voids filled with air lead to a much larger list when one side was hit and moved fuel oil to the outside to decrease the effect of this (not sure that blisters were turned into fuel tanks and suspect not).

The men in this photo are standing on Oklahoma's blister and shows a combination of riveted and welded construction. As you can see, there is some sort of opening present. Sheet 5's "Inner Bottom" of Oklahoma's Booklet of General Plans should be of a little help as it does lay out openings in the ship's shell. However, I'm not sure if "Outboard delivery" is the opening we're seeing. They don't show in the Outboard profile, but they may be hidden by the bilge keel or considered unimportant for that view.

[ArizonaBB39]

As an aside, the Navy learned at Pearl Harbor that having the outside voids filled with air lead to a much larger list when one side was hit...

Is that why Oklahoma capsized so quickly and West Virginia and California didn't?

[RaceFuel]

As an aside, the Navy learned at Pearl Harbor that having the outside voids filled with air lead to a much larger list when one side was hit...

Is that why Oklahoma capsized so quickly and West Virginia and California didn't?

I want to say the reason why Oklahoma went over so fast is due to the very rapid timing of the torpedo strikes, 5 torpedoes within 10 minutes of which 3 were within the first 3 minutes or so. WeeVee was able to counter-flood since the torpedoes were a bit more spaced out. California only took 2 torpedoes but her water tight integrity was severely compromised due to impending inspection.

Nevada took one torpedo forward but surprisingly the torpedo bulkhead held, but did leak.

[MartinJQuinn]

There is a book out on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor, written by a survivor. I'm going off my (acknowledged faulty) memory, but I recall teams racing to counterflood, only to find that they were locked out of either the compartment they needed to get into or the control panel. If I remember and have time, I'll try and find the passage and the name of the book.