Calling all Iowa-class (BB-61) fans

[steinerman]

Hi Peoples,

I have a couple questions for those who have more than a passing knowledge of the details of the Iowa class battlewagons - specifically BB63, the USS Missouri. While pouring over the plans drawn by Tom Walkowiak from The Floating Drydock, and also referring to TFD's E-book on the Missouri, I ran across two things he shows that I can't find any details on anywhere else.

The first is near Frame 79, right near the end of the waterway. These plans and the TFD E-book show what they refer to as "Fuel and Diesel Fill" on both port and starboard sides.

Is this something that really existed back in 1945? If so, does anybody know anything more about it - like what it really looked like?

The other item is also along the bow waterways, about Frame 60, and is referred to on these plans as "Leadman's Platform (Hinged Up) P/S".

Again, is this something that was on the real ship, or is it a figment of someone's imagination? Is it really did exist, what was it used for and what did it look like?

Every time I study these plans, I find things new details that I missed until now. This is one complicated ship!

Thanks folks!

[BB62vet]

Larry,

I'm away from my shop (books/plans/references), but will reply to your first question in a day or so.

As for your 2nd question, YES - the hinged Leadsman Platform did exist. I can't actually recall it being used during our 1968-69 commission, but it was a real item. It was a small platform that was folded down and used in shallow water when it was necessary to "sound" for the bottom. Here is a photo from BB-63 in 1944 showing the Leadsman taking a sounding:

The caption reads: "Leadsman taking soundings, as the battleship enters port during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. Note line handler assisting the leadsman and talker standing by."

I do recall the Bos'n taking soundings using a weighted line with knots tied every foot which was dropped and when the weight hit the bottom the knot closest to the water was noted and the line pulled in. I think different colors were used for specific lengths, etc.

While I don't generally subscribe to using Wikipedia, here is a link to their description of sounding for depth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_sounding

Hope this helps,

Hank

[Fliger747]

Whatever this fueling feature is, it's not very prominent. Looking through my photos of BB63, some taken standing almost right by this item, it's not visible, being outside the netting installed along the lifelines to keep small visitors from going overboard.

Even back during WWII the ship had diesel backup generators which would not run on Bunker oil.

T

[steinerman]

Thanks, Hank! Yes, it tells me a lot. After I posted this question, I was reading through TFD's E-book on the Missouri and actually did find reference to this on the Gibbs & Cox model of this ship. This model does indeed show this platform, but nowhere is there any reference to what it is or what it was used for. I guess I'm wondering about the railing. Was it removed when the platform was folded down, or was it left on?

Also, to any of you folks who are reading this: Does anybody know the length of a Stokes litter that was used on the BB63 during WWII?

[steinerman]

Whatever this fueling feature is, it's not very prominent. Looking through my photos of BB63, some taken standing almost right by this item, it's not visible, being outside the netting installed along the lifelines to keep small visitors from going overboard.

Even back during WWII the ship had diesel backup generators which would not run on Bunker oil.

T

Yeah, I can't see any pictures of it either. The TFD E-book has a picture of the ship being refueled and it looks like the hoses are routed quite a bit further amidships than what these would indicate. I'm going to wait and see what Hank's response s, but I'm thinking they might not exist - at least where these plans show.

[Fliger747]

This looks to be a really insignificant feature at 1:200... Probably shown as the two small capped off flanges in the waterway.

[steinerman]

Yep, I agree. Not worth the bother! Thanks!

(Did you get wet taking that first picture?)

[Koppalakki]

Hello Gents!

If anyone could hook me with good pictures of the modernized Iowa classes derrick boom rigging on the aft superstructure on the port side I'd be very happy.
Diagrams would be also nice. I'm more intrested how it attaches to the winch and the rest of the booms and equipment.

Something like this but you can't really make out where everything actually connects!
I'm sure they all (???) have it pretty much the same so it doesn't have to be Missouri exact.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/016361d.jpg

Cheers

[BB62vet]

Mr. K

I could help you out with the refueling boom & stbd. side equipment in detail, but not the port side. I do, however, have one photo port side of NEW JERSEY in 1999 in Phily while still in Storage - this might give you an idea of what was on the port side aft deckhouse:

Hope this helps you out!

[Koppalakki]

Cheers,

I did found out that they all have it different!

So I'm gathering more intel and then making some guestimates and filling all the blanks and try to work on that.

[Fliger747]

I built a scratch 1:192 Modern Missouri, actually a conversion from a cruder model I originally built in the 60's. Having layovers in Honolulu I visited her several times in the 2012-13 era and have many hundreds of photos. However the winch and rigging wasn't hooked up to the boom as I recall. I'll dig through my files and see what I have.

[Koppalakki]

I built a scratch 1:192 Modern Missouri, actually a conversion from a cruder model I originally built in the 60's. Having layovers in Honolulu I visited her several times in the 2012-13 era and have many hundreds of photos. However the winch and rigging wasn't hooked up to the boom as I recall. I'll dig through my files and see what I have.

Yes I've been browsing various photos from the museum ship, and yes they don't have it hooked up anymore sadly.

[Fliger747]

Maybe these will help a little

Cheers: Tom

[Koppalakki]

Thanks, not helping to the rigging but revealed some details I missed!

[Fliger747]

One of the things that I don't quite understand is the winch appears to be facing the "wrong" way, away from the boom. Anyone know how the various struts etc secured to the bulkhead were employed?

[chuck]

Does anyone know what color were the anchor chains on the Missouri during WWII?

Was the anchor chain picked out in Black back then like it is now?

[BB62vet]

No, and Yes:

BB-63 in 1944:

BB-63 in 1945:

It may have depended on the camo scheme she was wearing and what her theater of operations were at the time.

Hope this helps,

[Fliger747]

Wonder if the shipyard in a rush to get her out the door left the "details" to the ships crew? A Britt saying "When needs must the devil drives"...

The black paint was some sort of anti fouling paint such as found on the boot topping?

[steinerman]

Hi Guys, Got a question -

What is this? If I had to guess I'd say it's some kind of light, and if it is, what colors are they?

Thanks

[Cliffy B]

Do you guys want photos of those fuel fills in the waterways? I can get them later this week after the Hurricane goes through if you�d like.