Missouri (BB 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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MS 3 Erick Van Hofwegan SN Eric Puentespina MAAN Michael Sutton MSSN Tracey Whitney MSSN Darren Wold SA Lvndon Anderson (Above) MSI Dann watches MSC Zaccheo mold a centerpiece. (Right) SA Anderson sets the dinner table for officers in the wardroom.

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Weapons Department The Weapons Department is capable of delivering more conventional weapons to their plotted targets than any other war- ship currently afloat. This awesome strike capability was reassuring to the crew dur- ing Missouri ' s recent deployment to trou- bled waters. To keep the various weapons systems operating requires thousands of man- hours per week. As many as 70 men are required to man a single turret during General Quarters. MISSOURI ' S firepower is a combina- tion of new and old. The basic design of the famed 16 50 gun and its housing tur- ret was developed at the end of World War I. Yet, they retain much usefulness in po- tential conflicts because of their ability to deliver a large and accurate volume of sustained fire against land and sea targets. The size of the two different projectiles used by this gun are staggering. A high capacity shell weighs 1900 pounds and an armor piercing shell weighs 2700 pounds. By comparison, the largest bombs dropped by the B-52 weighs 1000 pounds. Each gun is capable of firing 2 rounds per minute at a distance of more than 20 miles. Primary use of the guns is anti-surface and shore bombardment. The secondary battery, 5 38 dual pur- pose guns were invented during the 1930 ' s to counter the new threat imposed by air power. MISSOURI is equipped with twelve 5 guns in six twin mounts. For self-defense against missiles and air- craft, the MISSOURI has on board four Phalanx Ciose-In-Weapons Systems capa- ble of firing 20mm ammunition at a rate of 50 rounds per second. With its radar- aimed automatic gunnery, CIWS is vastly superior to the 40mm and 20mm anti-air- craft guns previously installed. Also, the addition of the Tomahawk and Harpoon cruise missile systems have made MISSOURI even more formidable. With this tremendous firepower, it is easy to understand why potential adversaries shy away from a possible confrontation.