Damages on USS Massachussetts produced by "moderate sea".
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... amage.html
Norm al | Highlight & Com m ent
BB59/L11
Ser.
1. During the morning watch of February 7 1943 while making
passage off Cape Hatteras this vessel on course 196° true, speed 18.5 knots,
encountered a moderate sea which did considerable damage to this vessel
during the next twenty-four hours. This damage and recommendations are
listed in enclosures (A), (B) and (C). The maximum force of the wind was 6,
sea 4 which varried slightly on either side of the starboard beam.
2. The seas were only moderate with an occassional heavy wave. At
1614 on February 7, 1943 as the heavy weather was increasing slowed to 15
knots with no reduction in the water coming on board. At about 2030 a
particularly heavy sea came on board which threatened to flood the engine
rooms thru the ventilation intake ducts and short out the main switchboards.
Speed was slowed to 12 knots with little reduction in the amount of water
coming on board. As turret one was being flooded due to the bloomers
carrying away it was impractical to head into the sea and to place the sea
on or abaft the quarter would have cleared the stern of aircraft.
3. At 0707 on February 8, 1943 the seas having moderated went
ahead at 15 knots and at 0225 resumed 18.5 knots.
4. Turret #1 was flooded because of the failure of the bloomers.
The turret was trained to port in order to reduce the amount of water
entering the gun ports but it was found that too much water was coming thru
the after hatch and ventilation ducts. As at this time it was thought that
no serious damage was being done to the turret the turret was trained on the
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS,
February 20, 1943.
From: The Executive Officer.
To : The Commanding Officer.
Subject: Heavy Weather Damage, report of.
Enclosure: (A) Report of damage and recommendations under the cognizance of
the Bureau of Ordnance.
(B) Report of damage and recommendations under the cognizance of
the Bureau of Ships (Engineering).
(C) Report of damage and recommendations under the cognizance of
the Bureau of Ships (Hull).
(D) Extracts from log of February 7, and 8, 1943.
Assembly Automation QuickStick Linear Motor Conveyor Fast, Accurate, Programmable www.magnemotion.com
Sail the San Blas Islands View the boats, see the schedules, plan your trip, and reserve online. www.boatstocolombia.com
Armstrong Condensate Pump Reduce heat energy loss, and increase steam system efficiency.
Researcher@Large - BB-59 USS Massachusetts Storm Damage, 1943 Page 1 of 3
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... amage.html 5/30/2012
port bow. After pumping the water down it was found that water had entered
the center column. This in itself did no serious damage but this water
flowing thru the conduit tubes to the main power connection boxes soaked the
main power cables necessitating their renewal and placing the turret out of
commission for ten days.
5. During this storm the maximum roll was 13 degrees and the
maximum pitch as read from the trim indicator dampened
BB59/L11
U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
to give an average was 3 feet. This vessel is extremely wet. Even on a calm
day with very little wind the weather decks are wet with spray. On this
particular day no automatic weapons on the main deck could have been manned
and only those on the lee side of the superstructure could have been manned.
In fact, it would have been impossible to fight the ship to windward with
anything except perhaps turret 2 and upper 5" mounts.
E. M. THOMPSON
CONFIDENTIAL February 20, 1943.
Subject: Heavy Weather Damage, report of,
Researcher@Large - BB-59 USS Massachusetts Storm Damage, 1943 Page 2 of 3
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... amage.html 5/30/2012
SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, Seattle Branch
Record Group 181, Ship Files ca 1940-1950
Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.
Ships Hom e | Researcher@ Large Hom e
- Contact RAL
Researcher@Large - BB-59 USS Massachusetts Storm Damage, 1943 Page 3 of 3
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/ ... amage.html 5/30/2012