The Iowa class had a similar modification. At some point IIRC after the Korean War, each had the rangefinders in Turret 1 removed. The commonly stated reason is that the Iowa design put a lot of water on the weatherdeck and removing the rangefinder would go a long way to keeping T1 dry in heavy seas. A much less talked about reason is that the T1 rangefinders had become all but vestigial in the overall fire control picture of the Iowa class. In contrast to the stereoscopic rangefinders in T2, T3, and Spot 1 and Spot 2, the T1 rangefinder was a different type called a coincidence rangefinder. This type was particularly optically suited to acquiring the range of a point of light target such as you would get during night battle: parachute flares, searchlights, and muzzle flashes. With the advances in radar, and the fact that turret mounted rangefinders were at best a band-aid, it was decided that the specific niche advantages of a coincidence rangefinder were no longer needed.
Great comments, SomeRandomHuman717. Appreciate your insights. As I mention in the video, I should reach out to the battleships, but the weight disparity is no doubt huge! I didn't consider the wash the rangefinder, and therefore the turret in heavy seas. I should do a video about the stereoscopic v. coincidence rangefinder. There is a lot of information out there!
I recently found out that my father was part of the J.A.G. office team that investigated the boiler explosion that happened on Little Rock when she was on a med cruise in 76. It was reported as an engine lube casualty, but it caused a boiler explosion and she had to sail to Naples Italy for repairs. Shane, if you want, I can bug my dad for more information about it for the museum.
That would be awesome, Scott! I really appreciate it! Anything your dad can share (or any letters\artifacts from his investigation) would be welcomed. Once you talk to him, please reach out at info@buffalonavalpark.org and the message will get to me, and I'll email you back!
If I remember correctly what you said, the range finders were removed from both Turrets 61 and 64., With the removal of the structures exterior to the turrets, and the components inside the turrets, just how much weight savings were they able to achieve (say, per turret)? Always find these sorts of analysis videos quite interesting - thank you.
Thanks for watching tronmcconnell4465. Appreciate your comment. I don't have any idea the weight of one of these rangefinders for the 6"47 was. To my knowledge there aren't any remaining, but, I can reach out to other museum ships that may still have one mounted in their turrets - USS Salem comes to mind, but being a peacetime vessel when commissioned I don't think there is any evidence that they were mounted in the 8". Since they would be the only other cruiser in America, maybe they'll have information in their collections! Appreciate the support.
I had assumed the OKIEBOAT lost her rangefinder during conversion to Talos cruiser, but now I wonder? The turret captain's space was pretty crowded even without the rangefinder in there, it must have been severely cramped with that in there!
Thanks for watching and commenting daviddickerson2288. I haven't seen the inside of a turret officers booth with the rangefinder, but i believe the eye piece he looks through is unobtrusive - either way it would be a cramped space. Appreciate it!
Great question, SamuelJKatt99. That's going to be a follow up video. I have to do quite a bit more research because I haven't found a picture inside the turret officers booth while a rangefinder was installed. Thanks for watching!
The Iowa class had a similar modification. At some point IIRC after the Korean War, each had the rangefinders in Turret 1 removed. The commonly stated reason is that the Iowa design put a lot of water on the weatherdeck and removing the rangefinder would go a long way to keeping T1 dry in heavy seas. A much less talked about reason is that the T1 rangefinders had become all but vestigial in the overall fire control picture of the Iowa class. In contrast to the stereoscopic rangefinders in T2, T3, and Spot 1 and Spot 2, the T1 rangefinder was a different type called a coincidence rangefinder. This type was particularly optically suited to acquiring the range of a point of light target such as you would get during night battle: parachute flares, searchlights, and muzzle flashes. With the advances in radar, and the fact that turret mounted rangefinders were at best a band-aid, it was decided that the specific niche advantages of a coincidence rangefinder were no longer needed.
Great comments, SomeRandomHuman717. Appreciate your insights. As I mention in the video, I should reach out to the battleships, but the weight disparity is no doubt huge! I didn't consider the wash the rangefinder, and therefore the turret in heavy seas. I should do a video about the stereoscopic v. coincidence rangefinder. There is a lot of information out there!
TY another great vid
Happy to bring it to you! Thanks for your support as always!
Thanks for the video Shane, it's much appreciated as always!
Thumbs up as always, Jeff!
I recently found out that my father was part of the J.A.G. office team that investigated the boiler explosion that happened on Little Rock when she was on a med cruise in 76. It was reported as an engine lube casualty, but it caused a boiler explosion and she had to sail to Naples Italy for repairs.
Shane, if you want, I can bug my dad for more information about it for the museum.
That would be awesome, Scott! I really appreciate it! Anything your dad can share (or any letters\artifacts from his investigation) would be welcomed. Once you talk to him, please reach out at info@buffalonavalpark.org and the message will get to me, and I'll email you back!
I have the commissioning booklet from the Canisteo AO 99, and for the Neosho AO 143. A little remembrance for my time aboard each ship 🦑
Those are very nice artifacts to have in your personal collection!
The removal of optical rangefinders makes sense as Radar improved. They just had outlived their need.
Agreed, Kirk! Thanks for watching as always!
If I remember correctly what you said, the range finders were removed from both Turrets 61 and 64., With the removal of the structures exterior to the turrets, and the components inside the turrets, just how much weight savings were they able to achieve (say, per turret)? Always find these sorts of analysis videos quite interesting - thank you.
Thanks for watching tronmcconnell4465. Appreciate your comment. I don't have any idea the weight of one of these rangefinders for the 6"47 was. To my knowledge there aren't any remaining, but, I can reach out to other museum ships that may still have one mounted in their turrets - USS Salem comes to mind, but being a peacetime vessel when commissioned I don't think there is any evidence that they were mounted in the 8". Since they would be the only other cruiser in America, maybe they'll have information in their collections! Appreciate the support.
The rangefinders still live however, in the form of the rating badge for the Fire Control rates.
Very good observation. We have the FT rate emblem carved into their berthing on Little Rock. A permanent testament! Thanks!
I had assumed the OKIEBOAT lost her rangefinder during conversion to Talos cruiser, but now I wonder? The turret captain's space was pretty crowded even without the rangefinder in there, it must have been severely cramped with that in there!
Thanks for watching and commenting daviddickerson2288. I haven't seen the inside of a turret officers booth with the rangefinder, but i believe the eye piece he looks through is unobtrusive - either way it would be a cramped space. Appreciate it!
Just curious, is there evidence inside the turret the there was a rangefinder at one time?
Great question, SamuelJKatt99. That's going to be a follow up video. I have to do quite a bit more research because I haven't found a picture inside the turret officers booth while a rangefinder was installed. Thanks for watching!