This is a late video that shows USS IOWA Firing her 5" gun during a last year Celebration during Christmas 2023. It SHOWS an internal showing of the Professionalism of USS IOWA "Gun Crew" and a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Mike Getscher Executive VP - COO for allowing me Special Permission in entering the mount! Also the Mount Captain Hal Puritz (Hotel Alpha Lima) for putting me in a position that allows me to record this Unique Presentation.
I also include a firing position from outside of the Mount, where Our Guests can view the firing .... From a Distance! Lastly, I conclude with a "Cleaning of the Gun", as the "Gun Crew" uses an Actual WW2 bore cleaning rod that is rammed into the barrel to clean of any debris and remnants of powder.
When firing the 5" Gun onboard USS IOWA... we use a two (2) pound charge... NO SHELL, it is Just a Blank!! We follow Commands and Safety to the HIGHEST Order...making sure that there are: 1) NO Persons within a certain range Around the gun, on Main Deck, nor Around the gun's upper decks. 2) Making Sure that there is NO Shipping around the Channel, waiting (in This case) for vessels to pass. 3) Having a Fire Marshall Present as well as fire fighting equipment...on "Stand-By" with people who are Trained in their usage!
LASTLY, this will be my LAST video.... On This Channel, as mentioned ALL USS IOWA BB-61 footage will be on my "Other Channel"...Thanks for watching, and of Course 'Subscribe' to the "Other Channel" to see more footage of IOWA and What " I " do onboard this GREAT Vessel!!!
And Again...THANKS for the following people, helping me with added videos, In Order...
++ Randy Howell
++ Max Holand
++ Margie Sims
Chapters:
0:00 Intros
0:45 Setting up Firing
1:15 "Prepare to Fire"
3:20 But what about Outside?
4:55 After the Gun Shoot
9:20 Credits to Volunteers!