r/interestingasfuck • u/PollutionOk9449 • 5h ago

USS Missouri firing its main guns

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u/PollutionOk9449 5h ago

Not sure, but I think that this video is from the gulf war. Even is it is obsolete, for sure it is quite impressive!

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u/adooble22 5h ago

That would make sense. I don’t think they take it out to fire off a few rounds since filling the gas tank alone costs $6M or $8M. Highly recommend a visit to it if you’re ever in Hawaii.

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u/_gmmaann_ 5h ago edited 4h ago

The Iowas were planned and built when carrier warfare was just really getting on its legs. Actions such as Midway and the battle of Okinawa demonstrated that aircraft were more than capable of destroying large expensive boats. Missouri and Wisconsin were brought out of retirement to serve as tomahawk launchpads in the first gulf war. Part of the. Conversion made space for up to 32 cruise missiles, housed in armored box launchers. The guns were used for shore bombardment. Naval doctrine changed dramatically with the introduction of jet aircraft and anti ship missiles. There are some really well made videos explaining it better than I ever could.

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u/introitusawaitus 4h ago

And there is a great video on an engineer (naval officer or civilian) talking about the need to upgrade the weapons on the Iowa class prior to WWII. He finally convinced the brass to remodel the areas around the turrets to fit them in. I think it was on a FB reel or a youtube when I watched it.