15-004 Garand Picture of the Day

[Snafu]

Then-Vice President George H.W. Bush recommissioned the Iowa in 1983, 26 years after the ship was decommissioned for a second time. Here, he reviews Marines

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[Bob Seijas]

I would love to be President so just once I could step in front of that first guy and order, "Inspection ARMS!" Then snatch it and go into my act

[gtodan]

M14's?

[browningautorifle]

M14's?

Yes sir...I was on the USS Alamo about that time and they had a full compliment of M14s for the brow guard.

[Bob Womack]

A friend of mine was gunnery officer on the Iowa after the recommission. He requested and was granted a transfer off the ship because of what he considered unsafe munitions handling practices aboard ship that were being forced on him from above. The famous 1989 turret two explosion occurred a year later.

The ammunition used on the modern Battleships was manufactured during WWII and at times was stored on non-climate-controlled barges at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station on the James River from WWII to the modern period. It was never designed to last that long, even under perfect storage conditions. As it aged and was mishandled, it became increasingly unstable and began to outgas ether gas, making it a high ignition risk.

Bob