Appreciating the size of a "Really Big Gun" -- 18" of Raw Muscle

[browningautorifle]

That's three Tractor Trailers PER barrel

So, I guess since these would be intended for scrap material, they'd be cut in situ and pieced out? Smaller is better? That would take some torch work. Lots of gas to burn through those bad boys.

[WarPig1976]

I wasn't thinking!! Forgot to figure in the weight of the truck and flatbed which come in around 35,000lbs. Total weight can't be more then 80,000 so chunks regardless of size "as long as it fits on the flatbed" can't weigh more then 45,000. That's SIX loads per at a minimum!!! Plus the crane rental, cutting gas, labour, hope you can get 'em cheap!!!

[Tom in N.J.]

The navy also furnished the army with at least 47 16" gun barrels for use in building M1919 16" coastal defense guns. Latter models, Mark 2, and Mark 3, also used these barrels. I don't know how they did it , but two of these monsters were installed in Battery Lewis up on top of the hill in Atlantic Highlands, NJ overlooking the entrance to NY harbor.. All, but one MK 3, were destroyed after WWII. It now is on display at Aberdeen, MD.

Attachment 64269

[Kev G]

IAA forum related topic -

International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - WW2 Iowa Class Battleship 16 Gun Barrel Slice


ATB Kevin

[CINDERS]

I thought the WWII originals were L-5's , I posted facts on the Mushashi and Yamato a little while ago but just as a quick look at a turret they each weighed 2,774 tonnes with ammunition, the 18.1" A.P projectile could be fired out to a range of 42,050m at parabolic height of 11,900m at a range of 20,000m the A.P could penetrate 566mm of horizontal plate.

[Seaspriter]

2,774 tonnes

To put this size in perspective, my father served aboard a WWII Sumner Class Destroyer http://www.destroyerhistory.org/sumn...s/sumnerclass/ that weighed in at 2200 tons. It came loaded with three twin batteries of 5" 38 guns. His an entire ship ( http://destroyerhistory.org/sumner-g...ssharryfbauer/ ) was out-weighed by one turret on a battleship.

[rickv100]

The navy got rid of the barrels to ensure the Battleships never came back to service again. Up until a few years ago the navy was required to hold on to this stuff. Several of the barrels have gone to museums. Cape Henlopen Delaware park recieved one.

Rick

[limpetmine]

At the Air Firce museum in Dayton, Ohio, they have a representation of one of the bunker buster bombs they made for the first Gulf war. It was a gun barrel, IIRC, an 8", filled with explosive, a hardened tip, booster to drive it further into the earth, and the guided tail seation.


So old gun barrels serve still!