Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Barcak
My Gosh, I would almost give up a testicle to experience 16' shells flying over me, esp at night. HAS to be awesome!
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We were over the hill and could see the flash on the horizon but didn't have direct view of the ship.
Listening to USS St. Paul (CA-73) on the gun line (call sign Tornado) was fun, too. She was the last all-gun cruiser left in the USN and had the latest 8" guns.
Semi-automatic, they used big brass cartridges, like a rifle, so the gunbunnies didn't have to load the shell and then the powder bags, ram it, and fire. Seemed like New Jersey took maybe a minute to reload for another salvo. St. Paul could put out 8 a minute.