“Good morning, everyone. As you all know there is a planned GUNNEX this morning at 1000. The ship will be firing along with the battleships North Carolina, Alabama, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin. We will be firing BL&P rounds at a killer tomato that will be launched by USS Semmes at a range between 8 and 10 nautical miles. The operation will be accomplished in two phases. First, each ship will be allowed to shoot three ranging rounds. The rounds will be fired in sequence by ship, beginning with the North Carolina and ending with the Wisconsin. Upon completion of this phase the formation will fire three broadsides at the target, one broadside at a time, at the direction of the Division Commander. All ships will fire the broadsides together. A helo will be in the air to take photographs. Our journalists and photographers will be allowed to ride the helo for the photo op. Prefire checks will be conducted immediately following this briefing. We will be using the standard six bag configuration….
The briefing droned on listing the types of ammunition, special precautions, and any possible changes as may be directed such as changes in course or speed. After thirty minutes, the briefing was finishing up when it came the Captain’s turn to speak.
“Gentlemen, this is Iowa’s chance to shine. Let’s get rounds on target. But most of all, let’s make sure we’re safe. Remember, no metal in the turrets or magazines. If anyone sees anything suspicious, sing out and stop the exercise. Keep in mind the forty-seven crewmen still with us in turret two. Keep this safe.” He looked out at the men there. “We’re getting close. I will share with you that in just a few days this ship will be in action. What we do each day brings us closer to being ready.” Hammond looked around. “This ship of ours has seen almost a quarter of the history of the United States. And every time she takes part, she has proven her worth. It’s a great reputation to live up to.” He smiled at them. “Fear God and Dreadnought,” he said.
The men got up and began filing out of the room. Hammond turned to Weaps. “What happened to Spot One?”
Weaps called over a Master Chief. “It’s still on the CASREP list but we’re 100 percent,” he said. “The Master Chief had the fix. Tell him about it,” he said to the old smiling face that appeared beside him.
Master Chief Skelly had requested Iowa from the beginning, but had taken the time to get all the ships back up through Newport News. Now he was even sleeping in the rack he had when he had been aboard from '88 on. If there was any fire control system that he knew backwards and forwards, it was the Mk-38 gunfire control system. He beamed at the Captain.
“We had the same problem before, sir. It’s a little lead brush about an inch long and a quarter inch wide that sits against the rotors in the servo. It’s only about as thick as a fingernail. There’s a spring on one end to keep it pressing against the contact. It’s like one of the old generator brushes they had in old cars; just rubs up against the rotor and relays information. That little piece of lead is so soft it is constantly getting worn down and wearing out. The last time I tried to price getting one made it was going to cost thousands. Then one of my first class came up with an idea. That brush is just soft metal. It has to be softer than the steel rotors and still conduct the electricity. So whenever it goes out, we buy a can of Coke and get one of the government ball point pens. We cut out a small strip of the aluminum to match the size of the piece of lead and then take it down to the HTs. They buff the paint and varnish off and then tack weld the spring from the pen to the aluminum. You insert the piece into the old housing and we’re back in business. The thing works good for about six months, then we buy another Coke and destroy another ink pen,” he said.
Hammond looked at the man with admiration. “And it really works?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve even checked to make sure we weren’t damaging the rotors, but everything looks fine. The North Carolina didn’t have any of those old lead brushes. Their system is working, too.”
Hammond nodded. “Not bad. Not bad at all,” he said making his way back to his cabin.
Three hours later the signal flags broke from the main yard. It signaled a “formation one” with ships in order by hull number. After all the heavies acknowledged, the signal was executed. Slowly and almost majestically the old battleships began to maneuver into position forming what was once called a line of battle, one ship ahead of the other until there was but one line of strength. The ships were spaced only 1,000 yards apart. On the Iowa’s fantail, a small remote controlled aircraft that had been supplied by the Israelis was started and warmed up. When all was ready, a small rocket launched the frail looking aircraft into the sky and it turned toward USS Semmes in the distance.
When ready, USS Semmes, a DDG on a parallel course slightly ahead of the ships, let go the “killer tomato” — a red target balloon 10 feet in diameter that floated on top of the water. A small helium-filled balloon on a tether was attached to the tomato. It had radar reflectors to help the fire control systems lock on. For the first time since getting underway, the powerful fire control radars were switched on. Inside the directors the men were already tracking the tomato using their optical sights. They determined the range to be 9.16 miles. The radar range matched the optics. Using signal flags, Admiral Thacke’s staff began the exercise. Far ahead, the guns of the North Carolina swung from their centerline position and rose toward their target. A gout of flame erupted and a loud bang was heard in the distance as one of the North Carolina’s guns fired. Almost thirty seconds later a tall column of water rose within 200 yards of the balloon. A minute later, after corrections were dialed into the computer, a second round was fired. This one landed within 100 yards. The third round was closer still.
Ship by ship the battleships tested their systems. When Iowa’s turn came, everyone not on watch was topside to see the spectacle. The Iowa’s guns turned on their roller paths and elevated. A buzzer was heard sounding. On the third one the center gun from turret one belched forth its projectile. Deep in the ship the crew of the remotely piloted vehicle watched the television screen to see where the round went. It splashed very close to the balloon. One of the crewmen placed the tip of a light pin on the splash point and the offset information was fed into the computers. The buzzer began sounding again. This time, the center gun of turret two fired. With everyone watching, the projectile sailed through the atmosphere making a sound like linen being torn in a long sheet. To everyone’s amazement, the projectile passed through the center of the killer tomato, causing the balloon to tear into pieces and float near the surface for a while.
“Damn!” came the voice of Admiral Thacke as he stood on the bridge next to Hammond. This was his first gunshoot and this kind of gunnery was rare indeed. “I sure hope the Semmes has that other balloon ready,” he said.
It took nearly thirty minutes for the next balloon to be put in the water and for the Semmes to get out of the way. Iowa’s third round was so close the balloon was lifted out of the water for a second, coming back down but still afloat. The firing continued down the line with no one else able to be anywhere near as close.
Phase one ended. A “turn port 180” signal was executed and all the ships turned together 180 degrees so they could pass the target again. The staff raised the signal to engage and put it at the dip. All the ship’s guns now turned in the opposite direction and pointed toward the small red dot in the distance. The signal was executed. The entire line of battleships erupt in flame as the great guns unleashed their might. The sound was ear splitting — a deep and heavy bang that threw a concussion through the air that flattened the waves around the ships where they were pointed. Great columns of water rose from all around the target balloon as the 1,900 pound projectiles slammed into the water. Yet, when the sheets of liquid finally settled, the tomato was still there.