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Re: Think you know your naval (not merely US) trivia? #6

I was going to guess being struck by another vessel while docked, but that wasn’t a choice.
I now guess the falling crane. TOM

Re: Think you know your naval (not merely US) trivia? #6

Powder magazine explosions did them in.

This particular HMS Vanguard commissioned in 1910. The ship displaced about 22,000 tons, and carried a crew of about 753. Although she was a Jutland veteran and actually fired 90 rounds during the battle, most of her short career was routine training and patrol. On 9 July 1917, Vanguard was safe at anchor in Scapa Flow. At about 2320, a huge explosion tore the ship in two, and she rapidly sank. Of the 845 men on board, only two survived. Vanguard remains at Scapa, in about 50 feet of water, but she is a "controlled site" under the "Protection of Military Remains Act," and may not be dived.

Mutsu's story is quite similar. She was commissioned in 1929, displaced 33,000 tons, and was crewed by about 1475 sailors. Her only combat action was four antiaircraft rounds fired at an American recon plane in August 1942. On 8 June 1943, while at a fleet anchorage in Hiroshima Bay, a huge explosion in her #3 turret magazine split the ship in half. killing 1121, and sparing 353. Mutsu was heavily salvaged from 1970 - 79. No further salvage is expected, and all that remains underwater is a 115 foot section from the forward part of the ship. The wreck is about 40 feet deep, and is noted as a "diveable wreck." Many artifacts from Mutsu are on display in various locations throughout Japan.

Battleships, with their "bag" guns - that is, the powder charge contained in numerous cloth bags, rather than in metal cartridge cases - were always highly at risk for turret and magazine explosions. The US Navy alone had at least four catastrophic events on board battleships in 1904,1924, 1943, and 1989 - one about every 20 years of active BB service. 169 sailors were lost in these tragedies.

Looks like it may be time to give the subject a rest. If any of you want to try the rest of the test, it's available at a fun, free website called funtrivia.com. Look for "Ships Are People Too" Quiz #372595. Many other military related quizzes at the site might also pique your interest. among them are: "Tombs of Unknown Soldiers," "Old Soldiers Always Die," "Just Plane Talk."

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