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'Submarine Killer' helped fire first shots at Pearl Harbor ..

Discussion in 'WWII Today' started by sniper1946, Oct 6, 2010.

  1. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    #1 gun was on the forecastle. #2 and #3 were on each side of a deckhouse amidships, between the two pairs of funnels, and extending the complete width of the ship. They could fire to within a few degrees of dead ahead or astern on their respective sides. In Navy nomenclature, odd #s are on the starboard side, even to port. Apparently the submarine was on the starboard bow. Ward probably headed not quite directly at her, both to get a second gun on target and to "lead" the submarine for the depth charge run. From Ward's point of view, the sub appears to have been moving slightly leftwards.

    That class had four 4"/50s; #4 was on a deckhouse on the centerline aft and had excellent arcs of fire, but apparently it was not able to engage.
     
  2. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    I concur. #1 gun is a memorial at the capitol in Minneapolis. There is a plaque on the gun with what appears to be names of the gun crew. Unfortunately the photo is too blurry to make out any of the names:

    http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/conservation/reports/ward_gun.pdf

    MDVA: Minnesota Veteran Memorials - USS Ward (DD-139) Gun
     

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