Thread: Weak deck gun?
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Old 05-17-15, 06:49 PM   #9
kevinsue
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Here is a interesting excerpt from the book "Steel Boat Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505" regarding the use of the deck gun.



Name: Thomas McKean
Type: Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage: 7,191 tons
Completed: 1942 - Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc, Baltimore MD
Owner: Calmar SS Co Inc, New York
Homeport: Baltimore
Date of attack: 29 Jun 1942
Nationality: American


Quote:
Although the "Thomas McKean" had developed a heavy list to port, she stubbornly refused to sink.

Rather than waste another torpedo, the skipper ordered our deck gun crew to finish her off with cannon fire.

The gun crew aimed at the waterline, but the slowly listing ship kept lifting the shell holes above the water.

It took 80 rounds from our powerful 105mm gun before the flaming ship finally rolled over and sank.

Kapitänleutnant Löwe was a former gunnery officer, and he was obviously frustrated with the number of shells it took to sink her.
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Last edited by kevinsue; 05-18-15 at 01:43 AM.
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