Fascinating Photo

This is an aerial shot of the U.S.S. Iowa firing two 16" rounds starboard. Aside from the raw might displayed, note the shockwave pattern on the water.



Note: click on the photo for an 800-pixel wide version. The original photo can be seen in glorious high-resolution here.

I find this photo utterly fascinating.

I believe the U.S. Navy decommissioned its last battleship recently. Some years back, I took a tour of a decommisioned battleship when I lived in North Carolina. It was remarkable for two reasons: the size and massiveness of it; and the relatively tight living quarters. The ship housed something like 4,000 men. Bunks were stacked four or five high, with little more than 18" between bunks. The lavatory was little more than a steel trough. The gun barrels were huge.

I've often wondered ... how does one manufacture something like that? How does one cast, then turn and rifle a 16" inside-diameter barrel that weighs something like 20 tons?

* * *
I am reading, for the second time, the book "The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan. It is a historic accounting of the events of June 6th, 1944 and the invasion of Normandy. The book tends to weave the account from several personal perspectives, most notably General Erwin Rommel. If you're at all interested in that period of history, I'd recommend the book.

Note: the accounting of all that went wrong in the opening hours of the invasion is amazing. The aerial bombardment was off by several miles, as were many of the paratrooper drops. Amphibious tanks simply sunk. Soldiers weighed down by over 100 pounds of gear stepped into water over their heads and drowned. The accounting of went went wrong on the German side of the battle is equally amazing. Such is the fog of war.

The book "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William Shirer is another utterly fascinating book, detailing a much longer period of history. It is not a trivial book. It is studded with footnotes and lots of German names. Still, for a glimpse into the workings of Nazi Germany, the book has no equal.

* * *
Tomorrow (November 7th) is mid-term election day here in the United States. The stakes are considerable as control of both houses of Congress are in theory up for grabs. I voted by early ballot since I knew I'd be in Atlanta, not Arizona.