He looked like the emcee from a local TV show, in the early 1970's, called FRIGHT NIGHT....emcee was on a blacked out sound stage and had only a flashlight shining upwards from under his chin....scared the HAY out of me as a kid!
I have long been curious about submarine deck guns. The idea of a gun that was living in saltwater left me clueless. Thanks Cod for cluing me in. Well-done. As the Brits say: Splice the Mainbrace: This one's on me.
My ship, USS Sphinx, ARL-24 ended up with two quad 40mm mounts, fore and aft. Six(ish) .50 cal single mounts and two crew manning Stinger Man-pads for anti-air defense. I never got to man the 40mm mounts but the .50 cal was an awesome experience. I meticulously gathered the brass and disintegrating links and reassembled. Unfortunately, that ammo can was lost during my separation/divorce.
Great content. You have given more clarity to the operation of this weapon. I kept having visions of a pitching boat during foul weather. Kudos to maintaining the boat in this great condition.
Paul said he would like to send a couple of 5in rounds at the crotch rocket about the same time I said that to myself. Great explanation about the gun operation and crewing. I'm sure there were probably a few by the book supply personnel that complained about not getting the empty cases back after a patrol, maybe the crew saved one to shove down his complaint hole. Greetings from Texas.
So this was a new-build 5/25? I had always assumed that the 5 inch guns carried by subs were converted from AA guns removed from pre-war battleships as they were upgraded to carry 5/38s. Thank you for this video!
Civilians and those who don't know any better seem to quote manning requirements like they are hard and fast regulations. Subs tour guides are generally unaware that during a sub gunex is the time it takes a gun crew to get out on deck, into place and start getting accurate rounds downrange, faster is better. If you want a faster rate of fire then you need more people on deck to move the rounds and the 5"/ 25 fixed rounds are heavy, approx 80lbs each, try hefting a few of these! Weather and daylight are another factor, in heavy seas its harder for the ammo handlers to keep on their feet and for the trainer and pointer to get the sights aligned long enough to make it worth while plus it's easy to have a man overboard in rough weather. Another important consideration during a gunex is how long it takes to secure the gun and get everyone below plus the normal bridge watch if you get jumped by an aircraft or outgunned by your target. The complete rounds come from the ready service locker or ammo scuttle without the metal container during a gunex to save time and so the crew doesn't trip over the discarded containers. I highly doubt anyone would catch the empty cartridge cases for recycling, remember...... time is of the essence in a gunfight!!! The man with the gloves was probably chasing the cases and pitching them over the side. Submarine firecontrol for guns was mostly Kentucky windage..... if you were lucky and had radar they were a huge help because they could under the right circumstances get a range to the target and then to the splash of the shell and correct you onto the target. Before they had radar they would crank in the estimated range on the guns elevation and set deflection using a SWAG (Scientific Wild A** Guess) and see where it would hit. This would get rounds on target faster than messing around messing with complicated firecontrol tables. Which hatch they used depended on sea state Paul! What ever side the barrel lock opened more than likely depended on what ever way the sub tender crews or yard birds felt like at the moment, I doubt there was a regulation way.
Of course sea state, weather and other factors affect your gun performance. As for gun manning the eight-man figure is from the Navy's gun crew training program. As for which hatch is used that's pretty simple, the bridge hatch is too far and according to our crew the after battery hatch was used ... the captains use of the gun would take into consideration the sea state... because as you point out, a man overboard is very likely in very rough weather. The ready service locker rounds were stowed naked... the rounds coming up from the magazine were in their cans until they reach the deck. There they're decanted. The Navy wanted in an ideal situation (training sessions)to recycle the brass and stowage canisters ... in combat of course they went overboard.
The LPD11 I was on in the mid '70's had four twin 3"50's. Two starboard, two port forward and aft. Carried a lot of 3"50 rounds aboard on all hands workparties. They came in a canister and I believe weighed 35 pounds total.
LPH-7 had 4 duel mount 3"50 when I came aboard early 70's we replaced 2 with Sparrow Missels when I was aboard mid- 70's when she was sunk she had the R2D2 thingy
Those 5 inch 25s could be used against ships but they had a shorter range. Between WWI and WWII the 5 inch 51s were optimized as anti-surface secondaries because the longer barrel gave longer range. The 5-inch 25s were optimized as anti-aircraft guns because the shorter barrel was easier to aim at faster-moving airplanes. The 5-inch 38 basically split the difference in barrel length to create the dual-purpose weapon.
@@hackerjohnt the 5"25s were also used to engage shore targets. A role they may actually have been better suited to than the flatter shooting, higher velocity guns. In that respect, they were similar to field artillery howitzers.
Weren't some boats armed with 3" guns, early in the war. Also, I believe some of the late war subs had two 5" guns, as torpedo-worthy targets dwindled. Is there a video on the 40mm coming?
Who says Silversides didn't get a 5-in. 25 at the end of the war? She was among the first Gatos built and was put to work immediately and continually. In the last year of the war the old pre-war fleet sub classes were pulled out of front line service and used for training. But SS236 I believe served to the end. I have seen a few Post-war images of Silversides that seem to show a 5/25. But when mothballed the guns were removed. When she became a reservist trainer they weren't returned. When she became a memorial sub the restorers probably couldn't get a 5/25 and a 4/50 was likely available.
Regarding the Mk 91 TBT binoculars, were they 7x50 or 10x50? Separate question, the marking seen through the periscope; was that mil marks, or degrees? The muzzle block was called a tampion.
Imagine this in a tank.. 😁 5 inch would be, what, 127mm.. Hmm. There ARE some tank guns around that caliber, or slightly less. 7 tons in a 60 ton tank.. too much?
Was there something to hold shells in place while they were in the passing scuttle or was it purely reliant on the person inside holding the rounds up for the deck crew to grab?
Besides being built of stainless steel and being painted ( I assume the paint helped prevent corrosion) were there any other steps taken to keep the gun from corroding or rusting? Was it covered in any grease or oil? Something else?
Question - when the footage of the gun in action is shown at ~3:05ish, the gunner seems to have his foot not on the right pedal, nor the gun captain reaching near his override trigger. What's firing the gun?
No bore swab for the "wet rounds" coming out of this beastie? I'd think accuracy out of the initial projectiles would be essential as opposed to coming out of the barrel "crazy."
@@paulfarace9595 Probably so, which leads me to believe wet rounds going crazy were not that much of an issue. If this gun is mainly taking out junks, those vessels would not be carrying any weapons larger than a 12.7mm machine gun such as the Ho-103.
Former electronic teacher was a sonarman. He said once they would take an Alka Seltzer tablet, hide it in a piece of bread and throw it to the seagulls. Once swallowed it would start to fizz, and the increased pressure would actually blow out the birds cloaca, killing the bird. He said they hated the gulls because they would poop on the deck crew.
@@philgiglio7922 I heard that story at Fleet Sonar School in 1973. We called them amphibious flying rats and if you don't keep after them they will white wash the decks.
wanting to shoot at airplanes and "crotch-rocket" motorcycles with a deck gun - the submariner's equivalent to "keep your cat off my lawn!" - I gotta get over there and see you guys someday, we lost Clamagore a few years back, she was a guppy III.
Unless the generator of the VT fuze is turning rapidly the fuze is completely inoperative. A minimum airspeed of approximately 100 mph is required to start the generator turning.
My nightmares will be haunted by the thumbnail of this video
He looked like the emcee from a local TV show, in the early 1970's, called FRIGHT NIGHT....emcee was on a blacked out sound stage and had only a flashlight shining upwards from under his chin....scared the HAY out of me as a kid!
Reminds me of a TNG. Episode “frame of mind”
Paul is absolutely killing it with these introductions. He puts his whole head into it every time.
SS Cod's 'view to a kill' 🤙🏽 I could hear Duran Duran during Paul's opening comments
Diet Dr. Pepper... shaken, not stirred...
@@paulfarace9595LMAO!!!
Ahh YES those ASBESTOS GLOVES, the Navy loved them for Hot work, Installing Bearings & every OBA wearing man had those in the DC Lockers.
I have long been curious about submarine deck guns. The idea of a gun that was living in saltwater left me clueless. Thanks Cod for cluing me in. Well-done. As the Brits say: Splice the Mainbrace: This one's on me.
For the record. TBT = Target Bearing Transmitter.
My ship, USS Sphinx, ARL-24 ended up with two quad 40mm mounts, fore and aft. Six(ish) .50 cal single mounts and two crew manning Stinger Man-pads for anti-air defense. I never got to man the 40mm mounts but the .50 cal was an awesome experience. I meticulously gathered the brass and disintegrating links and reassembled. Unfortunately, that ammo can was lost during my separation/divorce.
0:33 funny how that old barrel is in better shape than a lot of newer ones….😂
At 13:30 that lock I painted at a metal fab shop that built the replica was cool to be part of the COD preservation
Love the curators challenges, nice to see the enthusiasm and dedication to preservation.
Great intro Paul! The fight against rust on the deck gun must've been nuts when the Cod was in service...
Basically any kid who is from northeast Ohio grew up playing with this gun lol.
It's good to know that you are the right caliber for this job.
For a moment there I thought I was seeing Dr. Hannibal Lector.
would love to see a biker get a 5” up the exhaust!!!! good attitude
.. Awesome! I Love These Sea Binocular Tachments To It! Bullet Shooting Cannon! Neat-O!..
Usually when a movie opens with a rifled barrel, James Bond shoots you!
Always great stuff!
Great content. You have given more clarity to the operation of this weapon. I kept having visions of a pitching boat during foul weather. Kudos to maintaining the boat in this great condition.
Great job by Paul and Ben
Paul said he would like to send a couple of 5in rounds at the crotch rocket about the same time I said that to myself. Great explanation about the gun operation and crewing. I'm sure there were probably a few by the book supply personnel that complained about not getting the empty cases back after a patrol, maybe the crew saved one to shove down his complaint hole. Greetings from Texas.
Hello Texas! Glad you agree on our target selection!😅
Wow... another very interesting video! Thanks for answering the question about rust in the barrel before I even asked about it. 😂
great video, but u look a little chilled
Great explanation of how the 5 inch was manned and operated. Thanks.
Love the videos I have pictures of my sons sitting on the gun. Haven’t been up to see the cod since the dry dock so hope to see you soon.
I love this opening. Great job on these videos. Very creative.
Paul's great
Great video. The live action movies of it in actual operation are fantastic to have included in the discussion.
So this was a new-build 5/25? I had always assumed that the 5 inch guns carried by subs were converted from AA guns removed from pre-war battleships as they were upgraded to carry 5/38s. Thank you for this video!
I believe these mounts are designed specifically for submarines.
Thanks for the info on why the rear mount of the gun.
You always keep it interesting haha
Great look at the gun, thanks
I love the detail you show in these videos! Hope to see you this year .
Civilians and those who don't know any better seem to quote manning requirements like they are hard and fast regulations. Subs tour guides are generally unaware that during a sub gunex is the time it takes a gun crew to get out on deck, into place and start getting accurate rounds downrange, faster is better. If you want a faster rate of fire then you need more people on deck to move the rounds and the 5"/ 25 fixed rounds are heavy, approx 80lbs each, try hefting a few of these! Weather and daylight are another factor, in heavy seas its harder for the ammo handlers to keep on their feet and for the trainer and pointer to get the sights aligned long enough to make it worth while plus it's easy to have a man overboard in rough weather. Another important consideration during a gunex is how long it takes to secure the gun and get everyone below plus the normal bridge watch if you get jumped by an aircraft or outgunned by your target. The complete rounds come from the ready service locker or ammo scuttle without the metal container during a gunex to save time and so the crew doesn't trip over the discarded containers. I highly doubt anyone would catch the empty cartridge cases for recycling, remember...... time is of the essence in a gunfight!!! The man with the gloves was probably chasing the cases and pitching them over the side. Submarine firecontrol for guns was mostly Kentucky windage..... if you were lucky and had radar they were a huge help because they could under the right circumstances get a range to the target and then to the splash of the shell and correct you onto the target. Before they had radar they would crank in the estimated range on the guns elevation and set deflection using a SWAG (Scientific Wild A** Guess) and see where it would hit. This would get rounds on target faster than messing around messing with complicated firecontrol tables. Which hatch they used depended on sea state Paul! What ever side the barrel lock opened more than likely depended on what ever way the sub tender crews or yard birds felt like at the moment, I doubt there was a regulation way.
True on the travel lock direction being up to the whims of the installers... however we have pictures showing the other way, so we flipped it.
@@paulfarace9595 I thought about that but what if that old picture was a print from a reversed negative!?
Of course sea state, weather and other factors affect your gun performance. As for gun manning the eight-man figure is from the Navy's gun crew training program. As for which hatch is used that's pretty simple, the bridge hatch is too far and according to our crew the after battery hatch was used ... the captains use of the gun would take into consideration the sea state... because as you point out, a man overboard is very likely in very rough weather. The ready service locker rounds were stowed naked... the rounds coming up from the magazine were in their cans until they reach the deck. There they're decanted. The Navy wanted in an ideal situation (training sessions)to recycle the brass and stowage canisters ... in combat of course they went overboard.
Great video Paul. Very informative.
The LPD11 I was on in the mid '70's had four twin 3"50's. Two starboard, two port forward and aft. Carried a lot of 3"50 rounds aboard on all hands workparties. They came in a canister and I believe weighed 35 pounds total.
LPH-7 had 4 duel mount 3"50 when I came aboard early 70's we replaced 2 with Sparrow Missels when I was aboard mid- 70's when she was sunk she had the R2D2 thingy
5"25s on surface ships such as cruisers and BBs were dual purpose.
Those 5 inch 25s could be used against ships but they had a shorter range. Between WWI and WWII the 5 inch 51s were optimized as anti-surface secondaries because the longer barrel gave longer range. The 5-inch 25s were optimized as anti-aircraft guns because the shorter barrel was easier to aim at faster-moving airplanes. The 5-inch 38 basically split the difference in barrel length to create the dual-purpose weapon.
@@hackerjohnt the 5"25s were also used to engage shore targets. A role they may actually have been better suited to than the flatter shooting, higher velocity guns. In that respect, they were similar to field artillery howitzers.
Good Intro. Loved the explanation and videos.
Thanks again for a great Job👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Weren't some boats armed with 3" guns, early in the war. Also, I believe some of the late war subs had two 5" guns, as torpedo-worthy targets dwindled.
Is there a video on the 40mm coming?
Good video, thank you, sir.
1:36 LOL, as a biker I might have to be cautious when blasting off near submarine Cod 😂
very cool
Very entertaining,👌✅
IIIIIIt's PAULIE!
Why didn't the Silversides ever get the 5"? I read that the Silversides originally had a 3" gun but was upgunned to 4".
Who says Silversides didn't get a 5-in. 25 at the end of the war? She was among the first Gatos built and was put to work immediately and continually. In the last year of the war the old pre-war fleet sub classes were pulled out of front line service and used for training. But SS236 I believe served to the end. I have seen a few Post-war images of Silversides that seem to show a 5/25. But when mothballed the guns were removed. When she became a reservist trainer they weren't returned. When she became a memorial sub the restorers probably couldn't get a 5/25 and a 4/50 was likely available.
@@paulfarace9595 Wikipedia says that it has a 4" gun. It also says that Cod has a 5"
Regarding the Mk 91 TBT binoculars, were they 7x50 or 10x50?
Separate question, the marking seen through the periscope; was that mil marks, or degrees?
The muzzle block was called a tampion.
When your torpedoes are usually duds
Imagine this in a tank.. 😁 5 inch would be, what, 127mm.. Hmm. There ARE some tank guns around that caliber, or slightly less. 7 tons in a 60 ton tank.. too much?
These vids are like crack to a naval history nerd.
Was there something to hold shells in place while they were in the passing scuttle or was it purely reliant on the person inside holding the rounds up for the deck crew to grab?
The shuttle was less than an inch wider than the shell csnister so it was held steady by the tube
wasn't a pawl installed lower in the scuttle to arrest the cannisters?
@@paulfarace9595
Besides being built of stainless steel and being painted ( I assume the paint helped prevent corrosion) were there any other steps taken to keep the gun from corroding or rusting? Was it covered in any grease or oil? Something else?
Question - when the footage of the gun in action is shown at ~3:05ish, the gunner seems to have his foot not on the right pedal, nor the gun captain reaching near his override trigger. What's firing the gun?
Noticed that myself. Likely we do the see the gun captain hitting his lever.
No bore swab for the "wet rounds" coming out of this beastie? I'd think accuracy out of the initial projectiles would be essential as opposed to coming out of the barrel "crazy."
Well think again. No swab. Speed over everything!
@@paulfarace9595 Probably so, which leads me to believe wet rounds going crazy were not that much of an issue. If this gun is mainly taking out junks, those vessels would not be carrying any weapons larger than a 12.7mm machine gun such as the Ho-103.
From that barrel bore you could send one at a huge velocity, eh?
Does it have screw in choke tubes? You could set decoys and call in some geese!
We love our feathered friends 😮... but not on a dinner table 😅
Former electronic teacher was a sonarman. He said once they would take an Alka Seltzer tablet, hide it in a piece of bread and throw it to the seagulls. Once swallowed it would start to fizz, and the increased pressure would actually blow out the birds cloaca, killing the bird. He said they hated the gulls because they would poop on the deck crew.
@@philgiglio7922 I heard that story at Fleet Sonar School in 1973. We called them amphibious flying rats and if you don't keep after them they will white wash the decks.
Surprised not iron sights
Or was that the older guns?
What did the Germans have?
The gun captain had an open sight or iron sight... not sure what the Uboats had...
Another outstanding video. We need to get you some 5 inch shells so you can send some "love" to pesky neighbors.
wanting to shoot at airplanes and "crotch-rocket" motorcycles with a deck gun - the submariner's equivalent to "keep your cat off my lawn!" - I gotta get over there and see you guys someday, we lost Clamagore a few years back, she was a guppy III.
VT low over water? How many detonated immediately on arming?
Good question... likely not many.
Unless the generator of the VT fuze is turning rapidly the fuze is completely inoperative. A minimum airspeed of approximately 100 mph is required to start the generator turning.
✌
How long did it with a well trained gun crew to get their first shot off just after COD surfaced and for them to secure the gun just before she dived?
Less than one minute from broaching to first shot I'm told.
Was Cod launched with a 4-inch gun?
Launched with no deck gun. The 4 inch - 50 caliber gun was mounted before commissioning.
Is that barrel cracked?
Noooo... where do you see cracks?
Wonder if the new guys had to do the boom test?? lmao
74 pounds !
To be used against pesky Coast Guard boats?🤔
Not necessary when you have a solid steel bull nose!
You need a dummy 5''-25 round to show off.