1) The primer cartridge can be fired either electrically or by percussion.  The cartridge is automatically ejected when the breech opens after firing.  In the case of a misfire, the cartridge can be manually removed and replaced without opening the breech.

2) The bore was chromium plated for a distance of 625 inches (15.875 m) from the muzzle.

3) At 0704 local time on 8 November 1942, USS Massachusetts (BB-59) fired the first US 16 inch (40.6 cm) warshot of World War II.  In sixteen minutes she fired nine main battery salvos, scoring five hits on the incomplete French battleship Jean Bart.  Heavily damaged, Jean Bart was silenced for the rest of the day.  In addition, Massachusetts during this exchange sank a destroyer, four freighters and a floating dry-dock.  Between 1000 and 1030 on the same day, Massachusetts sank the French destroyer (contre-torpilleur) Boulonnais and shared in the sinking of the French destroyer Fougueux.  She fired 59.2% of her outfit in four hours of fighting (0704 to 1104) and then fired an additional 8% during the rest of the day.  During the entire action off Casablanca, USS Massachusetts in 134 salvos fired a total of 786 rounds out of a possible 800, an output of 98%.  During this engagement, she reported that most salvos had a dispersion of about 2 mils in deflection and about 200 to 300 yards (183 to 274 m) in range.  All of these were AP projectiles, as the ship had not yet received any HC projectiles.

4) During her battle with the Japanese battleship Kirishima, USS Washington (BB-56) opened fire at a gun range of 18,500 yards (16,900 m) using radar ranges and optical train and hits were definitely obtained by the third salvo.  In the first part of the battle, Washington fired 42 rounds in approximately 3 minutes (precise time not available) or 1.56 rpmpg.  During the second phase Washington fired 75 rounds in 5 minutes 24 seconds, or 1.54 rpmpg.  Washington fired a total of 117 out of a possible 131 shells, or 89%.  Of the 14 missed salvos, the most notable was the center gun of turret 3 which missed five salvos due to a ball check valve being jarred loose by the the firing shock, causing a loss of hydraulic pressure for that gun.  This loss of pressure prevented the pointer from matching up in the load position.  One other gun had a misfire which caused it to miss two salvos.  The other failures were primarily "error in drill" related.

Reduced Charge - 295 lbs. (133.8 kg) SPD or SPDN
Reduced Charge Flashless - 315 lbs. (142.9 kg) SPCG

Full Charge - Average Gun
   AP - N/A
   HC - 2,525 fps (770 mps)

Reduced Charge - New Gun
   AP - 1,800 fps (549 mps)
   HC - 2,075 fps (632 mps)

1) For projectile data on the AP Mark 8, the HC Mark 13 and the HC Mark 14, see the 16"/50 (40.6 cm) Mark 7 data page.

2) The propellant was in six bags for both full and reduced charges.  Bags were transferred from hoist to loading tray three bags at a time and then all six bags were rammed into the breech with a single stroke.

3) The AP Mark 8 had a nominal 1.5 lbs. (0.68 kg) dye bag but this was allowed to be as large as 3.0 lbs. (1.36 kg) to bring underweight projectiles up to weight.  Dye colors were assigned as follows in 1945:

   USS North Carolina - Green
   USS Washington - Orange
   USS South Dakota - Blue
   USS Indiana - Red
   USS Massachusetts - Green
   USS Alabama - No Dye

4) HC rounds at 2,525 fps (770 mps) were 0.74 ESR and at 2,000 fps (610 mps) were 0.09 ESR.  The Target rounds at 1,800 fps (549 mps) were 0.08 ESR, but it is noted that this gun could fire 2,860 Target rounds before exceeding liner life.

5) Bourrelet diameter was 15.977 inches (40.06 cm).

1) Time of flight for AP Shell with MV = 2,300 fps (701 mps)
   10,000 yards (9,140 m): 14.5 seconds
   20,000 yards (18,290 m):  32.6 seconds
   30,000 yards (27,430 m):  56.6 seconds
   36,000 yards (32,920 m):  79.8 seconds

2) Range with the originally planned 2,240 lbs. (1,016 kg) AP Mark 5 was 40,200 yards (36,760 m) at a muzzle velocity of 2,520 fps (768 mps).

1) The above information is from "Battleships:  United States Battleships 1935-1992" for a muzzle velocity of 2,300 fps (701 mps) and is based upon the USN Empirical Formula for Armor Penetration.

2) Side Armor penetration with the originally planned AP Mark 5 was 29.68" (754 mm) at the muzzle, 16.24" (412 mm) at 20,000 yards (18,288 m) and 10.02" (210 mm) at 35,000 yards (32,004 m).  Information is from "Battleships:  United States Battleships 1935-1992" for a muzzle velocity of 2,520 fps (768 mps).

1) This three-gun mounting had individually sleeved guns which were spaced further apart than in the previous 14" (35.6 cm) three-gun mounts.  They also used delay coils, which delayed the firing of the guns by about 0.060 seconds (60 milliseconds).  The firing order was left, right, center.  These changes gave this weapon considerably improved dispersion characteristics when compared with the older 14" (35.6 cm) triple and three-gun mounts.  Turrets were essentially the same between the two classes with the South Dakota (BB-57) class having slightly thicker armor protection on most surfaces.

2) Training was by a 300 hp electric motor driving hydraulic gear.  Each gun had a 60 hp motor for elevation, a 60 hp motor for ramming, a 60 hp motor for shell hoist and a 75 hp motor for power hoist.  Each of the two shell rings used a 40 hp motor.

3) The gun axes were 117 in (297 cm) apart.

4) Gun crew was two officers and 170 crewmen per turret.