Home Guns OP-755 — 16-Inch Triple Gun Turrets

OP-755 — 16-Inch Triple Gun Turrets

This technical manual covers the complete mechanical systems of the 16-inch triple gun turrets fitted to Iowa-class and South Dakota-class battleships. It addresses gun assembly and breech mechanism, elevating and training gear (both Northern Pump and Waterbury hydraulic drives), rammer, projectile and powder hoists, sights, range finder stand, hydraulic equipment, and lubrication. Use the color-coded table of contents below or the Table of Contents button (bottom right) to navigate directly to any section. The document is split across three PDF files indicated by color.

File 1 — Chapters I–VII (pp. 1–138)
File 2 — Chapters VIII–XI (pp. 139–256)
File 3 — Chapters XII–XVI & Appendices (pp. 257–401)
SubjectPage
Chapter I — General Description, 16-Inch Triple Gun Turrets
General description 16-inch triple gun turrets1
Chapter II — Gun Assembly
General description7
Gun7
Screw box liner8
Breech mechanism9
Plug10
Mushroom and gas check pad10
Carrier10
Hinge lugs and roller bearings11
Carrier holding down latch11
Breech opening buffer11
Counterbalance and closing cylinder11
Reducing valve12
Foster valve13
Rotating cams13
Operating lever and connecting rod13
Salvo latch15
Firing mechanism / Firing lock16
Gas ejector16
Yoke17
Operation of the gun assembly18
Maintenance instructions / Lubrication / Adjustments19
Assembly and disassembly22
Chapter III — Deck Lug
General description25
Trunnion bearing / Radial bearing / Bearing retainer26
Outer bearing seat / Cover plate / Thrust plate26
Maintenance instructions / Lubrication / Deck lug adjustment27
Chapter IV — Slide
General description29
Recoil mechanism30
Counterrecoil system32
Rear end brackets / Slide securing device / Slide operation34
Maintenance instructions / Servicing the recoil system35
Servicing the recuperator / Routine tests of the slide39
Chapter V — Elevating Gear (Northern Pump Drive)
General description / Electric motor / Hydraulic transmission43
Elevating gear control arrangements / Servo control48
Hydraulic control circuit / Control circuit valve data51
Elevating stops / Danger zone cutout mechanism59
Maintenance and operating instructions60
Operating trouble diagnosis63
Adjustments / Disassembly and assembly66
Chapter VI — Training Gear (Northern Pump Drive)
General description / Electric motor / Reduction gear75
Hydraulic transmission / Power-off brakes / Servo control78
Hydraulic control circuit / Control circuit valve data82
Training stops / Maintenance and operating instructions90
Operating trouble diagnosis93
Adjustments / Disassembly and assembly96
Chapter VII — Elevating Gear (Waterbury Drive)
General description / Electric power unit / Hydraulic transmission105
Elevating gear control arrangements / Servo control111
Danger zone cutout mechanism / Elevating stops115
Transmission control operation / Normal operation117
Maintenance and operating instructions122
Operating trouble diagnosis / Adjustments126
Assembly and disassembly129
Chapter VIII — Training Gear (Waterbury Drive)
General description / Electric power unit / Reduction gear139
Hydraulic transmission / Power-off brakes142
Training gear control arrangements / Servo control144
Transmission control operation / Normal operation148
Maintenance and operating instructions153
Operating trouble diagnosis / Adjustments158
Assembly and disassembly161
Chapter IX — Rammer
General description / Rammer details169
Electric hydraulic drive / Electric motor and reduction gear172
Hydraulic pump / Limit stop mechanism / Hydraulic circuit174
Maintenance and operating instructions186
Adjustments / Operating trouble diagnosis189
Disassembly and assembly192
Chapter X — Projectile Ring
General description / Projectile ring control197
Electric hydraulic equipment / A-end / Hydraulic motor drive198
Hydraulic drive and control circuits206
Maintenance and operating instructions / Adjustments211
Operating trouble diagnosis / Disassembly and assembly218
Chapter XI — Projectile Hoist
General description / Components / Hoist tube and platforms233
Power drive assembly / Cradle / Cradle operating mechanism235
Rack and tube pawl assemblies / Hoist controls and interlocks243
Maintenance and operating instructions / Adjustments249
Assembly and disassembly255
Chapter XII — Powder Hoist
General description / Powder hoist trunk / Trunk doors257
Powder car / Hoist rope / Car buffers / Control lever interlock262
Hoist controls / Electric hydraulic drive267
Power and control circuits / Stop position / Hoisting278
Manual control / Buffers and overtravel action284
Maintenance instructions / Adjustments287
Trouble diagnosis304
Disassembly and assembly315
Chapter XIII — Sight
General description / Turret sights / Telescope data341
Pointer's station / Trainer's station345
Sight angle synchronizing / Sight hood assemblies349
Telescope, Mark 66 / Sight setter's indicator, Mark 3351
Gun elevation indicator / Order transmitter / Train indicator352
Operation / Adjustments355
Chapter XIV — Range Finder Stand
General description / Structural foundation / Rail brackets359
The carriage / Altitude mechanism / Deflection mechanism / Hoods360
Care of the range finder stand362
Chapter XV — Hydraulic Equipment Instructions
Installation364
Maintenance367
Chapter XVI — Lubrication Instructions
Design provisions / Selection of lubricants / Lubricating frequency369
Lubrication charts / Check-off charts370
Appendices
Appendix I373
Appendix II391
Appendix III395
Appendix IV399
Appendix V401