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The pictures illustrate the Arizona’: problems. Note the sealed watertight hatches and the storage on the top of the turret (above), and the ventilation hoods and gig (below).
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Monday, 18 July 1938 San Francisco
T>ear Captain Chantry,
l have intended writing to you for some tlme< but felt that most of the gruesome tktails of our work out here would be of Very httle interest to you. You may have seen tome of the letters I’ve written to the office however.
I made a trip to the Bremerton Yard while we were in Seattle to go over with them tbe new arrangements for the combined A A directors and rangefinders on the Arizona.
bile we were on the ship, the Captain gave me the enclosed pictures, which I thought would be of interest. They were taken on the r*zona in March, north of Hawaii—I was °n the Maryland at the time, and we had nothing but the finest of weather.
The pictures show the conditions aft quite c early. The new water-proof vent hoods seem to work very well, and permit a continuous suPply of air, which is impossible with the 0rdinary ventilation hoods. Another picture 0105 eonditions forward of number three turret. The boat out on the skids is the gig, W !ch was lifted out by a sea and throum out. As a result we recommended raising e boat stowages in that area which should helP some.
Since seeing the performance of these ships in the very modest seas we’ve had, I’ve come to have a strong desire for free-board, particularly from the forward quarter point aft.
We have been much occupied with the task of reviewing C&R alterations. We have at last completed the battleships, and now awaiting the return of the Arizona to give her a final inspection. Our Damage Control education is about to enter another stage, as the ships have just completed the re-marking for 3-Conditions, and we have undertaken to outline a training schedule, which has been lacking to date. . . .
This has been a rambling letter—Mike and I both want to let you know that we find this duty pleasant, and vastly instructing. There has been more to do than we can find time for, we only hope we’re seeing half the things we should.
Sincerely,
Larry
Captain A. J. Chantry was Head of the Design and Construction Division of the Bureau of Construction and Repair (C&R) as of 31 March and instrumental in the design of World War II battleships. Mike’s and Larry’s last names and specific positions are not known but they obviously worked for C&R, which was later merged into the Bureau of Ships.
The reason theUSS Arizona (BB-39) had such low freeboard aft was that by cutting the hull depth aft one deck, the designers were able to lower main turrets 3 and 4 one deck resulting in a significant improvement in the ship’s stability. As originally designed the fact that the low freeboard allowed water on deck was not important because only the main turrets, which could be sealed to resist green water, were located there.
During the Arizona’s 1929-1931 conversion, however, aircraft and their associated catapults and crane were positioned on the stern. The addition of antiaircraft (AA) guns amidships also forced the relocation of the gig from its high stowage location amidships to just forward of number 3 turret. Nothing could be done about the water aft on the old designs, but the new battleships were flush-decked with the stern having slightly more freeboard than amidships. Unfortunately, under the impact of multiplying light AA guns and wartime overloads of crew, ammunition, and fuel, those ships were soon to have freeboard problems of their own.
The Arizona and the Tennessee (BB-43) enjoy smooth seas.
The Amazon Class
The Royal Navy ordered eight Amazon ("Type-21”)-class patrol frigates: HAIS Amazon (F-169) atid HAIS Antelope (F-I70), pictured here, are in service. These gas-turbine powered frigates were designed by commercial firms and are being constructed by Vosper-Thornycroft
and Yarrow & Co. Ltd. They displace 2,500 tons, have a length of384 feet, and a beam of 41% feet. Their armament includes one automatic rapid fire 4.5-inch gun, one Seacat SA M/SSM system, two triple AIK 32 ASW torpedo tubes (not yet fitted), and a Lynx helicopter. The last four ships of the class will be fitted with Exocet j'AAlj. Vosper-Thornycroft has recently proposed a new variant with four Seawolf PDAIS launchers replacing the Seacat system. All ships of the class should be commissioned by the end of 1978. (The names of the other ships are: Active [F-271], Ambuscade [F-272], Arrow [F-173], Alacrity [F-174]. Ardent [F-175], and Avenger [F-176].)
AMAZON