|
The 40 millimeter quadruple mount gun is a medium
range anti-aircraft weapon.
Most of the crew worked to keep the ammunition
flowing to meet the high rate of fire. There were four shells in
each clip used in these guns. If the shells failed to make direct
hits, self-destructive fuses destroyed them at about 4,000 yards
range.
 |
Effective
range: 4,000 yards |
|
Rate of fire: 12
rounds per minutes |
|
Weight of shell:
1.4 pounds |
|
Gun crew per mount:
15-20 men |
"There
were a few 20mm (guns) on it (NORTH CAROLINA). The biggest improvement
was the 40mm (guns). We started out with 1.1’s (inches) and
they were very difficult to keep firing. They were a very inferior
weapon. Later, we had the 40mm put on, and that was a big improvement
in the anti-aircraft guns."
- Rear Admiral
John E. Kirkpatrick, USNR (Ret)
"There was a time when we had four planes that came out of
the clouds at about 10 thousand feet and one started making a dive
straight down for the NORTH CAROLINA. He kept coming down and then
veered off towards the converted aircraft carrier WAKE ISLAND, so
we thought, ‘Oh, he’s not coming for us he’s going
for the carrier.’ Then he swerves for us again and he’s
getting closer and we realize he is coming for us! All the guns
that could were firing at him but none of the guns on the main deck
could turn that far so it wasn’t too good. Then at the last
second, he turned and started going right for the WAKE ISLAND and
right as he was about to suicide into the carrier one of the 40mm
from the NORTH CAROLINA hit him and he just disintegrated. That
was one of the closest calls I’ve ever seen."
- Robert L.
Palomaris
|
