History of the U.S.S. Leviathan, cruiser and transport forces, United States Atlantic fleet: Compiled from the ship's log and data gathered by the history committee on board the shipU.S.S. Leviathan History Committee
History
History of the U.S.S. Leviathan, cruiser and transport forces, United States Atlantic fleet: Compiled from the ship's log and data gathered by the history committee on board the ship
U.S.S. Leviathan History Committee
Leviathan (Steamship); Vaterland (Steamship); World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations, American
Lieut. Boucher, Lieut. Malloy and Lieut. Dorsey, were the officers in
charge of the installation of the battery, fire control system, etc., the
training of gun crews and lookouts, and in fact all the numerous details
required to have the ship in readiness for sea and action when she
cleared the net in New York Harbor. Great credit is due these officers
and the men of their department for the excellent manner in which this
work was carried out. Much credit is also due the officers and men who
succeeded them for the excellent manner in which they maintained the high
standard of efficiency that had been set for them.
There were also six Chief Gunner’s Mates and seven gunner’s mates of
lower ratings attached to the ship during her voyages across the Atlantic.
No technical discussion of ordnance and gunnery will be attempted in
these pages, just a general description of guns, fire control systems,
etc., and their method of operation.
ARMAMENT AND EQUIPMENT
The armament and equipment of the _Leviathan_ consisted of the following:
8—6-inch 50-Cal. guns Mk. VIII.
2—1-Pdr. guns, Mk. VIII.
2—“Y”-Guns for throwing depth charges.
2—Colt Machine Guns.
1—Lewis Machine Gun.
150—.30-Cal. Springfield Rifles.
75—.45-Cal. Colt Automatic Pistols.
1—Large Bausch and Lomb 12-Ft. Range Finder.
2—Small Barr and Stroud 1-meter Range Finders.
1—Ford Range Keeper.
The six-inch guns were installed on October 5, 1917—four aft and four
forward. The distance between the forward and after guns was about seven
hundred feet, which is a greater distance than the entire length of any
battleship we have in commission.
The work of installation was carried on by ordnance men from the New York
Navy Yard, assisted by the ship’s gunnery department.
Splendid co-ordination existed at all times between the Navy Yard people
and the ship’s force which helped materially to expedite the work.
Considerable effort and labor were required to get the ship in readiness
to receive the guns, mounts, etc. Gun foundations and gun platforms had
to be built; blast bulkheads erected in proper places so as to protect
one gun from the fire of the other; certain portions of the deck were
extended in order to give the after guns a greater arc of train. Lines
of communication, voice tubes and telephones, had to be run from all
guns to fire control and spotting stations; and salvo bells and buzzers
installed. All of this work was completed in record time and gave
excellent results throughout the war.
Foundation and mount tests were held on November 20, 1917, on our trial
trip to Guantanamo, when three shots were fired from each six-inch gun.
These tests proved satisfactory in every respect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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