A couple of weeks ago, Lori and I were in Southeast Florida and while driving through Boca Raton, we saw two battleship gun turrets located in the end zone of a high school football stadium. We thought that was a bit odd, so we pulled over to investigate this strange scene and shoot some photos. We discovered that it was the Boca Raton Community High School, home of the Bobcats and apparently retired naval artillery. My high school was never this well defended against invading teams.
We also discovered a football practice corpse on the ground behind the stadium.
Bonus points to anyone who can tell us what type of guns these are and what ship they came from.
photo credit: Scott Beale
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
In WW II they were known as Pom Pom guns or Anti-Aircraft guns, they are now known as AAA, Anti-Aircraft Artillery. I don’t think you will find many of them on Naval ships anymore, been replaced by Phalanx guns capable of firing 3000-4500 rounds per minute. They are used to shoot down incoming missles and aircraft at close range.
“Dad” is right. Those are WWII Us Navy varients of Bofors Guns (only the Brits called the Pom Poms, I think). Here’s the Wikipedia link .
These guns were messaed around and in the island of capital ships in WWII as anti-aircraft weapons (see above). These are destinctive because of the circular magazines. Usually they are on the left of the gun, but because the USN wanted a dual-mount, they flipped the magazine on one of them to fit two into a turret.
I pass these guns everyday on my way to school (Florida Atlantic University) and I always thought that they were strange, I am glad someone mentioned it!
From Sunny Boca Raton
Jose
I go to Boca Raton High School and play football on that field that you speak of. The NJROTC is very big at our school and they love hanging out next to the turrets during our football games. Those things are awesome and are our trademark. We just want everybody to know not to try us because were real deal!
Very interesting find. Those would be the 3″/70RF Mk37, they were mounted on the Carpenter Class DDE, Norfolk and Mitscher class DL, and the Northampton CLC-1.
I believe that these guns were mounted on the DDE Norfolk. They are supposed to be rare in that not many were produced. The custodian of the guns now is the Boca Raton High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp Bob Cat Battalion (NJROTC). They have a very active aggressive program and have a very well thought of leadership program for young people.
The guns were at one time on display at the Naval Training Center in Orlando Florida. Because of the lack of need and downsizing of the military back during the so called peaceful Clinton years the training center was one of the many military facilities closed leaving the guns without a home. The Boca NJROTC found about it and decided to apply for custodianship. You never own such articles but you are only given care of such historic relics. If they are not properly cared for the Navy will reclaim and remove them.
These are 3″/70 anti-aircraft mounts taken from the USS Norfolk (DL-1) when she was scrapped in the early 1970s. The 3″/70 was built in the late 1950s to replace the older 3″/50 open mounts as primary anti-aircraft weapons until surface to air missiles made them obsolete. Norfolk had four mounts, each barrel capable of firing 90 rounds per minute with muzzle velocity of 3400 feet per second. They were very accurate, but their rapid firing and complicated construction (and age) made them unreliable at the end. Norfolk had the last four, and two are at Boca Raton HS.
LT Richard Hubert, USN
Fire Control and Gunnery Officer
USS Norfork (DL-1) 1966-1968
I asked my father who was in the Navy during the Korean War period. He thought that these were some of the early radar directed Anti-Aircraft guns. Good at shooting down propeller driven aircraft, but made obsolete by the jet age.
You can imagine my surprise when I saw those 3″-70 CAL gun mounts from my old ship. The USS NORFOLK (DL-1) was mothballed in January 1970 and scrapped a year or so later. I am curious as to how those gun mounts made their way to Boca Raton!
Those guns that currently “protect” the high school have been around the world, having made port visits to Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, Seychelle Islands, Pakistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Acapulco, Mauritius, and a host of other ports. As LT HUBURT shared, they were unreliable weapons, invented in the 1950’s, and made obsolete by jet aircraft with their higher speeds.
There were four such guns on the NORFOLK, two forward and two aft. My General Quarters station was in the 32 mount, forward of the bridge.
Thanks for the memories. If anyone can tell me how those gun mounts got to Boca Raton, I’d love to know!
CDR [Then LT(jg)] Robert Schaumann,
2nd Division Officer (1968-1969)
USS NORFOLK (DL-1)
I pass by those every day on the way to work. I never thought of it as unusual, I guess since I see them all the time. Now that I think about it… it would be a little confusing to see for first time visitors of Boca.
These guns are 3in 70`s taken from my old ship the USS Norfolk DL-1.
I was a seaman on this ship from 60 to 61.
When I first went aboard in Aug 1960 my Battle station was in the magazine of one of these guns. I believe they were built by General Electric and fired 90 rounds per minute per barrel.