Comments on: Boca Raton Bobcats and Battleship Guns http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/ an online resource for art, culture and technology Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:49:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joe Rash http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-594613 Joe Rash Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:34:10 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-594613 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-541750 Chris Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:12:51 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-541750 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. 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.

]]> By: Robert Schaumann http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-525839 Robert Schaumann Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:03:43 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-525839 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) 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)

]]> By: Kirk Jung http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-386597 Kirk Jung Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:09:34 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-386597 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. 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.

]]> By: Richard Hubert http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-384215 Richard Hubert Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:26:14 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-384215 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 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

]]> By: Ray Voigt http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-205831 Ray Voigt Tue, 29 May 2007 13:46:00 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-205831 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. 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.

]]> By: Doomwalker http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-56570 Doomwalker Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:42:50 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-56570 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. 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.

]]> By: James S http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-24619 James S Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:05:53 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-24619 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! 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!

]]> By: Jose http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-2392 Jose Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:18:42 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-2392 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 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

]]> By: Jon Gallagher http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-1915 Jon Gallagher Wed, 18 Jan 2006 01:37:59 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-1915 "Dad" is right. Those are WWII Us Navy varients of Bofors Guns (only the Brits called the Pom Poms, I think). Here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_anti-aircraft_gun" rel="nofollow"> Wikipedia link </a>. 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. “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.

]]> By: Dad http://laughingsquid.com/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/comment-page-1/#comment-1913 Dad Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:40:53 +0000 http://laughingsquid.com/2006/01/17/boca-raton-bobcats-and-battleship-guns/#comment-1913 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. 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.

]]>