USS Cod is a World War Two Gato class fleet submarine that is permanently docked in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the only remaining fully intact submarine on display and honors the service of America’s veterans. Cod’s social media videos and segments attempt to provide insight into details of WWII submarine history that are often overlooked or misunderstood today. We hope you enjoy our work! Cod is open seven days a week 10am-4:30pm from April to October. You can donate to Cod at this link below:
I served from 1980-1988 in the US Navy. I was ashamed when it came out about the blatant cover-up and shaming of the sailors who ended up dying in turret 2.
My sister’s boyfriend at the time was on the Iowa when turret 2 blew up. She was so worried until she heard from him. He ended up dying from an overdose after getting out of the navy but he eluded that particular danger.
When I heard of the explosion, I was shocked at what the story said they found in the turret after the accident: car keys and cigarette lighters. Lax turret discipline: I recall from my days at GLAKES RTC that the instructors made a FIRM point about bringing metal into an environment where black powder was being used to avoid accidental sparks. Maybe they cut that course from the curriculum, or people just got careless. The story then went on to say that over the following days, the turret was cleaned out by throwing debris overboard. So much for a clean forensic scene. I also followed stories in the press about the alleged homosexual angle, and all I could see was an exercise in creative writing probably for CYA purposes. It's been some time since this happened, but I'm sure the above can be verified in old newspaper and magazine articles. Hartwig may have been a tad unusual, but then, so is everybody. IMO, he got a bad rap.
I had just gotten out of the Navy when this happened. A friend asked me what I thought happened. What I told him was almost exactly what the Navy initially said. Thanks Paul.
Paul, as you may recall I was a US Naval Sea Cadet (Cleveland Division) from 1972-76. During this time we were blessed to have the Cod right next door to the Center, where we learned and trained from her decks. During that period Cod was in deep financial straights. As a means to raise money, they began selling 'plank holder' certificates, which started at $25.00. As memory serves, we also promoted Cod, at the Cleveland Auto Show, and one of the gentleman constructed a canoe with a Cod overlay. Often wondered what happened to that piece? Clayton was a touch ahead of my years, but if he served Cod, as he did, then I'm sure he to had many great stories to tell. God rest all who go to the sea and the boats/ships. Thanks, Paul!
Typical Government Bureaucracy (NAVY) Blaming Those WHO CAN'T SPEAK (Because They All Died in the Accident) and Starting Unspeakable Rumor's That THEY CAN'T DEFEND. And You Wonder WHY PEOPLE Don't TRUST the Government...Just Saying...Almost The Same for the Crew of The Edmond Fitzgerald - VS The Coast Guard Findings and Final Ruling... Basically a SWAG - Scientific Wild Ass Guess...But in This Case - A Blame - Time To Own Up, STOP the Blame Game...RIP Hero's and Thank You, For Your Service and Sacrifice to OUR Nation...
Seems that the service always craps on the underdog. Remember how the sailor was accused of the fire on Bonhomme Richard. They called him a SEAL school dropout with a grudge. He was eventually acquitted. However some captains have been relieved for cause or was it Politics.
The information that certain officers were experimenting with varying the powder charges outside of the approved tables always seemed to be a more likely cause than any sailor looking for revenge. The cover-up was insane as it went all the way to BuOrd, if I recall correctly. Incompetence is no way for so many sailors to die in peacetime.
I understand that the Iowa's crew keep a light on in Mr Hartwig's former bunk because he was afraid of the dark. The older guides get very aerated about the whole thing.
I think I tripped over the Wikipedia article on the BB-61 turret explosion after a detour via one of Ryan's (BB-62) videos. Just reading up on that whole tragic story with the actual accident was bad enough, but the months and years of ego-stroking and witch-hunting that followed were just too much. Losing those young men to a tragic accident was terrible enough, but the unprofessional response that followed made it so much worse. So sorry to hear about Clayton Hartwig. May he and his shipmates rest in peace.
Plenty of good RU-vid videos on this explaining how the Navy scapegoated Hartwig . Most likely explanation was they used too many powder bags in an unauthorized experiment and over rammed the unstable WW2 powder that prematurely detonated with the breach open. I dont blame Paul for being discreet to avoid Navy wrath even now.
The firing exercise that day was to use FIVE, not the normal SIX, bags of propellant. The catch was that the propellant being used was the faster burning D846 propellant that is designed for the 1900lb projectile. The exercise was to prove that five bags of this propellant could increase the range of the 2700lb projectile without over-stressing the chambers of the guns.
I was a kid when it happened, and remember all the BS thrown out by people who obviously didn't know what they were talking about. From the Navy brass's desire to scapegoat someone, to people who didn't understand propellants and pressure vessels. They overrammed the powder, and set one of the bags alight from the friction. They never got the breech closed, and resulted in a massive gas excursion that nearly instantly overtook the turret with deadly pressure, intense heat, and toxic fumes. All that powder had been made during wwII, but was still perfectly stable. The bags it was packed in, however, were susceptible to the friction of ramming them into the breech too fast, and the black powder ignitor charges sewed into the base of the bags were quite sensitive.
The Sandia report theorizes that the specific bag that caused the explosion, Bag #2, had a much smaller number than average of tare grains at the front end of the bag (the black powder is at the rear end of the bag), making it particularly susceptible to any degree of over-ram. The fewer the tare grains, the more pressure each individual tare grain is under, and is that much more likely to be crumbled and to begin to smolder, eventually lighting off the charge. Combine that with a rammer-man doing his first live shoot and the rammer mechanism of the center gun being known for taking off on its own at random times and you have a recipe for disaster. It has to be mentioned that T2's crew did not help themselves. Hatches were open, the turret's connection to the ship's fire and flushing system was not made, and the powder flat crew had brought in all of the propellant bags they would need for the planned shooting and had stacked them in the powder flats. All of which are blatant violations of safety procedures.
Truly tragic. I remember it happening, and not believing the Navy's story. For anyone who might think the Navy would never do something like that... look into what happened to the USS Ronald Reagan during the 2011 Fukushima disaster where she sailed through a highly radioactive cloud from the four nuclear reactor melt downs going on there. At any rate, those USS Iowa sailors died with honor and we remember their sacrifice.
😅I seen another RU-vid that mentioned the explosion could have been caused by the barrel not being cleaned or cooled enough. I think it was about the USS Mississippi in WW2
At the time of the explosion, all T2 guns were cold---they had not yet fired. Therefore the theory of a hot gun or hot embers setting off the charge cannot apply. T1 had fired.
I was in the Navy when that accident happened, as a Retired Navy Chief I can assure you, the entire Navy felt the shock and much like 09-11 it will always be remembered with respect. May we always remember those young men with Honor. Thank you for taking time for those young men.
Thanks for the informative video! I have one of these battle lanterns that has been sitting on a shelf in my garage for many years. I dont remember where or when I got it. Now I know what it is and where it was used. It is currently painted silver, but has a white or beige color underneath. I think I might clean it up and repaint it a proper color. Thanks again!
Must be so amazing for you to hear her fire on up again and my only thoughts are imagine how amazing it would be to see her actually sail on the water again even if it was just on the surface that must be now a dream of all the team at the cod too! Well done to you all foe the amazing work aboard her! Her past crews wpuld be so thrilled to hear her running again!
I know that all marine engineers are traditionally deaf, but guys, really, wear some protection! The best option (but expensive) is aviation active headset, it really works even if sit right on top of engine without any muffler, as its usual in warbirds. Also it designed to be connected to communications, so you can not only NOT hear noise, but DO hear everybody, onboard and by radio.
