These projectiles were fired from the largest guns used by the U.S. Navy, specifically the 16-inch/50 caliber guns on the Iowa-class battleships. These ships were the USS Iowa (BB61), USS New Jersey (BB62), USS Missouri (BB63), and USS Wisconsin (BB64) built between 1940 and 1944.

The nine projectiles in groups of three shown here represent the payload of one full broadside from one battleship; three turrets with three guns each, firing a total weight of up to 24,300 lbs. On projectile can penetrate 30 feet of concrete and create a crater 50 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Pictured is the Iowa firing a broadside of all nine guns.

Weight of projectile: From 1,900 to over 2,700 lbs depending on type of projectile ("Armor Piercing", "High Capacity" - such as these on display - "Target Practice", etc).

16-inch/50 Caliber gun Maximum Range: 41,622 yards at 2,690 feet per second.

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The Leg of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren
"4-in. 40 caliber rifles"
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Naval Historical Foundation
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Washington Navy Yard Chapel
The Center for Naval History - The Navy Museum
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Dudley Knox Center for Naval History

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