Now we're talking --- these are the USS Iowa's big guns!

Thes 16"/50 Mk.7s are the most powerful guns ever to go to sea, though not the largest (that honor goes to the 18"/45 guns on the Yamato and Musashi). The only battleships to ever use guns of this type are the Iowa class --- all other 16-inch guns are only 16"/45 or shorter.

So you understand what I mean by that, the "/50" in 16"/50 denotes the length of the gun tube in "calibers". In other words, multiply 16 inches by 50, and you get 800 inches (66.66ft); the length of these gun tubes.

All other US Battleships with 16" guns only had tubes 45 calibers long, including the advanced North Carolina and South Dakota class Fast Battleships. As a result, their muzzle velocities were much lower, so that couldn't throw a shell as hard or as far.

How far, you ask?

The Mk.7 is officially rated for a range of 24 miles!

In fact, speaking of long-range shooting, the Iowa *herself* fired a 16" shell during a training exercise at a target box on Vieques Island in the Caribbean Sea, on January 26th 1989. It was the farthest 16" shell firing EVER --- and the "Big Stick" scored a direct hit on the very first shot!

Don't just take *my* word on that, either;
http://www.pacificbattleship.com/page/cold_war


Here's detailed technical data on the Mk.7;
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-50_mk7.htm

To appreciate how much more powerful it is than other 16" guns, compare that to the Mk.6 used on the other US Fast Battleships...;
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-45_mk6.htm

...the Mk.I used on the UK's Nelson class;
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_16-45_mk1.htm

...and the 40 cm/45 3rd Year Type used on Japan's Nagato class;
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNJ.....161-45_3ns.htm

Only the Soviet Union's B-37 Pattern 1937 16"/50 was comparable, but fate prevented the Sovietsky Soyuz class Fast Battleships from ever going to sea;
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNR.....6-50_m1937.htm