re: #415 avanti

I served on the Newport News, call sign Thunder, and we could actually put more ordnance on a target per minute with our 8 inch guns then the New Jersey since they were automatic loads. No powder bags, just a big ass bullet and brass cartridge.

She was a grand ship to be sure. USS Newport News was the last 8” gunned Heavy Cruiser to be built anywhere. Last of the 3 ship Des Moines-class, her automatic 8” guns were a designed to overcome previous 8” guns slow rate of fire. Sadly, Newport News was broken up for scrap while her two sisters Des Moines, and Salem are still extant, with Salem having been turned into a museum ship .