INTRODUCTION

 1.               Pursuant references (a) and (b) the authors of this report, Vice Admirals K. S. Masterson and L. M. Mustin, USN (Retired), have inquired informally into the subject explosion, to assist the Chief of Naval Material and other officers and officials as requested, in matters related to it.

 2.               The casualty resulted from the explosion of an 8” high capacity projectile Mk 25-2 in the bore of the center gun of turret 2.  Explosive filler of the projectile was 21.3 pounds Explosive D.  It was fitted with a base detonating fuze (BDF) Mk 48-4, a nose auxiliary detonating fuze (ADF) Mk 55-0, and either a steel nose plug or a point detonating fuze (PDF) Mk 29-3.  (The latter uncertainty is discussed further in the later paragraph.)

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