20MM Anti-Aircraft Guns

20MM Anti-Aircraft Guns. U.S.S. North Carolina. The North Carolina had between 40 and 60 Swiss Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft guns. They replaced the less effective .50 caliber guns. Most of the 20mm mounts were single guns but there were a few twin mounts. Four men operated each air-cooled gun: gunner, spotter, trunnion operator, and loader. , , All the guns required ammunition handlers during battle. Sailors from different rates were assigned to the guns to supply the ammunition from the magazines and/or clipping rooms. Battle Stations for Stewards Mates were in the 16-inch and 40mm gun magazines, the 20mm clipping rooms, and in Damage Control Repair Units. , , Uncommon Heroes , The Stewards Branch was a racially segregated part of the U.S. Navy. Steward's Mate 2/c John Seagraves was an officer's cook in the Wardroom Pantry. His battle station was in a 16-inch magazine along with other men in the Stewards Branch. He asked the XO if he and other Steward's Mates could be 20mm gunners. Their petition was granted, and eight men began training on two 20mm gun mounts in the fall of 1944. The mounts were in Marine Sergeant Harry Clark's sector. , , In April 1945, the Battleship was with the task group supporting the Okinawa operation. Japanese kamikazes were a constant threat. In one engagement Harry Simpson (trunnion operator) spied the enemy flying toward the North Carolina. When given the order to fire John Seagraves (gunner) squeezed the trigger. The 20mm and 40mm batteries opened fire. The plane crashed into the sea narrowly missing the Battleship. , , The men returned to their duty stations but were quickly called back to the mounts to stage the event. But in the re-creation the men were not in their original positions. , , "Shooting a plane down was not a matter of being afraid he would fail. John and the gun crew did what they were trained to do. John finally proved to himself and many others that he could do the job as a gunner." , Uncommon Hero: The John Seagraves Story, By David Seagraves , (caption) , Below: 1) Sgt. Harry Clark, 2) John Seagraves, 3) Hansel Simpson Jr.