Drachinifel - naval history

The funny thing is that when you read American accounts of this problem in the Endicott System Fortifications and in the post Spanish American War fleet, some of the most scathing inspectorate reports are about the general lack of cleaning in the ammunition and propellant storage and handling spaces. This was especially noted after the coast defense battery at Charleston, South Carolina blew up.  This event strongly encouraged the Americans to research an alternative to British style nitrocellulose powders. One wonders what caused the Germans to follow a similar line of investigation pre-WWI, since they did not experience these events at all.

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Note that in the case of the USS Arizona, the insane amount of black powder (1/2 ton stored aboard her), has never been explained. 

As usual, I find Drachinifel's knowledge of USN historical events and technical matters to be full of obvious and easily checked errors.  The black powder charges, the USS Arizona carried, were for cat-shots of seaplanes off her launch rails. See diagram.


 
and blueprint. The charges were kept in a locker in the forward service magazine for Number 2 main turret / barbette. Ready use charges (dailies) were kept at bins near the catapults.