(Gunner Williams served on board as a Chief Gunner’s Mate from August, 1917, until he was made Gunner in January, 1919.)
Lieut. Boucher, Lieut. Malloy and Lieut. Dorsey, were the officers in charge of the installation of the battery, fire control system, etc., the training of gun crews and lookouts, and in fact all the numerous details required to have the ship in readiness for sea and action when she cleared the net in New York Harbor. Great credit is due these officers and the men of their department for the excellent manner in which this work was carried out. Much credit is also due the officers and men who succeeded them for the excellent manner in which they maintained the high standard of efficiency that had been set for them.
There were also six Chief Gunner’s Mates and seven gunner’s mates of lower ratings attached to the ship during her voyages across the Atlantic.
No technical discussion of ordnance and gunnery will be attempted in these pages, just a general description of guns, fire control systems, etc., and their method of operation.
Armament and Equipment
The armament and equipment of the Leviathan consisted of the following:
- 8—6-inch 50-Cal. guns Mk. VIII.
- 2—1-Pdr. guns, Mk. VIII.
- 2—“Y”-Guns for throwing depth charges.
- 2—Colt Machine Guns.
- 1—Lewis Machine Gun.
- 150—.30-Cal. Springfield Rifles.
- 75—.45-Cal. Colt Automatic Pistols.
- 1—Large Bausch and Lomb 12-Ft. Range Finder.
- 2—Small Barr and Stroud 1-meter Range Finders.
- 1—Ford Range Keeper.
The six-inch guns were installed on October 5, 1917—four aft and four forward. The distance between the forward and after guns was about seven hundred feet, which is a greater distance than the entire length of any battleship we have in commission.