Explosion Aboard the Iowa [Hardcover]

Richard L. Schwoebel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

Written by the head of the technical investigating team, this book examines the key factors in the 1989 explosion that killed 47 crewmen.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Capt. Larry Seaquist, USN (Ret.), former commanding officer, USS Iowa

"Explosion Aboard the Iowa is an important story because it places on the public record some exceptionally significant facts about the Iowa explosion and key parts of the subsequent investigations. Not only does Schwoebel demonstrate the flaws in the navy's investigation, but he presents wi"th all but mathematical certainty the cause of the explosion.

Col. W. Hays Parks, USMC (Ret.)

"Dr. Schwoebel was a major participant in the events he describes, and he has recorded them in a highly readable fashion. This book will be of interest to the general public and naval historians. The questions he raises about manning and crew training and the problems of self-investigation can be put to good use in teaching."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; 1st edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557508100
• ISBN-13: 978-1557508102
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thank You!, June 8, 2002

By 

Kathleen Hartwig-Kubicina (Brook Park, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explosion Aboard the Iowa (Hardcover)

The family of GMG2 Clayton Michael Hartwig USN would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for your help in removing all doubt and clearing the reputation and memory of our loving son, brother and uncle.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent scientific reporting of an unavoidable accident!!, May 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Explosion Aboard the Iowa (Hardcover)

I did not see any reference to a reliability (failure mode and effects, fault tree determination, etc.) analysis requested by and performed for the Navy here in San Diego in the summer of 1990. This analysis agreed with the conclusion that the ramming of the powder bags was most likely accidental (due to certain shortcomings in the rammer hydraulic system), occurred at the higher projectile ramming speed of 13.9 ft/sec, and was probably caused by particle contamination of the fluid in the hydraulic system of the rammer. Were the results of these efforts (report) witheld from the author? I would be interested in knowing this and it would not surprise me at all if that indeed had happened!

3.0 out of 5 stars The Investigation AFTER the Navy Investigation, September 12, 2009

By 

John R. Marshall - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Explosion Aboard the Iowa (Hardcover)

Good read. Moderately technical. But provides a pretty good treatment of the investigation AFTER the investigation. The Navy (single officer) investigation concluded that the explosion was the act of a suicidal gay sailor. This conclusion made it easy for the Navy to dismiss any potential impact to the Navy establishment. This investigation (conducted at the request of Congress by an independent lab) proved that the explosion COULD have happened in an entirely different manner. I picked up this book after I realized that the USS Iowa CO at the time graduated from USNA 3 years before me. Again, this book is a good read.