U. S. S. BIRMINGHAM (CL62) TORPEDO AND BOMB DAMAGE SOLOMON ISLANDS 8 NOVEMBER, 1943

WAR DAMAGE REPORT No. 48
Printed By U. S. Hydrographic Office

http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/WarDamageReports/WarDamageReportCL62/WarDamageReportCL62.html

They were built tough back then, that sort of damage would probably sink a modern Arleigh Burke destroyer or at least put it out of action for a year. Birmingham rejoined the fleet after a 3 month refit.

Warships could still succumb to damage very quickly back then however.

Exibit A: the battleship HMS Barnham November 25, 1941.

True, but Barnham took 3 torpedoes amidships.

Exibit A: the battleship HMS Barnham Barham November 25, 1941.

When that Magazine went, It was over fast when it rolled.

The Barham was old at the time of her sinking, launched in 1914, and had an illustrious record in both wars.
Horrible to view, seeing the hapless seamen running down the hull as she rolls and then immolated in the massive explosion as the fire hits her magazines. A surprising number of men survived that conflagration.

My wife's maternal Grandfather was on her sister ship 'Queen Elizabeth' during the first war and on the 'Effingham' which was lost off Norway in May 1940

I've seen the Pathe footage of the heavily damaged Barham as she rolled over and then exploded. It's both harrowing and sad to see. What also struck me was the voice and tone of the narrator. It really was the classic "stiff upper lip" stereotype!

It was a steam powered ship, right? I'm no expert, but it looked more like a boiler explosion to me. The initial blast had no fireball, which you'd expect if it was caused by a munitions explosion.

Main battery magazine, I believe it is speculated that a secondary magazine (4" I think) near where on of the 3 torpedoes but detonated first igniting the main battery magazine.

The 4" ammo set off the main 15" ammo.

HMS Barham – Survivors Account Of Sinking
https://www.navyhistory.org.au/hms-barham-survivors-account-of-sinking/

I get the official story and all, F4. I'm just saying that that didn't look to me like ammunition going off.

OK, everyone's perception is different I suppose. To me it doesn't look like a boiler going.