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Photograph of a 20mm Anti-Aircraft Gun, Aft Bridge
Collection
The William Gladden Jr. Collection
Format
Original photographic print
Date
c. 1950
People
William Gladden Jr.; William Gladden; "Perrine Slim"
Location
Apopka, Florida, United States of America.
Historical Background
This black-and-white photograph, taken aboard a U.S. Navy vessel during the Korean War circa 1950, shows a 20mm anti-aircraft gun mounted on the ship's deck, covered with a dark canvas or tarp to protect it from the elements. The gun is positioned in the aft section near the bridge, as indicated by the handwritten annotation on the photo. Behind the covered weapon, the ship's superstructure is visible, featuring a large industrial-looking building with rows of gridded windows and a door marked "OFF LIMITS," suggesting a restricted area. During the Korean War, US Navy ships typically mounted 20mm Oerlikon cannons, often in twin or single mounts, along the superstructure and aft decks for close-in anti-aircraft defense. While widely used in WWII and the Korean War, their effectiveness declined against jets, leading to a shift toward 40mm Bofors and 3-inch guns, although 20mm guns remained for surface-to-air defense, targeting small craft, and destroying floating mines.
Donor
Mr. Tarence Brown
