My grandfather served on a sister ship (USS Indiana BB-1) of the the USS Oregon during WWI (reference to John Martini's post). I have just finished scanning and cataloging over one hundred images documenting life on board. The Indiana was not even close to being that clean and shiny in 1917. I suspect it was the same with the Oregon (and the third ship in the class, the USS Massachusetts) after years of coal dust everywhere.

Nonetheless, I really enjoy these turn of an earlier century US Navy photos.

The guy who laid out this space might have been in contention. As shown, gunners manning the upper level 6-pounders shown on the right had to watch their step -- one wrong move and it's about an 8 foot drop to the deck, probably followed by 6 weeks in traction. If he'd been holding a live round there wouldn't be much left of the victim.

My guess is the gratings standing against the ship's side on the right could be raised to form a temporary deck inboard of the guns. However, we're still in Darwin Award country because, being wooden, they would send lethal splinters flying when hit, and would also add fuel to any fires that might break out in battle.

Even on a capital ship (probably the safest Armed Forces billet going in most periods) there were hazards lurking in wait, particularly if it had been a long time since the last war.

translates to five souls in the photo.

On the lower left.

Looks like the sailor on the left is rolling a smoke. The bosun is giving us the "Don't you mess up my deck" look. But what is going on with the third sailor peeping out from behind those screens ? Don't know what caliber those guns are on the right, but I don't want to be leaning into those stocks when they fire.

Thanks for posting this wonderful view of USS Oregon. My grandfather served aboard her in 1917 when she was used as a US Navy training ship and he must have walked this same deck many times.