On many USN datapages, there is the note "Special Help by Leo Fischer." Leo was an engineer working at Dahlgren who I first interacted with on NavWeaps Forums many years ago. We became internet friends and he was always willing to answer my questions about naval guns and their designs. The detailed datapage on the 8"/55 Mark 71 was the direct result of his willingness to share declassified data and to put me in touch with many others who filled in the blanks on both this and other modern weapons being designed or tested at Dahlgren. When I was contacted by outsiders, such as the people researching the SinkEx of USS Burns, he was as helpful to them as he was to me. I last spoke with Leo a year before his death in 2015. As always, he was happy to share his time with me and chat about whatever was on our minds. I miss him.

Obituary