Warships of WWII: Iowa-class Battleships

The Iowa-class Battleships were the largest ever constructed by the U.S. Navy

The Iowa-class battleships were a class of fast -battleships built for the U.S. Navy during the 1940s. Four were built. Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Two more, Kentucky and Illinois, were laid down, but were scrapped soon after construction began. The Iowa -class ships were fast enough to intercept and fight faster ships such as heavy cruisers and battlecruisers, but also capable of fighting another battleship of similar dimensions. The Iowa-class was the largest and most heavily armed US. Battleship ever built. The Iowas were even longer then the Japanese super-battleship Yamato, (although the Yamato carried heavier guns and weighed more,) making them the longest battleships ever built.

Primary armament of the Iowa -class consisted of nine 16"/50 cal guns set in three triple turrets.

The 16"/50 cal naval gun turret on the USS Iowa.

Secondary/Dual Purpose artillery consisted of twenty 5"/38 cal guns in ten twin turrets, with five turrets on either side of the ship.

The 5"/38 cal naval gun was one of the best DP guns of WWII.

The Long -Range anti-aircraft batteries of the Iowa-class BBs consisted of twenty quad 40mm Bofors guns.

A quad 40mm mount on the USS Hornet (CV-12)

The Short-Range AA batteries of the Iowa-class BBs consisted of forty-nine 20mm Oerlikon autocannons.

A 20mm cannon on HMS Dido

Throughout their service history, the Iowas mainly served as shore bombardment craft. After WWII, the Iowas served in Korea and Vietnam, were their massive guns proved useful. For a short time after Vietnam the Iowa class were inactive. Then after his election, President Ronald Reagan ordered that all four Iowas be reactivated and stripped of their AA and armed with modern 1980's missiles. After contributing in many desert conflicts, all four Iowas were retired and are museum ships in locations all over the U.S. today.