Iowa-class battleship

Iowa-class battleship
Name	Iowa-class battleship
Ship type	Battleship
Ship displacement	45,000 long tons (45,700 tonnes)
Ship length	870 feet (265 meters)
Ship beam	108 feet (33 meters)
Ship draft	30 feet (9 meters)
Ship speed	33 knots (61 km/h)

Iowa-class battleship The Iowa-class battleships were a class of fast battleships built by the United States during World War II. The Iowa-class battleships were designed to be fast enough to accompany the aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy and to be able to outrun and outgun any potential enemy battleship. Four Iowa-class battleships were built: USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin.

Design and construction

The Iowa-class battleships were designed by the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships under the leadership of Rear Admiral Thomas Jackson Jackson, and were constructed at various shipyards including the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Bremerton Naval Shipyard, and New York Naval Shipyard. The design of the Iowa-class battleships was influenced by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930, which imposed limits on the size and armament of battleships. The Iowa-class battleships were designed to be 870 feet (265 meters) long, with a beam of 108 feet (33 meters) and a draft of 30 feet (9 meters).

The Iowa-class battleships were powered by eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which produced 212,000 horsepower, and four General Electric turbines, which drove the ship's propellers at a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h). The Iowa-class battleships had a crew of over 1,500 officers and enlisted men.

Armament

The Iowa-class battleships were armed with nine 16-inch/50-caliber Mark 7 guns, which were mounted in three turrets, two of which were located forward of the superstructure and one aft. The Iowa-class battleships also had twenty 5-inch/38-caliber guns, which were mounted in casemates along the main deck. In addition, the Iowa-class battleships had an air defense system that included Bofors 40 mm guns and Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.

The Iowa-class battleships were designed to be highly survivable, with a double bottom hull and watertight subdivision of the ship's compartments.

Service history

The Iowa-class battleships saw extensive service during World War II, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Invasion of Iwo Jima. The Iowa-class battleships also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The Iowa-class battleships were commanded by notable captains, including Charles McVay III, who commanded USS Indianapolis and was later court-martialed for the loss of his ship.

Modernizations and museum ships

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Iowa-class battleships underwent modernizations, which included the installation of Talos and Terrier surface-to-air missiles, as well as helicopter pads.

Today, three Iowa-class battleships have been preserved as museum ships: USS Iowa, which is located at the Port of Los Angeles; USS New Jersey, which is located at the Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey; and USS Missouri, which is located at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island in Honolulu, Hawaii.

See also

* United States Navy * Battleship * World War II * Korean War * Vietnam War * Washington Naval Treaty * London Naval Treaty * Thomas Jackson Jackson * Charles McVay III * Babcock & Wilcox * General Electric * Philadelphia Naval Shipyard * Bremerton Naval Shipyard * New York Naval Shipyard * Battle of the Philippine Sea * Battle of Leyte Gulf * Invasion of Iwo Jima * Liberty State Park * Pacific Aviation Museum * Port of Los Angeles * Ford Island * Honolulu, Hawaii * Jersey City, New Jersey * Bofors 40 mm gun * Oerlikon 20 mm cannon * Talos missile * Terrier missile