If memory serves me, the USS Iowa is the only battleship to have a bathtub.
I do believe that it was installed for President Roosevelt's use, when he crossed the pond to meet with Churchill and Stalin, and return to the U.S.

As for the Iowa Class Battleships, to me, they are the most beautiful ships to ever go to sea!!

My youngest son and I got to spend the night aboard the USS New Jersey, in Camden, a year ago, last January.
What a treat!!!!
We lived aboard the ship for 24 hours, just as sailor would have, back when it was in service, up to and including standing in line to be served our supper and breakfast!!! (Coffee pots were going 24/7 and the Geedunk was open 24/7!!)
We also got to tour the ship, seeing more than the usual tours got to see.

I'd love to see the Iowa Class BBs get re-commissioned!!!!
Heck, if they'd let me serve aboard one of 'em, I'd sign up, today!!!



It's a shame that the Kentucky and the Illinois were cancelled, along with the following Montana Class. Although, the bow section of (I think) the Kentucky was used to repair the Missouri when it got damaged from hitting a sandbar (if memory serves me).

 

yeah, I remember back when they were still in service and it was a topic of discussion on my ship (AS-32 USS Holland) that, however awesome the BB's were and however much we all loved them they were just too darned expensive to run and so it was only a matter of time before they were put back into retirement. Never had one put in at Guam while I was stationed there so I've not yet had the pleasure of seeing one of these big boys in person.

 

That could be, seeing the heavy duty handicap grab bars they have installed..


When my kids were in Cub Scouts we had sleep overs on the USS Massachusetts which is docked at Fall River, MA..

Battleship Massachusetts at Battleship Cove.

All the kids loved it.. I did too..

It wasn't as fun after the 4th time to the 7th..

I would loved to have seen it out on the water.

I know it's not Iowa class, but still impressive

 

Doubtful in these days of expecting our military to do more and more, with less and less, that we would see a new class or the old girls re-fitted.......

But, by God, I bet one of the most terrifying things to some belligerent power or dictator, would to see one of these monsters detach itself from the carrier group and steam close to their coast............The destruction she can level on a enemy with her Tomahawk cruise missiles and mighty 16" guns is nothing short of incredible.

 

Correct, for his cruise to Tehran


The bow was put on the Wisconsin after it collided with DD Eaton

You guys really need to check out this web site if you love ships:http://www.navsource.org/

The Kentucky's page where you get some good shots of the build process:http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/66.htm

 

The Holland today where I managed to bring a few former crew members on board awhile back...

USS Hornet CV-12 CVS-12

 

*sniff...*

it was a big old hunk of metal but, I do still miss that ship at times... (like right now). thanks for the pics! they helped bring back lots of memories.

here is the one pic I have left from my time on the Holland:

 

My pleasure. That is why they are up there for the guys who served on her. In fact, of all the ships up there including the Iowa, the Holland has far more views than any other ship on the site. Even today, one of the Holland crew I met in 2009 (73 years old now) asked if he could go with the Hornet crew each month we go to the old ships in the Reserve Fleet just for fun. Our lead guy said fine and he is there once a month, like us, at 6:30 in the morning after driving 60 miles in. Obviously the ship and the sea never leave old sailors.

I'm sure you know of the Holland Association's web site? http://www.ussholland.org/

 

Thanks for the correction. The memory isn't what it used to be.

My Dad has Alzheimer's Disease. I have "Partstimers".

Sidenote: Dad was brought back to Newport News during the war to help build the USS Essex and USS Hornet.
He was an Electrician's Mate.

Dad and I used to disagree on what was the best looking - Aircraft Carriers/Battleships.

Dad used to say that NOTHING was as beautiful as seeing a carrier 'break water'.

Me - Battleships!!!!! Those Iowa Class Battleships are GORGEOUS!!!

 

I get down to Battleship Cove in Fallriver MA, every few years. They keep the USS Massachusetts there. It has been a museum ship for decades. These Iowa Class ships were all business! Being at the receiving end of a 16" shell was never the place to be.

The USS New Jersey was decommisioned and recommissioned a bunch of times.

 

That is true and why she (the Black Dragon) is the only US Navy ship to have the distinction of serving in 4 separate conflicts.

Should be noted that even when the Iowa becomes a museum there is still a 2006 law saying that she must not have any alterations and that cathodic hull protection and de-humidification be continued should she need to be called up.

 

The only US battleship to engage an enemy battleship in WWII without any other class of ship being involved was the USS Washington vs the HIJMS Kirishima. The Kirishima was sunk.

The USS South Dakota was not involved in this action, having been mauled the previous day in action along with the Washington and several DD's vs BB's Kirishima, Hiei (sunk) and several Japanese CA's.

No BB's were involved in the Battle of Savo Island, this was a cruisers/destroyer action. The US lost 3 CA's (Astoria, Quincy, Vincennes), the HMAS cruiser Canberra was also sunk. This action took place in what today is called Iron Bottom Sound, but during WWII, was called Iron Bottom Bay.

Pearl Harbor 'ghosts' involved in the battle of Surigao Strait: USS: California, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania (did not fire-radar in-operative). The USS Colorado also participated, but was at Mare Island being overhauled on 7/12/1941. The USS Mississippi was also involved, but had been transfered to the Atlantic Fleet prior to 7/12/1941. This was not a BB only action because PT's, DD's & CA's were also involved. The Japanese lost the BB's Fuso, Yamashiro, a CL and several DD's.

There is a famous photo of these ships entering Surigao Strait. The photo is usually published without the ships being named, but in Battle Report, Vol IV 'The End of an Empire' the ships are ID'd. The photo was taken from the fantail of the USS Cailfornia and shows the Pennsylvania, Colorado and CA's Portland, Louisville and Columbia steaming in line.

If all goes as planned, y'all can come here to visit the USS Iowa. The Port of Los Angeles has already given the go ahead, a berth has been found...now all that remains is for the USN to pass the ship along to the Pacific Battleship Center, the privately funded group that has (supposedly) secured the ship.

Iowa Class: BB61 Iowa (Suisun Bay reserve fleet) / BB62 New Jersey (museum ship Camden NJ) / BB63 Missouri (museum ship Pearl Harbor) / BB64 Wisconsin (museum ship Hampton Roads VA).

btw: The USS Texas is the only BB to have served in two World Wars (and the only Dreadnought type BB extant), is a museum ship moored in Houston TX near the San Jacinto battlefield.

 

Known as Fourth Battle of Savo Island to be exact
Battleship Photo Index BB-57 USS SOUTH DAKOTA

At this point the Iowa has not been officially secured by any group. The Navy has yet to make it's choice known and won't until the end of April. At that time the PBC expects to be the group chosen and that I have directly from the PBC people I was with on Tuesday. Still the week before an attempt was made by one city council member to scuttled the proposal. A council member wanted an amendment that stated that the ship had to be fully restored before being berth at Long Beach. That would have effectively ended the process as there is no way the PBC could fully restore the ship where it is located. Fortunately, a majority of the city council saw this for what is was and it was voted down.

 

I'm aware that the city of Vallejo is also after the Iowa, wants to moor it at Mare Island, but the Pacific Battleship Center supposedly has 'the inside track' and no public funds are being used.

The liberal do-gooders in San Francisco nixed the ship being berthed there, the city of Stockton (I believe) could not raise the money and some do-gooder citizens nixed the plans.

The Iowa is not going to Long Beach, the berth is in San Pedro (Port of LA) near the Maritime Museum and has been kept as an extra berth for cruise ships, but no cruise ship has ever used it.

I hope the Iowa does comes here (I've already signed up as a volunteer). The only museum ship we have now is the merchant SS Lane Victory (also located in San Pedro). However, located in Long Beach is the rusty RMS Queen Mary...very rusty!

Cathodic Protection was applied to the exterior of the Queen's hull, but when the ship was cut open to allow sea water to flow into the engine room, it's become a rusty mess, as no Cathodic Protection was applied to the interior of the hull!

A Japanese consortium wanted to buy the ship several years ago, tow it to Japan to be used as a floating hotel. While the city of Long Beach would love to get rid of it (it has never made a cent of profit), those in "the know" don't think the ship can make it any further than Catalina Island before it sinks.

There's already one former liner sunk in the channel, the former Canadian Pacific SS Princess Louise (launched 1927, after its career ended, was being used as a floating restaurant in Redondo Beach) went down by accident in 900' of water. It was supposed to be sunk on purpose to be used as an artificial reef off the coast of Catalina Island ('26 miles across the sea'), but barely made it outside San Pedro harbor before sinking...as its rusty hull split open.

btw: My wife is a PE Corrosion Engineer, has multiple patents inre to Cathodic Protection.

 

If it were mine to say, I would keep each of the Naval museum ships on the active "commissioned" and man them with a skeleton crew for preservation and maintenance just like the USS Constitution in Boston.

Volunteers would be encouraged to assist in all matters pertaining to tours, revenue generation, cleaning and hull preservation.