The Mighty Iowa-Class Ships, Formidable Weapons

Is there still a place for battleships in modern naval combat? Were these great steel beasts sent out to pasture too soon?

Commissioned in World War II, the United States’ four Iowa-class battleships were the last of their kind. Designed as fast carrier escorts and shore bombardment vessels, they were designed to outrun anything they couldn’t outgun.

The battleships were well-armed, carrying nine 16-inch main guns as well as a heavy secondary armament of 5-inch weapons. By the end of the war, the Navy had also fitted them with dozens of 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns to protect the vessels against kamikaze threats.

Despite their young age, all the Iowa-class battleships were placed in reserve following World War II but were then reactivated for the Korean War. After several successful voyages as shore bombardment vessels, they were then placed back into inactive reserve.

USS Missouri (BB-63) (left) transferring personnel to USS Iowa (BB-61), while operating off Japan on 20 August 1945.

Only one battleship was brought back for Vietnam War service in a limited role, and no one expected the whole class to be reactivated.

President Reagan, under his hard-line policy toward the Soviet Union during the Cold War, pushed for a 600-ship Navy. One of the results of this was the reactivation of the four Iowa-class battleships.

The four Iowa-class ships operating as Battleship Division 2 off the Virginia Capes in 1954; from front to back is Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and New Jersey

The ships were refitted with newer electronics and updated weaponry such as Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, so they could now strike targets hundreds of miles away or inland. Defensively, they were upgraded with Phalanx guns to protect against missile threats.

For all the expense and technology poured into them, their career was fairly short-lived. Numerous groundings, accidents, and equipment failures dogged the ships. The Iowa herself had a turret explosion, killing 47 crewmembers and placing that turret forever out of commission.

Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Launcher

They did see some success during the Persian Gulf War while firing Tomahawk missiles. Along with Marine forces, they acted as a decoy to prevent Saddam Hussein from discovering the real invasion plans.

The battleships remained in commission for several years following the Gulf War, then were again placed in reserve. They were finally stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 2011. Should that be the end, though, or could they still have a role in the modern naval era?

A 40 mm quadruple gun mount on board USS New Jersey in 1944

 

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A 5-inch gun mount emblazoned with the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor of the United States Marine Corps aboard the battleship New Jersey.

In these days of advanced stealth weapons and hypersonic missiles, defending a fleet can be a tall order. Because the Iowa-class were built to slug it out with other ships at close range, just their armor plates weigh more than many ships do these days and they could handle much more punishment than other modern ships.

For example, the USS Cole was nearly sunk by a small suicide boat. The Iowa-class battleships can and did shrug off worse than that. There were numerous times that kamikaze aircraft and shells merely bounced off the ships, inflicting little damage.

USS Iowa in the Pacific

If the Navy were to try to force an amphibious landing against a comparable enemy, there would almost certainly be large amounts of damage to its surface ships. Modern sea-skimming missiles have proven their ability in numerous conflicts to heavily damage or sink surface combatants with one hit.

Since ships like the Iowa were designed to weather multiple large caliber gun hits, one can imagine they would be able to do the same with multiple cruise missile hits as well.

Officers and men stand at attention

Operating against countries like Russia or China, which have large surface combat forces, a big ship able to absorb large amounts of punishment and keep fighting would be an asset. Operating against a country like Iran, with lots of small heavily-armed surface craft, a battleship would be even more useful.

Iowa fires her 16-inch armament at coastal positions during her 1952 Korean deployment

If Iran followed up on its past threats and sent waves of small craft to attack an American fleet in contested waters, like the Persian Gulf, an Iowa-class with all of her main and secondary armaments would almost be able to destroy the entire Iranian fleet by itself.  Small power boats don’t stand up well to a salvo of 5-inch shells.

Fleet oiler of ServRon 6 refuelling Iowa-class battleship at sea, 1945

Even the largest Iranian, Russian, or Chinese vessels would not last long under a hail of 16-inch gunfire.

Imagine, if you will, an updated or even brand new Iowa-class type of battleship, heavily armed and heavily armored. Using updated propulsion, maybe even nuclear power, it would be faster with more endurance than the old ships.

Battleship USS Iowa in December 1944

Using updated fire control radar and sensors coupled with new naval gun technology and missiles, it would be far deadlier. Most importantly, it would be better able to survive attacks than many other ships afloat now.

Battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) in April 1943

Read another story from us: Montana Battleships – Size Matters in the Huge Legend of the Montana Class BB

All four of the Iowa-class battleships are now retired to well-deserved rests as museum ships. Many of their last crews included the grandchildren of men in their commissioning crews.

There is a requirement in the 2011 National Defense Act that two of the retired battleships are required to be kept in a state in which they can be restored to active duty. So perhaps these old war horses could once again sail the sea in defense of our nation.

Joseph O'Brien: Joseph O’Brien is a Military History and Firearms Expert located in the Midwest. After receiving a B.A. in History, O’Brien has worked in the retail firearms business as well as branching out into militaria/firearms appraisal and movie armorer work. He has written on a wide variety of topics and eras, and is always looking to increase his knowledge and collections of militaria. O’Brien has been recognized nationally by organizations, including the Association of the United States Army, and multiple museums for his outstanding knowledge and passion for Military history. Education B.A. History St. Norbert College Military History, Firearms and Militaria Expert Rockton, IL
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