ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND Battleship USS Iowa

[F22RaptorDude]

Only one i've seen is BB-60 in Alabama when I was a little one, coolest day of my life that I can remember

[Stoliman]

If it's not on the tour, contact the museum and request a guided tour of his old workplace.  Most museums are very open to offering this sort of special tour for veterans.

Thanks for the input.  My family is heading back to Hawaii in late December/early January, and if we can take him for that purpose it would be extraordinary.  I have called the Missouri's tourist office and left a message, as well as sent them a detailed email.  Maybe good things can be done.

[Babalonian]

So why is LA keeping it? Did the the state of Iowa not want it?

It was offered, and gatefuly accepted.  She's getting a good home, although not as scenic or historicly signifigant as Frisco imho.

[Babalonian]

So Battleship did get something remotely right as in the 0.00001% range of could happen. Didn't know they had been modernized, read up after you posted and saw that for myself.
Had that proven many times in world of tanks

If I recall, at least one of them tore the occupying Iraqis "waiting and ready" in Kuwait a new one before the Marines went in and cleared out the remaining rats who managed to find a suitable hole to hide in.

[Wolfala]

If I recall, at least one of them tore the occupying Iraqis "waiting and ready" in Kuwait a new one before the Marines went in and cleared out the remaining rats who managed to find a suitable hole to hide in.

Wisconson. My old boss was CO during 91 - RADM David Bill.

[Shuffler]

Wisconson. My old boss was CO during 91 - RADM David Bill.

Holy cow he has 2 first names. He should have been in NASCAR.

[FBDragon]

I can visit our old WWI/II Battleship Texas (BB-35). It floats just about 2 miles from where I sit right now.

(Image removed from quote.)

The San Jacinto Monument in the background.

Yea Shuffler, if you've been on her did you notice that it's remarkable shap for a 100 year old ship!!! She can even still pack a hell of a punch too, those main gun are well maintained. I've been on her back in 03, being a battleship vet I got to talk to the ships curator, he told me they check those guns at least once a month. hell I love how the anti ircraft guns still moved freely!!!

[FBDragon]

My father in law was on the Iowa very late in WWII and into the occupation of Japan.  He was studying to be an engineer, so in the Navy he requested to be put in the engine room on a destroyer escort, where he could have some responsibility and have a real impact.  He got the engine room on a battleship instead.  He still vividly recalls the ships in Tokyo Bay painted red/orange for the Bikini atomic tests.

If he can hang on for a couple more years, it would be my privilege to take him to LA to tour his ship once again when it is open.  Hopefully the engine room will be, at Pearl on the Missouri the engine room wasn't open the last time I was there, maybe 6 years or so ago.

to your father in law!!!!

[Rich52]

By memory they were upgraded with Harpoon, and I also believe, VLS systems for Tomahawk and Standard air defense missiles. They were also upgraded with Phalanx for ASM defense. I dont believe they were upgraded with Sparrow but it wouldnt be hard to throw a few Enhanced Sea Sparrow systems on them.

Then Bingo! You have a 2012 ship with really BFGs.

[Wolfala]

By memory they were upgraded with Harpoon, and I also believe, VLS systems for Tomahawk and Standard air defense missiles. They were also upgraded with Phalanx for ASM defense. I dont believe they were upgraded with Sparrow but it wouldnt be hard to throw a few Enhanced Sea Sparrow systems on them.

Then Bingo! You have a 2012 ship with really BFGs.

VLS, no - not enough space without deleting the aft turret or losing the helipad. TLAM was in armored boxes on exposed deck of old 5" twin mountings. EverythIng else correct

[MarineUS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5ATYPrZnSQ  USS Wisconsin firing her guns for the final time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj-15O-BTDw&feature=related Same ship - headed to Japan before the Gulf War.

[Rich52]

VLS, no - not enough space without deleting the aft turret or losing the helipad. TLAM was in armored boxes on exposed deck of old 5" twin mountings. EverythIng else correct

AH, TY.

[rogwar]

I can visit our old WWI/II Battleship Texas (BB-35). It floats just about 2 miles from where I sit right now.

(Image removed from quote.)

The San Jacinto Monument in the background.

I always like visiting that place.

[Babalonian]

Wisconson. My old boss was CO during 91 - RADM David Bill.

Real cool, bet he's a guy with a good story or two.

[Babalonian]

My father in law was on the Iowa very late in WWII and into the occupation of Japan.  He was studying to be an engineer, so in the Navy he requested to be put in the engine room on a destroyer escort, where he could have some responsibility and have a real impact.  He got the engine room on a battleship instead.  He still vividly recalls the ships in Tokyo Bay painted red/orange for the Bikini atomic tests.

If he can hang on for a couple more years, it would be my privilege to take him to LA to tour his ship once again when it is open.  Hopefully the engine room will be, at Pearl on the Missouri the engine room wasn't open the last time I was there, maybe 6 years or so ago.

Hey Stoliman, real sorry I overlooked your post yesterday in this thread.  It reminded me fondly of my grandpas stories of Hawaii right after the war and all the red/orange livery PACKED into the harbor for the Bikinis.  Last thing he did was sit in Pearl for over a year due to delays (the poor guy), being sent home a month or two before the test.

He was a welder/mechanic aboard submarines twords the end of the war.