Color pics of USN BB's Tier IX. (Image heavy)

[Doomlock]

Hi guys! Welcome to my colorized battleship extravaganza! I tried to do this earlier but I have  too many pics so I'll do this in four parts. For this one, tiers III-IV as well as some alternates for some tiers. As usual most of the pics here come from: http://blog.livedoor.jp/irootoko_jr/. Let's get this show on the seas!

 

The lead ship herself, USS Iowa (BB-61), seen here in the Los Angeles Port as a museum.

USS New Jersey (BB-62), seen on duty, likely during Operation Desert Storm, in the 1990's.

The New Jersey museum in Camden New Jersey.

Here is the USS Missouri (BB-63) on station, likely during Operation Desert Storm.

The Missouri museum overlooking the Arizona memorial. The Missouri stands watch over the 1,177 sailors who perished aboard her on December 7th 1941. Those sailors remain on active duty, and will always be under the protection of the Missouri.

And finally the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) seen here at the National Maritime Center in Norfolk Virginia. I've visited her personally and have to say, she's amazing.

 

And there we have it! Man that took awhile but it's done now. Hope you all enjoy them! Fair winds and following seas captains! 

[Macabe]

Been to the USS Iowa a couple times(it's like 15 minutes away). Worth visiting.

[Caldwell]

"Sir, we're under attack! What do we do?"

"They disappeared sir!" 

 They may be late, never out of style.

 

[MeKanism]

Big J is the best Iowa

[LuminousWraith]

Ah BB-64. She hit a T-34 with a 16" shell y'know. That would've been incredible to see. Hmm, WoT and WoWs.... Can we make this happen?

[Doomlock]

Ah BB-64. She hit a T-34 with a 16" shell y'know. That would've been incredible to see. Hmm, WoT and WoWs.... Can we make this happen?

 

She never engaged any T-34's to my knowledge. She engaged a 6 in howitzer that scored the only hit she ever received in battle, she subsequently obliterated it with all 9 of her 16 in guns, this was in the Korean War.

[LuminousWraith]

This is what I was referring to, when I said BB-64 hit a T-34. http://www.usswisconsin.org/wp/pictures/big-guns/

 

[Herr_Reitz]

This is what I was referring to, when I said BB-64 hit a T-34. http://www.usswisconsin.org/wp/pictures/big-guns/

 

Some nice shots on that page as well - good link. Thanks

[Doomlock]

This is what I was referring to, when I said BB-64 hit a T-34. http://www.usswisconsin.org/wp/pictures/big-guns/

 

Ah pardon me, I was misinterpreting your post. I thought you were meaning the T-34 hit the WisKy, one of the gun emplacements was a 6 inch howitzer that hit her and of course she fired back obliterating the gun emplacements and the unfourtune T-34 that was nearby.

[LuminousWraith]

 

Ah pardon me, I was misinterpreting your post. I thought you were meaning the T-34 hit the WisKy, one of the gun emplacements was a 6 inch howitzer that hit her and of course she fired back obliterating the gun emplacements and the unfourtune T-34 that was nearby.

 

Yeah, I think it was two gun emplacements and the T-34. I still want to see a T-34 hit with a 16"/50 SHS. that would be almost wanton destruction.

[HazeGrayUnderway]

This is what I was referring to, when I said BB-64 hit a T-34. http://www.usswisconsin.org/wp/pictures/big-guns/

 

Battleships were of course devastating to land targets.  I remember Germans talking about Tiger I's getting flipped into the air from Allied Battleships during the Normandy landings.  Large caliber artillery are no joke.

 

For field artillery, stuff like 150mm, 155mm is considered nice and heavy with rare instances of stuff like 240mm.  If Naval Gunfire was utilized, consider that "old and weak" 14"/356mm BB guns are larger.  Then you have the even larger 16" guns.

[Herr_Reitz]

406.4mm

[Guest]

Beautiful Ships they were with long service records, they are truly amazing designs, and I'm proud to see them preserved to this day. 

[SKOKAUCKAS]

Amazing pictures!  I have not seen any of the Iowa Class Battleships yet, but my wife and I are talking about going to L.A. to see one of them.  I have seen the U.S.S. North Carolina and I must say she is wonderful. 

 

Question...I know these ships are decommissioned and mainly serve as museums for the general public, but if there was ever a major war or crisis could they be "refurbished" and put back into service?  I remember many moons ago reading about a law Congress passed about maintaining old warships and in the event of a war or some other armed crises that they could be refitted, rearmed, and be ready to go.  I can't recall if that only applied to the "mothball fleet" or reserve. 

 

Just wondering!

 

 

[Doomlock]

Question...I know these ships are decommissioned and mainly serve as museums for the general public, but if there was ever a major war or crisis could they be "refurbished" and put back into service?  I remember many moons ago reading about a law Congress passed about maintaining old warships and in the event of a war or some other armed crises that they could be refitted, rearmed, and be ready to go.  I can't recall if that only applied to the "mothball fleet" or reserve. 

 

Just wondering!

 

 

They were for a time, in fact I think they were the only ones the law was talking about, it was mid 2000's that they finally moved them off "Ready to reactivate should we need them" status. However my belief is that we need a vessel with powerful gun armament for shore bombardment and fire support, such as the Iowa's. Battleships still have a place in the world, just their role has changed.

[Caldwell]

Question...I know these ships are decommissioned and mainly serve as museums for the general public, but if there was ever a major war or crisis could they be "refurbished" and put back into service?  I remember many moons ago reading about a law Congress passed about maintaining old warships and in the event of a war or some other armed crises that they could be refitted, rearmed, and be ready to go.  I can't recall if that only applied to the "mothball fleet" or reserve.

 

The USS Iowa  and Wisconsin are both on stand by, ready to be reactivated at any time until the Navy deems them too old. The Missouri and New Jersey have been permanently decommissioned.

[Doomlock]

All of them have been stricken from the Naval Registry as of 2006 and are permanent museums.

[HazeGrayUnderway]

 

The USS Iowa  and Wisconsin are both on stand by, ready to be reactivated at any time until the Navy deems them too old. The Missouri and New Jersey have been permanently decommissioned.

 

According to the movie Battleship, USS Missouri kept a full stock of fuel and ammunition even as a museum ship.

 

[Doomlock]

 

According to the movie Battleship, USS Missouri kept a full stock of fuel and ammunition even as a museum ship.

 

 

...

[Caldwell]

According to the movie Battleship, USS Missouri kept a full stock of fuel and ammunition even as a museum ship.

 

 

Hollywood...

[Doomlock]

Indeed.

 

[Adm_Nate_Ellis937]

As a Canadian, I had the honor of visiting the Mighty Mo in December of 2010, on my first trip outside of Canada. My family did the 8 hour Pearl Harbor tour, but the next day my dad and I went back and we did the complete Missouri tour (which took about 3 hours). I can't imagine how loud her engines must've sounded. 

[GulfStorm]

Question...I know these ships are decommissioned and mainly serve as museums for the general public, but if there was ever a major war or crisis could they be "refurbished" and put back into service?

 

 

As Doomlock said, all Iowas have been stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 2006. 

 

Congress then passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2006, specifying that Iowa and Wisconsin be maintained in such a condition as to be reactivated again.  So ends the theory. 

 

The cold hard reality is that, if such a need occurred, the fecal matter will have impacted the rotary impeller in such a manner that battleships will be the last thing on people's minds.  

 

These ships have manpower and technical requirements that, in many cases, simply doesn't exist any more in the needed quantities, specifically for their power plants and their main guns.  All of the ammunition for the main guns is 70+ years old at a bare minimum.  

 

They were fearsome weapons in their day but their day has long ago passed. 

[Panhandler62]

Here are some of mine... late 80s. We sailed with the Dragon a few times. (Long Beach... just because... lol)

[Doomlock]

Here are some of mine... late 80s. We sailed with the Dragon a few times. (Long Beach... just because... lol)

Nice!