The Big Stick, USS Iowa, BB-61 underway!

[SlaterDoc]

There are a number of videos on youtube of her moving from Suisun Bay to Richmond. There she will be painted and have some work done before heading south to San Pedro!

 

 

[curio bill]

Maybe its just my eyes this morning, but did they strip her main turret guns off??

[Teamski]

No, they are still there.

 

-Ski

[sigsaye]

I think it's really great. When my Dad served in her, from 52 to decommissioning, she was home ported in San Pedro.

 

Steve Hesson

[The Meatcan]

the youtube vids were neat enough but I can't imagine how awesome it would be to see her in motion in real life. What a sight!

Terry

[hink441]

Whenever I think of the USS Iowa, I remember the #2 turret explosion. What a sad day for the Nation.

[claymore]

glad I saw here when I did, they moved her bout the time they said they would, can't wait for her to be opened up will make the trip down to SOCAL when when she is ready !!!!!

 

claymore

[67Rally]

To see these ships sail is a lasting memory. They are majestic and project power with their intimidating stance. The width across the beam is mind-blowing. The way the structure rises from the waterline is overwhelming. Then, to gaze upon those mammoth guns that belch destruction along with clouds of fire is awe-inspiring.

 

While I never sailed with the Iowa, I did spend time with both the New Jersey and Missouri. Being in the newest (at the time) radar platform and the first on the West Coast, we had to spend time testing our radar systems, tracking those massive 16" rounds to see how the Aegis weapons system would respond. We deployed with the Jersey battle group in 1986 and headed straight for the Sea of Okhostk, farther than any US military asset had traveled since the 1800s, to show the Soviets our little toys.:

 

Then, my brother-in-law took part in history, has the Sacramento simultaneously refueled the Missouri (left) and the Wisconsin - the last time two Battleships went alongside replenishment ship and the first time since WWII:

 

I will make my way to see the Iowa when they get her ready. I did make it to the Mighty Mo when I visited Pearl in 2007. I had last walked her decks in the 1970s when she was mothballed in Bremerton.

[SlaterDoc]

To see these ships sail is a lasting memory. They are majestic and project power with their intimidating stance. The width across the beam is mind-blowing. The way the structure rises from the waterline is overwhelming. Then, to gaze upon those mammoth guns that belch destruction along with clouds of fire is awe-inspiring.

 

While I never sailed with the Iowa, I did spend time with both the New Jersey and Missouri. Being in the newest (at the time) radar platform and the first on the West Coast, we had to spend time testing our radar systems, tracking those massive 16" rounds to see how the Aegis weapons system would respond. We deployed with the Jersey battle group in 1986 and headed straight for the Sea of Okhostk, farther than any US military asset had traveled since the 1800s, to show the Soviets our little toys.:

 

Then, my brother-in-law took part in history, has the Sacramento simultaneously refueled the Missouri (left) and the Wisconsin - the last time two Battleships went alongside replenishment ship and the first time since WWII:

 

I will make my way to see the Iowa when they get her ready. I did make it to the Mighty Mo when I visited Pearl in 2007. I had last walked her decks in the 1970s when she was mothballed in Bremerton.

 

I heard at one point there was another affectionate nick name used by some,"the Big Butt"! Which is completely clear when you speak of her beam! Very obvious in this rear view! Hopefully the younger generation can learn the true history of the men and their ships that saved the "World" in the 20th century! Not, the PC history they learn from today's revised education system!

Good thing when she is tied up in San Pedro she will be oriented so that her guns can point towards the Mexican border!

[gunbarrel]

I have a WWII "theater knife" of one of her sailors in my collection. I wish I knew who he was.

 

[gunbarrel]

[SlaterDoc]

 

 

With those initials and the Boatswain's Mate 2nd class, I'll bet someone on here is gonna find that info for you!

[gpw_42]

YouTube video is a link to a video on YouTube about moving the Iowa out of the mothball fleet. Done by USAToday, it's pretty good, with crewmen from WWII and the 80s. I recently read "A Glimpse of Hell" and was pleased that the video doesn't mention any of that.

 

I like that knife!!!

 

Steve

[VirtualMariner]

It is great to see the Iowa being brought back to life. I've always thought of her as "my" battleship, though I actually never went aboard her. Saw her in Norfolk and steamed in company with her plenty of times, though. We were within visual range when Turret 2 blew down off Vieques. Will never forget that day. Hopefully, I'll get to visit her in her new role.

[lothrop]

It must have been an intense feeling of pride to tie up in a foreign port of call in a capital ship, especially from the bridge. Those ships had beautiful lines, even to an airplane guy like me.

[zepher11]

I saw this on line and I am really thinking about going down this weekend to check it out. About a three hour drive, but should be worth it for sure :thumbsup: :

 

"Free Tours Of USS IOWA BB-61 Begin December 10th

 

Free Tours Of USS IOWA BB-61 Begin December 10th December 4, 2011

The scuttlebut has it that FREE USS IOWA BB-61 tours are to begin in December 10th in Richmond California according to Chris Treadway at the contracostatimes.

 

USS IOWA TOURS: The historic World War II battleship USS Iowa, which arrived at the Port of Richmond in late October for repairs before it is towed to its permanent home in Southern California, will open for public tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays starting Dec. 10.

 

Reservations are not required and admission is free, but donations are requested by Pacific Battleship Center (www.pacificbattleship.com), the nonprofit organization that is raising funds for the vessel’s restoration. Visitors can access Terminal 24 at the Port of Richmond via the northeast gate across from the Ford Point building on Harbour Way. Parking is available for free at the terminal."

 

I'm still looking around for some additional information on the open houses. If anyone has more information please post it if you can.

 

Here's a link to the site I found this information and a link to the MVCC event page that talks abou the open houses as well:

 

http://ussiowa.info/

 

http://mvccnews.net/events.htm (page down to December 2011)

 

Regards,

 

Zeph

[The Meatcan]

Zeph, I sure hope you can get there and, upon your return home, post ALL your pix of the Iowa! That would be so awesome to see! :thumbsup:

Terry

[zepher11]

Zeph, I sure hope you can get there and, upon your return home, post ALL your pix of the Iowa! That would be so awesome to see! :thumbsup:

Terry

 

If everything works out and I make it down, I will post some photos.

 

Zeph

[Jim Morris]

Back about 1983 or so, I was an Operations Specialist with Commander, Carrier Group 4 at NAS Norfolk. One day the whole bunch of us went down to the piers and took a tour of the Iowa. The two things I remember most are standing in turret number 2 looking at the breaches of those big guns, and also seeing a small dimple, about 1/2 inch deep and about 5 inches in diameter in the armor plate on the port side of that same turret. That dimple is where a Japanese 5 inch shell hit the side of the turret. The armor plate at that point is about 14 inches thich, so the shell didn't do a lot of damage. We also saw the fantistic silver dining service that was presented to the wardroom mess by the citizens of Iowa. I wonder where all that beautiful silver is now?

[zepher11]

I just returned from our trip to the USS Iowa grand opening in Richmond, CA. It was absolutely a beautiful day down there. They had some displays set up in one of the warehouses and some of the MVCC members displayed their military vehicles near the entrance to the ship. Since they do not have power yet, we were not allowed inside the ship, only on the bow section. It was still worth the 8 hour round trip! The Iowa will be there through February. By then there should be tours of the inside and the blasting and painting should be completed for the tow down to the LA area. I think we will go back on the last weekend to take a look at the inside and see how the paint job turned out. One can see that the rear stack area has been freshly painted. I have a picture that shows that area. I also have a photo of the “dimple” Jim Morris mentions above. Anyway, here are some photos:

 

 

 

 

[zepher11]

More:

 

Teak decking being removed from the bow section. After 20 years of neglect it will be replaced. Looks like a lot of work:

 

 

I had to get close to one of the big guns:

 

 

Here is the dimple from the Japanse 5" shell on turret two. One should be able to see the red arrow and dimple:

 

 

I tried to get the whole ship in the view finder. Close:

 

[zepher11]

Rear stack freshly painted. One can see the difference vs. the forward stack:

 

 

Some of the MV's on display:

 

 

Ford motor plant accross from the pier. The Richmond Ford Assembly Plant switched to assembling jeeps and to putting the finishing touches on tanks, half-tracked armored personnel carriers, armored cars and other military vehicles destined for the Pacific Theater. I snapped this picture before being busted by the security guard. Absolutly no pictures...hmmmm. Got one anyway. It is a beautiful building. A real work of art and is 500,000 sq ft. That's big:

 

[VirtualMariner]

Thanks for posting the pics. Looks like she's coming along nicely. It would be sad to see those teak decks like that if it weren't for knowing they'll be replaced. Even in that state, it brings back memories of seeing her pierside in Norfolk before her final decom.

 

A good friend and fellow Operations Specialist transferred to our ship from the Iowa when she was decommed. He lives in the LA area, so it'd be great to go out there and tour it with him once she's completed. There are a lot of us happy to see this ship get a new life. My buddy said that on cruises they would raffle tickets to win a bath in the claw foot tub that was onboard. I'm not recalling exactly at the moment, but I think it was installed for a presidential visit and they never removed it. Can anyone confirm my memory on that?

[zepher11]

My buddy said that on cruises they would raffle tickets to win a bath in the claw foot tub that was onboard. I'm not recalling exactly at the moment, but I think it was installed for a presidential visit and they never removed it. Can anyone confirm my memory on that?

 

I learned that the tub was installed when the USS Iowa transported FDR to Casablanca during WWII. I hope it is still there and I get to see it before she leaves for LA.

 

Zeph

[gunbarrel]

What a majestic ship!