IOWA class

The Iowa-class battleships were not the ones with the largest guns or the greatest armor, these records are held by the gigantic Japanese Yamato class, however, it is indisputable that their design achieved such a balance that they became the best battleships in naval history. Their exceptional qualities allowed them to be modernized on several occasions and to have a career that lasted until the 1990s. After being definitively withdrawn from the reserve in 2006, the four members of this class have become impressive floating museums that allow us to continue enjoying her impressive appearance.

IOWA class gallery 1 and more info

IOWA class gallery 2 and more info

IOWA class gallery 3 and more info

IOWA class gallery 4 and more info

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Country of origin

United States

Builder

New York Navy Yard (BB-61 & BB-63) – Philadelphia Navy Yard (BB-62 & BB-64)

Type

Battleship

Entered service

BB-61 & BB-62: 1943 – BB-63 & BB-64: 1944

Complement

WWII & Korean War: from 2,406 to 2,911 – Vietnam War & Gulf War: from 1,628 to 1,653

Displacement, (full load)

57,540 tonnes

Dimensions (length x beam x draught)

270.40 x 32.97 x 11.50 meters

Armour, (maximum)

Steel: Barbettes: 439mm – Main turrets: 495mm – Command tower: 444mm
Steel: Belt: 307mm – Bulkhead: 287-368mm – Upper deck: 38mm – Armor deck: 100mm

Machinery

12 x Babcock & Wilcox 3-drum boilers – 4 General Electric geared turbines

Power, (total)

212,000 shp

Shafts - Screws

4 shafts – 4 screws

Speed

33 Knots (61 km/h)

Bunkerage

8,624 tonnes of fuel oil

Range

18,000 n. miles (33,300 km) at 12 knots – 15,900 n. miles (29,415 km) at 17 knots

Aircraft

WWII: 2 floatplanes

Helicopters

Korean War: 1 x Sikorsky HO3S-1

Guns/CIWS

Since 1983: 4 x 20mm six barreled Vulcan Phalanx CIWS

Main guns

9 x 406/50mm Mark 7 naval guns in triple turrets

Secondary guns

Originally: 20 x 127/38mm Mark 12 dual purpose guns in twin turrets
Since 1983: 12 x 127/38mm Mark 12 dual purpose guns in twin turrets

AA guns

Originally: 80 x 40mm Bofors guns in quad mounts + 50 x 20mm Oerlikons guns in single mounts
Since 1968: all 40 & 20mm guns dismantled

SSM launcher

Since 1983: 4 x 4 cells Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers

Cruise missile launcher

Since 1983: 32 BGM-12 Tomahawk missiles in 8 armored box launchers

Production

4 ships: Iowa (BB-61) – New Jersey (BB-62) – Missouri (BB-63) – Wisconsin (BB-64)