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Going to Iowa...The USS Iowa
mark christian
Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
No, I am not going to visit the state of Iowa (I've been there before [V] ), I am going to visit the USS Iowa which is now a museum ship and moored in San Pedro Harbor. Not that I am cheap [:0] but I get free admission today (my birthday) so that seals the deal. I love battleships and plan to take a lot of photos and will try to post some of them ASAP.
Comments
Also visited the Missouri.
Too old to live...too young to die...
Happy Birthday, Mark.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Happy Birthday !!!!!
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View from the wheelhouse.
Wife and I toured the Missouri at Pearl last time we went to Hawaii, very cool experience. Be sure to get into the targeting room and look thru one of the aiming scopes.
learned to hate them in a big way. (it's an inside joke...unless you
were there)
The ship is so big that getting a full length photo was impossible:
The business end of BB-61 and those big navy rifles are awesome up close!
None of the 16" turrets are currently open but this is what the shell and powder bag combo looks like:
The memorial to those who lost their lives in the tragic Turret number 2 explosion:
There are plans to open one of the main gun gun turrets for tours but Turret 2 will remain sealed forever as a memorial.
Two twin 5" guns. These are the main guns on many warships but look like pop guns on an Iowa Class!
The 1980s addiiton of Cruise Missile launchers really extended the Iowa Class punch:
Enlisted berthing. I was told that there is now much more room than there was during WWII due to a number of racks being removed. Those racks looked very short so anyone over six foot was probably not sleeping with his feet fully inside his bunk!
Enlisted mess. I was told that the food was pretty good on large warships ship and that (as James RK has said) the "Goat Locker" where the Chiefs ate had the best chow on board. Sorry James but the Goat Locker is now a part of the gift shop so you'll have to mess with the rest of the crew.
This is the so called state room for a division head, typically with the rank of commander. Officers below that rank shared quarters. He had his own bunk but that is about all because he shared the officers head.
The Number 3 turret. Point those 16" guns at anything on land or afloat and they'll be thinking twice about causing trouble!
On the whole it was a great day. The ship is still developing as a museum and hopefully the rest of the exibits will be on line and tours of the remaining sections and compartments will open soon. There is a small theateron board and some of the wargames folks developed a 3 minute computer animation video of a gunfire support mission during WWII that is shown on a big screen with plenty of SOUND! I have to admit that it was pertty exciting and I almost wanted to duck when a Japanese plane crashed very close to our bow. That was just three minutes of make-believe so I can't imagine three or more hours of the same sort of real life constant combat action.
I was on the Whiskey when she was moved from the Norfolk Navy yard to become a Museum across the river.
I was lucky enough to get an invite to do a story and the ship was filled with crew members from WWII, Korea and the Gulf wars that came to make that last trip. Very cool to talk to various generations of service men
The battleship has the sea soul of big steam locomotives they just seem like living entities being mechanical monsters and not computer robots.
I know the new way is more powerful.
But the old way just exhibits perceived power and no one can convince me sending a missile destroyer to the horizon has the same affect as a battleship with her big guns raised to impress those who would consider resisting (AKA Battleship diplomacy).
Oddly I have never been on the Missouri but my Uncle George served on her in WWII and was present at the surrender.
He met my Aunt Georgia on the tour to show off the plaque and they were married for over 50 years
Wulfmann
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
This is the view from the bridge:
Unlike the movies, this is where they actually steer the ship. This is basically an enclosure smaller in size than my master bathroom, but encased in a foot and a half of armor:
Fire control center: An armored enclosure on deck:
A virtually endless corridor leading to who knows where? It is not on the tour and roped off but there is probabaly some poor fool who skipped over the rope and is even now still trying to find his way off the ship:
The Admirals stateroom.
When FDR sailed on the Iowa he slept here:
The admirals head. I've seen better plumbing in Bulgaria!
The Admiral/President did at least rate a bathtub:
He never talked much about his experiences but did mention more that a few times how the "Johnny-Come-Lately" USS Missouri took the honors of having the surrender signing aboard her instead of the Iowa. [:(!]
Sprint
I had a brother-in-law that served on the Iowa in the Pacific theater during WWII.
He never talked much about his experiences but did mention more that a few times how the "Johnny-Come-Lately" USS Missouri took the honors of having the surrender signing aboard her instead of the Iowa. [:(!]
Sprint
Actually the USS Wisconsin was the first to enter Tokyo Bay and was there a full week before the Missouri showed up.
Truman was from Missouri and he dictated the surrender to take place on "his" home state ship.
Wulfmann
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
I was able to tour the Missouri several times when she was mothballed in Bremerton, WA. Since it was still "active" very few spaces were open to the public. I hope it is more open now that she is retired in Hawaii.
I had a brother-in-law that served on the Iowa in the Pacific theater during WWII.
He never talked much about his experiences but did mention more that a few times how the "Johnny-Come-Lately" USS Missouri took the honors of having the surrender signing aboard her instead of the Iowa. [:(!]
Sprint
All of the Iowa class were Johnny-Come-Lately to the USS Enterprise.
If any crew in the fleet deserved the honor of observing the surrender, it was the men and boys of CV-6.
Brad Steele
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
A virtually endless corridor leading to who knows where? It is not on the tour and roped off but there is probabaly some poor fool who skipped over the rope and is even now still trying to find his way off the ship:
Looks like a fun day Mark. It's great when entertainment and learning are both the same thing. [:)]
I hope you didn't leave too many shins and foreheads on them "knee knockers" (watertight door knife edges). [:D]
I like this photo of the aft turret and could not help but wonder just how many 16" shells would be needed to knock down the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background.
Hope you had a Very Happy Birthday !!!
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quote:Originally posted by sprint
I had a brother-in-law that served on the Iowa in the Pacific theater during WWII.
He never talked much about his experiences but did mention more that a few times how the "Johnny-Come-Lately" USS Missouri took the honors of having the surrender signing aboard her instead of the Iowa. [:(!]
Sprint
All of the Iowa class were Johnny-Come-Lately to the USS Enterprise.
If any crew in the fleet deserved the honor of observing the surrender, it was the men and boys of CV-6.
No one who knows naval history can argue that point.
That should have been the number rated ship to preserve but like the British equivalent be everywhere always a thorn in the enemies side from the Atlantic (HMS Warspite) she was scrapped a real shame for both.
Warspite put up a big fight to state alive. After being sold for scrap and being towed to her doom she broke the cable and grounded herself on Lands End (A more fitting title could not be fantasized). Unable to free her they scrapped her there and it took many years.
Those were the two greatest fighting vessels of WWII if accomplishments mean anything.
MC thanks for all the great pix [:D]
Wulfmann
"Fools learn from their own mistakes. I learn from the mistakes of others"
Otto von Bismarck
One of the enlisted galleys. Looks like they are sold out of ice cream:
I was lead to believe that this was berthing for higher rated enlisted crewmembers; just three racks on either side of the (big by comparison) compartment with just six in total as well as what looked like larger lockers. James, would this be for the Chiefs?
This is the officers head:
The officers showers. The shared officers head does not look bad, sort of like staying in a hostel overseas:
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
quote:Originally posted by sprint
I had a brother-in-law that served on the Iowa in the Pacific theater during WWII.
He never talked much about his experiences but did mention more that a few times how the "Johnny-Come-Lately" USS Missouri took the honors of having the surrender signing aboard her instead of the Iowa. [:(!]
Sprint
All of the Iowa class were Johnny-Come-Lately to the USS Enterprise.
If any crew in the fleet deserved the honor of observing the surrender, it was the men and boys of CV-6.
No one who knows naval history can argue that point.
That should have been the number rated ship to preserve but like the British equivalent be everywhere always a thorn in the enemies side from the Atlantic (HMS Warspite) she was scrapped a real shame for both.
Warspite put up a big fight to state alive. After being sold for scrap and being towed to her doom she broke the cable and grounded herself on Lands End (A more fitting title could not be fantasized). Unable to free her they scrapped her there and it took many years.
Those were the two greatest fighting vessels of WWII if accomplishments mean anything.
MC thanks for all the great pix [:D]
Wulfmann
The Enterprise was not named after a State, or a city, and didn't have the patronage to be saved.
I liked the commentator the Military Channels '10 Greatest Fighting Ships' when discussing the Queen Elizabeth Class, Wulfmann.
The Warspite was described as 'The Forrest Gump' of battleships because she was always there when something important was happening.
Brad Steele
Are the Engineering Spaces open for viewing yet?
Brad Steele
Mark,
Are the Engineering Spaces open for viewing yet?
No, and that was very disappointing. There are five future exibits planned to go on line includung the engineering spaces, fire control systems, a gun turret (probalby #3 since it is aft and has less foot traffic and #2 is sealed as a memorial), crew berthing and the galley. Right now very little of the interior of the ship is actually open and you are limited to just peaking in here-and-there and snapping a few photos. The ship has only been opened to the public for 13 months and there are still plenty of plans to expand it as a museum.
Thanks for sharing, Mark! [:)]
Those lockers would be for junior enlisted. The wider locker would be for clothes and such. The narrow locker is for the hanging items. Most of the berthing had what was referred to as "coffin lockers" under the mattress of the rack. CPO berthing had large two door 6' high lockers. The junior officer's would share a stateroom with lockers similar to the CPO's. The senior officers would have private staterooms.
quote:Originally posted by Oso2142
Thanks for sharing, Mark! [:)]
Those lockers would be for junior enlisted. The wider locker would be for clothes and such. The narrow locker is for the hanging items. Most of the berthing had what was referred to as "coffin lockers" under the mattress of the rack. CPO berthing had large two door 6' high lockers. The junior officer's would share a stateroom with lockers similar to the CPO's. The senior officers would have private staterooms.
Thank you. The points of "interest" like the helm and other areas all had staff to explain what we were looking at and how things operated. The signal platform was manned by a former Signalman First Class who was very boring and no matter how hard he tried I just could not get interested in flag semaphore! I did finally understand (or admitted) that the proper recognition of flags and signals was vital to the safe operation of any ship as well as to the entire fleet/task force, but it still was not exactly "edge of your seat" stuff. No one was inside the crew quarters or the galley to explain what it was we were looking at but hopefully that will change when those areas are fully opened up.
The first number is the deck or level you're on. The main deck is 1 and everything below the main deck is numbered sequentially, 2, 3, 4 etc. The first level above the main deck is the 01 level and sequentially up. The second number is the frame number of the forward most frame in the compartment. Frames start with 1 and are numbered sequentially forward to aft. The third number is the compartment's location relative to the centerline of the ship. The centerline is 0 with even numbers to port and odd numbers to starboard. The letter is the designation of the use of the space. L is living quarters, A is storerooms, M is magazines, Q is miscellaneous, etc.
The compartment in your picture, 01-103-1-L, is on the 01 level one level above the main deck, at frame 103 on the starboard side of the ship and it's a living space. Passageways are classified as living spaces.
Since e8gm lived on her for a year and a half he's going to know a lot more about the living conditions than I am. I've live in CPO quarters that weren't that nice. As a matter of fact, I've lived in staterooms which weren't much better. My last stateroom had a sink and a fold down desk with a light and it was two to a room. Other than that, pretty much same same.
Thanks for sharing!
Looks like an awesome trip.
I've toured several retired ships (and boats) but haven't gotten to the Iowa yet. I think I need to.
I'm a little surprised nobody explained how the compartment numbering system works. It's simple enough that a sailor can understand it and it will keep you from getting lost.
The first number is the deck or level you're on. The main deck is 1 and everything below the main deck is numbered sequentially, 2, 3, 4 etc. The first level above the main deck is the 01 level and sequentially up. The second number is the frame number of the forward most frame in the compartment. Frames start with 1 and are numbered sequentially forward to aft. The third number is the compartment's location relative to the centerline of the ship. The centerline is 0 with even numbers to port and odd numbers to starboard. The letter is the designation of the use of the space. L is living quarters, A is storerooms, M is magazines, Q is miscellaneous, etc.
The compartment in your picture, 01-103-1-L, is on the 01 level one level above the main deck, at frame 103 on the starboard side of the ship and it's a living space. Passageways are classified as living spaces.
Thank you James, clearly there is nothing complicated about it at all! [:0] [?][B)].
quote:Originally posted by Oso2142
Thanks for sharing, Mark! [:)]
Those lockers would be for junior enlisted. The wider locker would be for clothes and such. The narrow locker is for the hanging items. Most of the berthing had what was referred to as "coffin lockers" under the mattress of the rack. CPO berthing had large two door 6' high lockers. The junior officer's would share a stateroom with lockers similar to the CPO's. The senior officers would have private staterooms.
I think the original berthing areas had the standard fold-down cots of the era. The coffin lockers were probably installed during her 1980's retrofit, as they were not, I don't believe a standard item when the Iowa was re-commissioned during the Korean Conflict.
Brad Steele