Battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) passing under Golden Gate bridge for her final voyage to LA. 05 26 2012

Battleship Iowa (BB-61) passing under Golden Gate bridge last time 05 26 2012.

[@dr_palmtree4734]

It's incredible that an entire class of battleships is preserved. I would consider that a prize achievement for the US.

[@NFS_Challenger54]

It would've been even better if they had preserved USS Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California and West Virginia along with the Iowa's, Massachusetts, Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. With the added 5 Standard-type battleships, it would be a plethora of rich history and great stories to show and tell.

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Yeah, for the US.

[@Aftermath779]

The biggest sin that the US ever made is not preserving USS Enterprise CV-6.

[@moonreaps3753]

@@NFS_Challenger54the US could have maintained these if they didn’t deplete it’s fleet resources like the Royal Navy. The US ended the war with 800+ ships while the Royal Navy did with 560+. If the US wasn’t so insistent on maintaining such a large margin and confided more in its allies, France and Britain, we’d see the resources to see these ships today. I think it’s also worth mentioning it’s a massive pity none of the ships of the King George V class, the British counterpart to the Iowa, were preserved alongside Warspite and Vanguard of course. If the US and British didn’t overwhelm themselves without fore planning, they could have saved these but sometimes history is cruel and we may simply not ever understand why things didn’t go they way they could have.

[@NFS_Challenger54]

@@moonreaps3753 Well spoken. But saying the King George V-class battleships are the counterpart to the Iowa's sounds like a stretch in my honest opinion. I think they're more of a counterpart of the North Carolina-class than the Iowa-class. I'd say HMS Vanguard is more of a counterpart to the Iowa. In terms of numbers in the class, then I can see why the King George would be considered a counterpart, but not in terms of performance. But in any case, you're right. However, it wouldn't just be any of the King George's or even Warspite and Vanguard; Renown, Richelieu, Jean Bart, and possibly even Alaska and Prinz Eugen would've been preserved as well. Sticking with the French for a minute, the last French all-gun cruiser, the Colbert (commissioned in the late 50's I believe), was preserved as a museum ship for a time, but was scraped in the 2010's due of a lack of funds, I think I heard.

[@chrisfitzmaurice7484]

This brings back some memories. On an afternoon in July 1976 I snuck aboard the Iowa when it was mothballed in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where my ship, the USS Glover was getting overhauled. After some gymnastics I was able to climb aboard the Iowa and walked all around the main deck; much of which was wooden planks. You can get some idea of the size of the Iowa from the video but it can't compare with actually being on it. It's big. After walking around for awhile I climbed into the aft 16" gun turret which was really cool. It was a very constricted space - even for a skinny 20 year old. Then I saw that the aft port berthing hatch hadn't been padlocked, so in I went. It'd been around twenty years since the Iowa was decommissioned but it was almost like everyone had picked up and left in a big hurry the day before. There was all kinds of stuff: socks, newspapers, small change, etc. strewn around. Even a letter from some guy's mom in Hialeah, Florida dated 1957. I went deeper into the ship, but foolishly didn't pay attention to where I was going and before long I got lost in the maze of passages, spaces and ladders, with only a flashlight between me and a desertion report. I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life. Lucky for me the Iowa was moored below the flight path of Philadelphia International Airport and I was able to find my way back to the hatch I'd come in by following the sound of jet engines echoing down the passageways - all the while praying my flashlight wouldn't die. Boy, I'll never forget that one!

[@ndsailor]

How cool is that! I would have made my way to the bridge and Captain's Cabin.

[@ObamaTookMyCat]

Rick Robinson nah thats the boring part! i would have explored the turrets, from the gun house to the magazines and then the engine room, prop shaft room, boiler room, and generator rooms!

[@carterstokoe1479]

Damn. would love to have been there. Shame to watch such a beautiful, and yet intimidating piece of machinery leave for good.

[@TONSBERG100]

you were lucky. to find your way. I use to get lost on that ship. and it was full of men and underway at sea.

[@hionmaiden663]

ERIK SAGER If you think about it, a bomb exploded Arizona's magazine, a shell from Bismark (it is thought) hit the Hoods magazine/shell room. What damage would a modern day missile do?

[@WomenThrowinLeather]

Thanks for posting. Kinda rad to see the ship my dad served on.

[@j0ki3]

Your old

[@fervantbeatle6393]

Respect to ya dad mate

[@beckyzimmerman1915]

@Jared Sheehan lol

[@fervantbeatle6393]

@Jared Sheehan no problem

[@the-zilla]

Your dad is American hero my thanks

[@marioncobaretti2280]

im just so glad all 4 girls were saved from the scrapper.

[@ad356]

the iowa's will never go to the scrapper. they are actually maintained in a condition that if needed they could be put back into service. nothing comes close to the 16 in guns these things pack

[@marioncobaretti2280]

andrew donohue we know that

[@relativity375]

nothing comes close to the 16 in guns these things pack nowadays, back in the day there were some BBs with more potent guns

[@ad356]

yamato= 18 in guns, i think that was the largest ever

[@relativity375]

it's not only a matter of inches, the italian navy for example used 380mm guns but were packing more of a punch compared to american 406mm because the USN under-loaded their shots to preserve the integrity and increase the life expectancy of their barrels

[@DavidHSouthernGent]

It's an amazing sight to see a battleship that survived WWII, and here we are seeing her in all her Glory 70 years later. What a beauty she is. Seeing her in her final voyage, she looks just as new, as when she was built. God Bless America.

[@codboroks97]

What's going to happen to her?

[@codboroks97]

Nvm. I think I already know.

[@codboroks97]

cornskid It would have been so much nicer if they kept it as a working battleship that people could pay to sail in it for a day. During the day they could get a tour and as the sun sets they could let off a few salvos. I would pay so much to see something like that.

Tholaran97 The cost of running that thing is astronomical. As a museum it should last another hundred years. I've visited the North Carolina, Alabama and used to live 10 miles from the Texas. To have them at all is great and yes running them would be great but it's not realistic.

[@brucencalifornia]

cornskid my dad served on the Texas before WW2,,, Imagine all the souls that have put to sea in our BB's

[@rivco5008]

Amazing. My father-in-law was a gunners mate in a 5" mount on BB62 New Jersey, Iowa's sister ship. When we visited the ship in 1981 in Long Beach, when Reagan re-activated the battleships, he got pretty emotional, remembering Okinawa, the Phillipines, and other campaigns they were in.

[@timothykillmeyer5107]

Was the number 2 turret ever repaired after the explosion? Can it fire its guns if needed?

[@jim2lane]

@@timothykillmeyer5107 - no, it was not repaired. The Iowa was retired 18 months later, shortly after all the investigations had concluded 😔

[@oldfatandtired6406]

@@timothykillmeyer5107 the number 2 turret is sealed. I have heard that most of the parts to repair the turret and it's systems are inside of it.

[@ww2expert283]

@@timothykillmeyer5107 Well the turret is now a bit like a memorial for those that died in the explosion.

[@RedBud315]

I did the Iowa museum tour a couple of years ago with one of my best friends and it was definitely an awesome vessel. Back in the early 80's my nieces husband was aboard the DD-265 Kincaid that was getting retro-fitted with Phalanx system and other goodies and at the same time the USS New Jersey was there for some work on her as well. What was interesting is that on the DD ship you had to walk up a gang plank about 20 ft to reach the main deck but, for the NJ you could basically touch it from the pier as it sat so low in the water. Of course the Kincaid no longer exist as far as I know but both the Iowa and NJ are alive and well. They say the Iowa can be battle ready in less than 90 days if need be.

[@glennrishton5679]

If anyone even noticed that was the Crowley tug Warrior in the opening view towing the Iowa with it's 9600 horsepower and using two tow wires. I worked on the Warrior years after this making a run from either Jacksonville FL or Philadelphia to San Juan PR.

[@InductedMist]

One of the most spectacular looking battleships of all time! This kinda gave me chills to see.

[@lendlkaiser3622]

I got to see her in December 2011 we took the California Zephyr to Denver From Emeryville California and on the way I looked out and saw the Naval Mothball fleet, and there she was! She is Majestic!

[@bobgs47]

Great job with this video! Thanks for sharing. Battleship Iowa was my home for 3 and a half years. I'm looking forward to making the trek out to L.A. to walk her decks again after over 22 years.

[@danielcanfield8680]

I remember that day, i was 6 years old and on a tugboat following behind Iowa until she got to the Golden Gate and had helped put her back together, She was my dads first ship in the US Navy from 1987 to 1989

[@radacast88]

I served aboard the Iowa from 1983 to 1987 i was trials crew in pascagoula mississippi and I am a plankowner. To see her out of the mothball fleet and as a showpiece warms my heart. I love her She is part of me. if any of my shipmates read this i say ahoy fare winds and following seas you are my brothers

[@snowfuca]

An absolute legend is passing under another absolute legend.

[@Bcroft39]

In my personal opinion, the Iowa class battleships were the most beautiful of a war ships ever made.

[@Shrike200]

We're going to need a bigger boa.....ok, no we won't, this ones fine.

[@bf0019]

Hey she is not a big boat she is superbattleship

[@stridentiv924]

Tuhin Guha not just a super battleship its a fast superbattleship

[@aggrovating1518]

Tuhin Guha I think he means the boat towing the Iowa, but I agree with u

[@vs666nl]

@@stridentiv924 its Nice but not super

[@stridentiv924]

@@vs666nl Your maybe right but she is close to being super tho, she can go toe to toe with the biggest BBs like Yamato and wins because of her accurate and superior targeting and radar systems

[@lrlewis43]

nice to see all 4 "Iowa" class battleships preserved as memorials. my grandpa Otto Frederick "Fritz" Hartman served aboard its sister ship the USS New Jersey in WWII and Korean War.

[@HondaUberAlles]

That's freaking awesome! So glad to see that the Iowa's going to get a good home and is going to be taken care of! I had the pleasure of going on a tour aboard her sister the USS Missouri at Pearl and it was just unbelievable. It would be amazing if the Iowa and the Mighty Mo could link up some day in the future! This made me so happy :)

[@h24811]

So the four great Iowa Class Battleships have been saved from the scrap yard and become floating museums.. The Iowa, BB-61, in L.A. The New Jersey, BB-62 in Camden NJ. The Missouri, BB-63 in Pearl Harbor and the Wisconsin, BB-64 in Norfolk, VA. Longest and fastest Battleships ever built, each actually 7 feet longer than the Titanic! 212,000 HP turbine engines, able to do 35 knots, (about 40 MPH). Last and most modern battleships ever built. Nine 16" guns, firing 2500 lb.projectiles up to 25 miles.

[@Rab93]

titanic is a fairly small ship now in comparison to modern vessels

[@francoistombe]

Titanic (Olympic class) was 44,000 tons. Iowa's were 57,000 tons max load.

[@icewiz7]

Very Nicely Done!, I'll never forget transiting under the Golden Gate on the USS Missouri BB-63 in 1986, You brought back that memory!

[@frankallen6419]

I remember her when she was going u the coast an I was in my duty ship! U.S.S. Spruce Allot of sailors including the Captain said prayers for here safe keep an The silence of her voice will hopefully never heard! please take care of her !!

[@jeromeridge5566]

I was right where the photographer was too when I realized I had forgotten to put a memory card in my camera! Thanks for posting this.

[@eagerbeaver57]

Hate to see her having to be towed, but she's got a good home now. Won't go the way of the razor blade and can be admired by all.

[@TONSBERG100]

It took a lot of men to operate its engineering plant.

[@raymondleggs5508]

If only the RMS Olympic hadn't become razorblades.....

[@josephbruceismay6832]

@@raymondleggs5508 I really wish Olympic could have been saved and put in a place where all can admire her beauty but sadly she was scrapped :(

[@Cat-y4w]

@@josephbruceismay6832 i suppose theres a life size titanic being constructed in china somewhere but yeah the rms olympic would be cool iff it was saved.

[@asfshrimp]

u don't realize how huge this ship is until I passes under the bridge.what a sight this is on my bucket list just to see a iowa in person.most awesome ship ever built

[@adamyoung2192]

God that's incredible. Imagine being a sailor 60 years ago facing off against that behemoth.

[@michaeldohndelara2240]

I know right plus imagine too if Yamato was preserved now that would be a great experience

[@DK-gy7ll]

@@michaeldohndelara2240 Unfortunately had the Yamato not been sunk in 1945 the US Navy would most likely have used her as an A-bomb target ship at Bikini Atoll. Nobody at the time would've been interested in letting the Japanese keep their greatest warship.

[@nashuamorgan2310]

@@DK-gy7ll they also had the musashi which had a similar death to the yamato most of Japan's battle ships were sunken by torpedoes lol btw the musashi is the yamatos sister ship

[@DevinEMILE]

@@DK-gy7ll wasn’t the ship sent on a suicide mission anyway. To ground itself as a shore battery to help defend one of the islands. The Yamato class was to expensive and valuable for Japan to use.

[@franksullivansr1522]

One of the last juggernauts! What a thing of beauty and power! Thanks for posting!!!!

[@benlockhart8721]

What a beauty an amazing ship an im going to see it this spring!

[@watermelonbeast]

Great to see the Iowa making its final journey. My dad serviced on this ship during the Korea war. Just visited the Missouri in Pearl Harbor and it was awesome.

[@laurentgauci3180]

A real liberty ship. Build by a great nation for a fight against tyranny. A eternal thank from France

[@bigbiff38]

I was very sorry to hear that we in the Bay Area lost the Iowa to L.A. I signed a petition to try and keep her here, but the people in charge of that campaign blew it. She looks like an awesome ship, and I hope to someday visit down there and go on board.

[@Acc0rd79]

Time to pop some of the new Rail guns on the back deck of the Iowa and other battle ships and send them back out to sea!

[@Navdan87]

God bless all of you USS Iowa Veterans! I am visiting USS Wisconsin at Norflok next week with a few former shipmates!!

[@thece8702]

I wish at least one of the Iowas had never been modernized and had been preserved in its WWII state. They just looked so much more menacing and powerful with all the 40mm and 20mm AA guns bristling out all over them. There is nothing impressive-looking about removing AA guns and some 5" to add box launchers.

[@Denton1952]

At least you have North Carolina and two SoDaks.

[@peterson7082]

***** the good ol' Alabama and Massachusetts

[@beyondspace3736]

theCE that's right

[@thesparduck117]

And when you think about it the Iowas are long versions of the South Dakotas

[@peterson7082]

thesparduck117 Basically yeah.

[@TheMalifecent]

I had the opportunity to visit this magnificent ship and to be aboard where so many brave men stood was completely overwhelming. I plan to visit as more areas are open to walk thru. To have seen the stateroom where Pres. FDR resided as it was when he aboard, you walk thru history. Thank you to all who served on this truly beautiful ship and thank you to all the service men and women who have served are serving and protected us. God Bless you all and God Bless America!!

[@Chino56751]

A true symbol of power. We salute you, Iowa, and appreciate your service.

[@Daka_151]

did Iowa face any real battle in her life?

[@justsomedepressedguy2512]

@@Daka_151 ww2 Korean war and gulf war

[@christopheglachet5760]

Magnifique ! 😍 From France, our friend forever, thanks USA, Lafayette, Rochambeau, and mostly, Washington !! In gratitude for ever with.. Merci ! 🇺🇸🇫🇷

[@neverscraptheiowas909]

Thats very true. Battleships, like all naval ships, aren't indestructible. But most people often underestimate or forget how powerful and capable the Iowas really are. Also remember that there equipped with 4 cwis guns (unlike 1 or 2 more commonly seen on ships) giving them better control of the sky than there replacements. The only actual problem with the Iowas, other that there expenses, is that there massive and easier to find on radar. Which (if your asking me) isn't such a big deal. Thanks

[@ulfenburg7539]

It is a massive fucking problem (pun intended) these ships would be destroyed by single torp. They are useless garbage today. Cant stress how fucked they would be today

[@drscopeify]

@@ulfenburg7539 No, a modern torpedo is designed to blow up under the ship to break the Keel but that is only effective as long as the ship has no armor, once you add armor of a Battleship and the very heavy weight yet very narrow frame you have a problem. The force of the blast will simply blow out of the water on the 2 sides of the ship following the path of least resistance. It might shake the ship enough to do some damage but it is not going to break the Keel that is for sure. There are no anti ship missiles that can take out a Battleship and no aircraft has weapons that can sink a battleship either. It took 2 nuclear blasts to sink an old Battleship in US nuke testing back in the day. The benefit of a Battleship is that if China conducts a blockade of Taiwan then you can break the blockade peacefully without firing a shot by sending in a Battleship. It's not going to fight anything but it can sail up close to the enemy and not risk an Aircraft carrier or a battlegroup. This tactic is called force projection.

[@jakobmccarty]

@@ulfenburg7539a single toro, as obsolete they are ur still and idiot . A modernized Iowa fan hold it’s on

[@The67stallion]

Rest easy big girl! Iowa Strong!!

[@jeffwilkes7993]

A majestic ship still !

[@ThomasAffoltertevis]

A signature relic of an era that has now passed. Quite a sight. You have to board these ships to see how big they really are.

[@71superbee3]

What a shame the USS Montana was not completed. She'd have the speed of the Iowa class and have 12 16" guns. What a Battle-wagon she would have been.

[@71superbee3]

***** The plans were dropped.

[@lknation178]

71superbee3 they were dropped in favor of aircraft carriers

[@illogicalassertations7875]

To be frank, USS Montana would have been obsolete before she was even laid down, much like the Iowas unfortunately. I adore battleships but they ceased being practical war machines long before WWII. Even as far back as WWI the point of building such expensive warships was in question when they proved vulnerable to much cheaper weapons like mines and torpedoes. The rise of naval aviation was simply the final nail in the coffin.

[@71superbee3]

IllogicalAssertations Already knew that

[@memoriblewerd]

***** no our NIMITZ aircraft carrier isn't even armored

[@timw5108]

My father-in-law served on USS New Jersey, the 2nd Iowa-class battleship, in the Pacific War. They were the ultimate battleships, the best combination of speed, firepower, armor ever built jmo.

[@grantandkat]

So Sad, she shoulda been sailed in under her own power, how Un-dignified !!!

[@XxHaTeRsFaDiN]

She’s so expensive to operate, but I agree man. Would have been neat

[@ohlawd3699]

Agreed.

[@mthomas8327]

Unfortunately the men who could operate this battleship have long since been retired. A highly-trained, skilled crew was necessary to run the propulsion system aboard this ship.

[@nelsonmccoy4120]

Yes, out of respect and honor it would be nice to see.

[@speakerwhale9096]

Her engines are disabled.

[@iosifas2018]

One of the greatest ships all time..... All four sisters.....respect......from Greece

[@marinajae8301]

THE IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS . NONE BETTER . Back in the late 80s i had the pleasure of going on board 2 of the 4 Iowa class DREADNAUGHTS in San Fransisco . The first one happened to be the New Jersey . The other one was the MISSOURI . I walked around (BB-62) for about 2 hours . Spent about 3 hours on (BB-63) taking in the history and were this ship has been . Something I will never forget . Some people say there were bigger and better Battleships I say 75 years later are the bigger and better ones still here . NOPE.....

[@mikecimerian6913]

The ships had to be able to cross the Panama Canal, they are compact and rational. Ton for ton the best battleships ever built. Super battleships like the Yamato or the Bismark may have been bigger but they are at the bottom of the sea all the same.

[@DininDalael]

Mike Cimerian Actually.. The Bismark was considered a pocket battleship and was smaller than the IOWA overall.

[@mikecimerian6913]

The Bismark displaced 41,700 tons, the Iowa displaced 47,000 tons. The Graf Spee was a pocket battleship and was built within the Washington Treaty limitation.

[@coylepranks]

DininDalael it got destroyed this ship didnt.. soo

[@CaptainColdyron222]

Bismarck was not a pocket battleship.

[@billp4871]

Served on a tender, an oiler, tin cans, and a carrier. Even did a stint in a swift boat with brown water Navy. But these BB's are a thing of true beauty.

[@daqt6079]

Magnificent! A painful reminder though of the brilliant and awesome America that once was and the unrecognizable third world disappointment it is now becoming.

[@TallSky]

Truly amazing footage thank you for posting :)

[@pluckyduck11y]

Turrets the size of tugboats.

[@TheCarablanco]

Great perspective, thanks for posting. I served in the USN, 1974-1977, active. Never got to serve aboard the likes of the Iowa.

[@tigerarmyrule]

Something poignant about seeing this amazingly beautiful and kick ass powerful battleship being towed.

[@Elthenar]

This thing likely could still run under it's own power. The Missouri did when they filmed that "Battleship" movie.

[@jonathanspinks9242]

+Elthenar No, the Missouri was towed and set adrift to film those scenes.

[@Elthenar]

Jonathan Spinks Per Wikipedia I stand corrected, sadly.

[@tapasbhavsar6309]

Majestic! Love from India.

[@ex59neo53]

One of the deadliest masterpieces of XXth Century :)

[@YARROWS9]

What a sight. I wish the UK held on to just one of our Battleships.

[@raiwserkoopa2221]

Rip iowa :( thanks for your service.

[@Vryx43]

she's not getting scrapped..

[@raiwserkoopa2221]

I know, but to know that she may never be used again, just being a museum ship. If they could upgrade it with a new type of system and controls. Of course it would be expensive. The biggest cons is the 16 inch (406mm) guns are not that accurate and it needs a crew around 1500 men. Sure it has the biggest firepower on sea even today but they are inaccurate.

[@Vryx43]

then shell be a gigantic target

[@raiwserkoopa2221]

Were battleships obsolete during ww2 too?

[@johnmagill3072]

+Tony Andre Karlsen Actually they are very accurate. During Deseret Storm, the computer systems for the 16 inch guns were extremely accurate. We were able to Fire the Big Mo's guns with pin point accuracy.

[@Mikefreed9241]

Exactly. It was British carrier aircraft that crippled the Bismarck, leading to its sinking. But apparently they didn't learn their own lesson - in December 1941, they sent a fleet including their newest, most advanced battleships - HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse - to defend Malaya, and the Japanese sank both in short order using light aircraft. It was a massive humiliation for the British. This signaled the end of the era when battleships could sail unchallenged.

[@ndsailor]

A battleship should never have to be towed. She should be maintained in better condition.

[@YourGodStalin]

You think this is bad? The USS Texas, has pumps running constantly because of leaks, they can't move her to fix her, especially not under her own power, the nearest dock that could handle her for repairs, is in Louisiana, and they're pretty sure she won't survive that long of an open water trip.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

YourGodStalin texas has been fully repaired

[@ndsailor]

jeffrey gussman Yes, but isn't it permanently in a dry dock now?

[@marioncobaretti2280]

i dont think permanently , they took a lot of care to make sure she can float again.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

i rechecked it , your right about permanent dry dock

[@kellycrist7607]

I had the distinct privilege of briefly touring the Missouri while it was moored in Astoria in the late 1990's. It had an unscheduled stop there for two weeks as it was being towed to Hawaii.

[@robertprice6521]

With the addition of tomahawk missle pods from the gulf war its a real shame that they couldnt keep the beautiful monsters active. their 16' guns are far more effective for amphibious assaults that a destroyers 5" and the new zumwalt class may have upgraded guns, but they still lack the massive destruction capability of a 16". so between missiles, the Volkswagen's they called shells that this thing fired its still an ongoing debate on if they really lost their usefulness. Yes its an easy target for aircraft, but seeing as it has already had weapon upgrades before to give it the same AA capabilities of a destroyer (which lets face it still don't leave them invincible to any aircraft, these things would fair just as well, if not better. i couldn't imagine if these things would be capable of if they were upgraded or just built modern ones.

[@AZCROALEX]

Tru that my buddy but they are Too sespectable to the AGM-84 class missiles. (range up to 315KM) now, and they can be fired from Aircraft that are never in range of Air Defense systems, thus making them sitting prey with their very large radar image. They are only used for Photo Ops and the cost to run them is so so high... It's a shame and a sad day for sure still! Call me my man! ;-) Merry Christmas!

[@bikelovinmike8321]

+Alex from the AZCRO Wouldn,t even scratch the paint.

[@godofawesum223]

BikeLovinMike a single modern high yield torpedo would snap it in two.

[@edilbertorivera3467]

@@AZCROALEX you don't get the point. The point is today destroyers which are tiny can only hold limited amount of missiles. But with limited amount of missiles they are proven to be effective and dangerous to modern aircrafts. We are not talking about WWII AAs here. We are talking about modern AAs, modern radar, modern missiles and modern guns to be put on a battleship.

[@gittyupalice96]

I think the U.S. is one of the only countries to maintain their WWII flagship BB's to this day. The cool thing about them is the outer layer is almost like a car in the sense its cosmetic and built to be replaced after getting shot up, the actual armor is underneath the outer skin. In other words, if it rots out... Thats not an issue. Unlike on the USS Texas, where rust is a bigger issue.

[@BGRANT777X]

The only museum ship the government maintains is the uss constitution. The 4 Iowa class ships are maintained through donations an operated by non profit organizations. Check out the New Jersey's youtube channel, they talk about how long they expect these to last, its not indefinite.

[@_dexcon_7008]

u always be in my hart Iowa

[@xoally2990]

I might go this Saturday to visit I'm so excited

[@chillyfirefx2174]

Rest In Piece naval legend we will never forget you

[@ErikButterworth]

I do appreciate that the San Francisco Fire Department had Fireboat Phoenix escort USS Iowa out of San Francisco Bay with that water salute from the Phoenix's monitors. Great show of respect for the lead ship of Iowa-class battleships and a piece of American history as she heads for her permanent home in Los Angeles.

[@streetrace442]

I didn't realize so many of her five inch guns have been removed.

[@Redacted-yah]

Huh

[@Redacted-yah]

They seem the same

[@TONYROCKZ818]

@@Redacted-yah If I remember correctly she was still in use during the Iraq war so they had to remove a lot of her old weaponry to fit new ones. Matter of fact she can be readily deployed if they need her at any given moment.

[@FluffyDux2]

Stunning ships. Thats on word for this out of a thousand. I wish they still made these but I know why they didn't. Becuase it cost way to much for us to keep making them

[@RetroAmateur1989]

fun fact: antiship missiles would be ineffective against it.

[@TheGoblinToe]

Are you kidding? A modern supersonic antiship missile, such as those used by our Communist friends in PRC, would turn it into a modern Bismarck

[@RetroAmateur1989]

Jesse Bains I thought those missiles can't penetrate thick armor. plus, battleships are too big and compartmentalised. one of any missile can't sink it in one try imo.

[@Denton1952]

***** Supersonic missiles are only equivalent to supersonic BB HE shells. They'd hit the hull and explode all over the outside of it but wouldn't penetrate. Sorry.

***** Yes, but if they hit the superstructure and penetrated to the magazines the BB would be toast. The BBs had the bulk of their armor around the waterline, not on the superstructure.

[@Denton1952]

Please everyone I am not exactly "ill-informed" here. A battleship's got plenty of armor "beneath" the magazines, the MAIN DECK, the SIDES, etc. The Magazines for the big guns are FORWARD and AFT of the superstructure on the later designs. On earlier ones they weren't. They were spread out, and even then THOSE AREAS were heavily armored. IF they hit the superstructure (ie the plane getting past the ships MODERN AA, the missiles getting past the ships MODERN ANTI MISSILE SYSTEMS) then the superstructure takes a NON MISSION KILL HIT. To kill a battleship, you gotta breach the armored citadel and kill the magazines, or force a capsize with heavy damage below the waterline on one side, or just continue to hammer it all over until its reserve buoyancy is compromised--- the later option MAY take a lot of ordnance to do. See Bismarck or Musashi. Do your research if you want to comment please but don't post without actual info. Everyone knows (that's in the know) a battleships' got serious armor along its main deck, which also happens to run beneath the superstructure.

[@aldenmartindale9033]

I live in LA and found out just the other day that the Iowa was here lol. need to go visit her one of these days :)

[@The_Fumbles]

Looks like she could still go sling shells with the new boys

[@onlythewise1]

my dad was first to sail on her boarded nov 1942. plank owner

[@SuperWayneyb]

So is she now the biggest battleship afloat? Being one of the last.

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

+wayne burgess Actually the US has 9 Battleships still. All museums ships. The only other battleship or dreadnought in the world is in Japan and its dry-docked

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

Sorry my mistake. I counted the Japanese Battleship on the list even though I reported it as a separate vessel. My mistake. However it still points out that the US has a significant amount of heavy guns.

[@diogomagalhaes6562]

+eaglerocks123 not only japan have museum dreadnought. the uss Texas is a super dreadnought. And the u have the Mikasa as museum ship in japan

[@tryithere]

+wayne burgess Actually, The Wisconsin is bigger by about 1/2 a foot because it had an accident way back and they took a piece of another uncompleted Battleship. "In 1956, after Wisconsin suffered a collision with the destroyer USS Eaton, Kentucky's bow was removed and used to repair the other battleship."

[@MrOP-jw1zp]

No, the biggest and strongest battleship was the Yamato(and her sister ship Musashi) You can compare the Iowa with The Bismarck or Tirpitz.

[@garymckee8857]

I went and toured the New Jersey in Camden awesome ship. I know it's not the same as serving on her but a least I saw some of the ship.

[@Schylivia]

SALUTE! FOR THE IOWA

[@nerblebun]

What a majestic old girl. Just look at her beautiful teak deck and size of her guns.

[@Zerosen89]

if these ships are just museums, then why does it have the Phalanx CIWS and modern radar equipment on it ?

[@needawank]

My understanding is although they're preserved as museums, those who are preserving them must retain them in a state of somewhat readiness, should they be needed again. As you probably know, they received the phalanx and radar with the upgrades in the 80s so they'd leave them on there as part of the "in readiness" idea.

[@AJacks828]

Sideshow Bob You my friend are correct! They are kept in a state of readiness at all times! Hooyah Navy!

[@rabautios]

AJacks828 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iowa_(BB-61)#cite_note-Congress_68-54

[@milosstepanovic336]

Sideshow Bob I don't know about you but I don't think that US navy has idea of preserving her in battle readiness state while welding her canons in place and closing them of by welding crcular plates on muzzle, I'm shure some admiral iin pentagon said: "Yeah I know, lets maintain her in battle ready state, but she wont need her guns if she gets into battle..."

[@rabautios]

They have massive artillery power needed for landing operations in a big war. I think it would be likely in such a scenario that these ships would not return...

[@TexasBoy13]

The closer she gets, the more people are she how Big she really is.. i miss this giants of the sea

[@DavidSmith-xs3or]

Sadly, the age of the battleship is over. We live now in the age of the super carrier and the nuclear submarine.

[@titan133760]

+David Smith Don't forget air superiority

[@DavidSmith-xs3or]

These days you get more bang for the buck with fewer aircraft that can deliver the same amount of fire power as a whole World War 2 air division. 2 F-23 Raptors can deliver the same firepower as 200 fully-loaded P-51 Mustangs with rockets from World War2.

[@nilesyensel7516]

Sorry, but did you mean F-22 Raptors?

[@DavidSmith-xs3or]

+Niles Yensel thanks for the correction.

[@relativity375]

to be honest, there never was an age of battleships...they were horrendously over estimated by everyone, their fighting capabilities looked fantastic on paper but they cost a fortune, are slow (most of them) and die with a bunch of planes like dumbasses. even the friggin yamato, the most expensive ship ever built, died because of a couple hundred planes. I love BBs, friend, but the truth is they've always been beautiful, over-appreciated iron caskets

[@marybabiec]

My uncle served aboard the USS Leyte - Navy . Mary L Babiec

[@davidward3848]

I'm proud to be an American and an Iowan

[@josephgordon9645]

we need her now more than ever

[@BGRANT777X]

for what?

[@RampantFury925]

Plenty of room in the back to add a VLS.

[@Jolinders108]

RampantFury925 Would be sitting to close to the engine i guess

[@peloi111]

RampantFury925 As much as it hurts to accept, its over.

[@Jolinders108]

Phatos Musik What's over ?

[@peloi111]

The era of the Battleship

[@MicroageHD]

***** The movie sucks.

[@tys1646]

Beautiful survivor thank you for your hard work🚢🙏 🇺🇸

[@SpartanFlyboy]

How amazing would it have been if they would have let her fire one last broadside (of raw powder, of course) as she entered the bay. What a gorgeous ship. San Francisco, you had better take good care of the old girl...

[@aldofernandez4095]

Uh, it's final destination is San Pedro, CA

[@bf0019]

Right

[@rada660]

actually I know that the Wisconsin, even if a museum right now, can takes just 1 month to return usable and not that expensive I believe. All the equipment is usable and is still well maintained if needed.

[@AESOPPOSEA1]

Turrent #2 exploded on April 19,1989 killing 47 sailors.

[@kelley47]

That's what they told everybody I was on the Iowa

[@charliegood1967]

My cousin Cee Jay Good was a crewman on the Crowley tug pulling the Missouri to Pearl Harbor

[@thefishstick]

'MERICA!!

[@TheClampettmobile]

The key is LOTS of horsepower turning a high torque propeller. I was part of ship's company on a NAVY FLEET TUG (which still exists, barely). It had 3000 horsepower and could tow ANYTHING in the Navy's fleet HALF WAY around the world UNREFUELED! And that tug was built in 1943! (same year as the IOWA). Modern tugs have 2 to 3 times that horsepower and propulsion systems that allow movement fore/aft and sideways with near equal aplomb.

[@R3dShift]

Stop dragging her as if she were dead =( She can still move by herself right ?

[@peterson7082]

+LMAA WardogzZ She is still a capable ole' girl. However in the relatively shallow depth (43') of San Francisco Bay, maritime law requires it to be towed.

[@R3dShift]

+Nathan Peterson Glad to know that she is still " alive ". Thank you for the info =)

[@ridethepow]

LMAA WardogzZ believe it took 20 engineers to run her boilers. Woulda had to be manned by at least 100.

[@cdubois13]

So I know they did some work on the ship prior to the move to LA. Looking on the aft deck they had Porta potty’s and they had portable generators. Was anybody on the ship during the tow? I couldn’t see anybody looking at this footage. It was a pretty long tow, so I imagine somebody must’ve had to be on board to monitor the condition of the ship such as a haul leak. I presume the harbor pilot would’ve been on board the lead tug. I’m wondering if anybody has any insight on that?

[@Mikefreed9241]

Problem is...battleships are critically vulnerable to air attack. They have to be defended by the rest of the battle group, and to use their main armament, they have to be in very close range (about 20-30 miles, if memory serves). At that range they're very vulnerable to attack. They're also incredibly expensive to operate. That's why they're all retired now. As magnificent as these ships are, they're obsolete.

[@lonmcq7317]

These things should still be in Service... What an intimidating presence...

[@Cat-y4w]

They were reactivated in the 80's to make the soviets shit themselves 😂

[@SatelliteYL]

Sad to see her in such a state she must’ve been glorious in her prime

[@danielcanfield8680]

you should have seen her when they pulled her out of mothballs in 2011

[@jcgamer892]

no their was 2 keels laid down for the Montana Class battleships, however one was converted for carrier use and the other was scraped

[@marybabiec]

How is she doing today ?

[@13Psycho13]

I have to disappoint you, but they did in fact. V1 and V2 were the very first cruise and ballistic missiles respectively, and next to that airplanes and ships utilised missile bombs and artillery. Also, if you regard a missile as a flying bomb; (heavy) fireworks have been used for a long time.

[@Luke-mf3nw]

Well the tug you first see is towing it they need long high tension wires because of the weight of the ship. they are really only guide ropes so the ship doesn't get carried away by the currents because is is so massive and heavy.

[@UncleJoey047]

Look strong 💪🏻 😎😎😎😎

[@jerryreisz4996]

She was with us in 72 got to watch her fire those guns amazing I was on the coral sea

[@MidniteSon]

Why is she being towed? Aren't the engines still working? It was decommissioned in 1990, but apparently still was suppose to be in 'battle ready' condition in the minute chance it was ever needed.