Intro
Discover the mighty USS Iowa-class battleships, the last and largest battleships ever built by the US Navy. Learn about the five notable vessels, including USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, USS Wisconsin, and USS Illinois, and explore their history, features, and significance in American naval warfare and battleship design.
The USS Iowa-class battleships were a class of six fast battleships commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. These ships were designed to be the fastest battleships in the world at the time, with a top speed of over 33 knots. Here are 5 notable USS Iowa-class battleships:
The USS Iowa-class battleships played a significant role in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. Their speed, firepower, and advanced technology made them a formidable force on the battlefield. However, their service was not without controversy, and they were eventually decommissioned in the 1990s.
USS Iowa (BB-61)
The USS Iowa was the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships and was commissioned on February 22, 1943. She was the fourth ship to bear the name of the state of Iowa. The USS Iowa served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. She was decommissioned in 1990 and is now a museum ship in Los Angeles.
USS New Jersey (BB-62)
The USS New Jersey was the second ship of the Iowa-class battleships and was commissioned on May 23, 1943. She served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The USS New Jersey was decommissioned in 1991 and is now a museum ship in Camden, New Jersey.
USS Missouri (BB-63)
The USS Missouri was the third ship of the Iowa-class battleships and was commissioned on June 11, 1944. She served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. The USS Missouri was decommissioned in 1992 and is now a museum ship in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
The USS Wisconsin was the fourth ship of the Iowa-class battleships and was commissioned on April 16, 1944. She served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. The USS Wisconsin was decommissioned in 1991 and is now a museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia.
USS Illinois (BB-65)
The USS Illinois was the fifth ship of the Iowa-class battleships, but she was never completed. Her construction was canceled in 1945, and she was scrapped in 1959.
USS Kentucky (BB-66)
The USS Kentucky was the sixth and final ship of the Iowa-class battleships, but she was also never completed. Her construction was canceled in 1947, and she was scrapped in 1959.
Legacy of the USS Iowa-Class Battleships
The USS Iowa-class battleships played a significant role in American naval history. They were the last battleships commissioned by the United States Navy and served in several major conflicts. Although they were eventually decommissioned, their legacy lives on as museum ships and historical landmarks.
USS Iowa-Class Battleships Image Gallery
What was the main feature of the USS Iowa-class battleships?
+The main feature of the USS Iowa-class battleships was their speed, with a top speed of over 33 knots.
How many USS Iowa-class battleships were built?
+Six USS Iowa-class battleships were planned, but only four were completed: USS Iowa (BB-61), USS New Jersey (BB-62), USS Missouri (BB-63), and USS Wisconsin (BB-64).
What was the fate of the USS Illinois (BB-65) and USS Kentucky (BB-66)?
+The USS Illinois (BB-65) and USS Kentucky (BB-66) were never completed and were scrapped in the 1950s.
We hope you have enjoyed this article about the USS Iowa-class battleships. These ships played a significant role in American naval history, and their legacy lives on as museum ships and historical landmarks.