Whatever Happened to the Iowa Class Battleships?

These four ships, in my opinion, are the very epitome of naval architecture, the end of the old ships-of-the-line. The most powerful ships ever launched. The direct ancestors of the USS Monitor and its revolutionary design.

I have seen the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor, and this past October, went for a dinner cruise while visiting Philadelphia, and we left from a place across the Delaware River from the USS New Jersey. Both ships are currently floating museums. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to go on either vessel, but will definitely do so if I ever get the opportunity.

But what about the ship that gave the class its name, the USS Iowa, or the USS Wisconsin? Where are they?

The USS Wisconsin BB 64 is currently in Virginia awaiting donation to some group (I would hope in its name state). It was last decommissioned in 1991, after the Persian Gulf War. It functions as a museum ship for the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

Of interest, in the 1950s, the bow of the Wisconsin was badly damaged in a collision with another naval ship. The bow of the never-finished USS Kentucky was used to replace it.

The USS Iowa BB 61, the lead ship of the class is currently in San Francisco waiting to be adopted by some organization. It is the only ship of the class that the public can not visit.

Of interest, the Iowa made headlines in 1989 when there was an explosion in turret #2 that killed 47 crew members.

Both the Iowa and Wisconsin are up for adoption, but with particulars. Neither ship can be altered in any way that might impair its future military use, they must be preserved, and have to be able to be returned to service in case of national emergency.

I'd sure like to see both ships become museums in the states that gave them their names, but, I don't know that the Iowa would be able to navigate the Mississippi River and I'm not sure about getting the Wisconsin to Lake Michigan.

Love Them Great Big Ol' Ships. --RoadDog