{"id":2190,"date":"2024-05-18T18:18:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-18T18:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2190"},"modified":"2024-05-18T18:18:47","modified_gmt":"2024-05-18T18:18:47","slug":"iowa-class-battleships-freedoms-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2190","title":{"rendered":"Iowa-Class Battleships \u2014 Freedom\u2019s Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Richard Johnson<\/a><\/p>\n

T<\/span>hundering sounds of 16\u201d naval guns signaled the imminent doom of America\u2019s enemies in multiple wars throughout the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0century. With those massive guns,\u00a0Iowa<\/em>-class battleships helped write world history from World War II to the Gulf War. They were unmistakable symbols of U.S. strength around the world.<\/p>\n

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USS\u00a0Missouri<\/em>\u00a0(BB-63) underway at sea during fleet maneuvers in March 1950. The\u00a0Missouri<\/em>\u00a0was one of four\u00a0Iowa<\/em>-class battleships that entered service. Image:\u00a0U.S. Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While aircraft carriers have proven to be the ultimate combat ship in modern navies, it is the battleship that personified overwhelming surface warfare power. While they figured prominently in both world wars, the importance of the battleship faded quickly after Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed the Instrument of Surrender on the teak deck of the USS\u00a0Missouri<\/em>\u00a0(BB-63).<\/p>\n

\"USS\n<\/picture>
The USS\u00a0Wisconsin<\/em>\u00a0(BB-64) underway after its return to active duty in 1988. All 20mm and 40mm guns had been removed, as had some of the 5\u2033 guns. Image:\u00a0U.S. Navy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Born in World War II, the\u00a0Iowa<\/em>-class battleships served well beyond any reasonable expectation. Generations of sailors crewed their decks and manned their guns in hostile waters across five decades. This is a small part of their story.<\/p>\n

What Were the\u00a0Iowa<\/em>-Class Battleships?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Iowa<\/em>-class battleships were the last battleships ever built by the United States. Constructed during World War II, the ships were designed to go toe-to-toe with the Imperial Japanese Navy.<\/p>\n

\"USS\n<\/picture>
This October 1941 photograph shows the USS\u00a0New Jersey<\/em>\u00a0(BB-62) under construction. In less than two months, the United States would enter World War II and need all of the Iowa-class ships. Image:\u00a0NARA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A total of six ships were planned, with four delivered before VJ Day. The two that were still under construction were never completed. The completed ships of the\u00a0Iowa<\/em>-class were as follows:<\/p>\n