The last class of battleship built for the United States Navy, and the absolute pinnacle of battleship technology. Originally, six were planned (USS Illinois and USS Kentucky), however due to aircraft carriers taking over the role of flagship from the battleship, both were cancelled and scrapped. Four were completed: USS Iowa (BB-61), USS New Jersey (BB-62), USS Missouri (BB-63), and USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Those four battleships, still afloat today as museums, are among the most highly decorated warships in the US Navy, and even the world, for good reason. The Iowa-class have served in WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and in the Cold War against the expanded Soviet Navy.
The main armament of the Iowa-class is their 16-inch/50 caliber Mark 7 naval rifles, capable of firing a shell up to 27 miles away. They are also armed with numerous CIWS systems, 5-inch dual purpose guns as secondaries, and even Tomahawk missiles. Their armor is also impressive: It was designed to take hits from the Japanese Yamato-class battleships, which fired 18.1-inch shells, so you can imagine how tough it is. As said above, all are currently museum ships, but at least two are ready to be recommissioned at any time the US needs these gunships.
The main armament of the Iowa-class is their 16-inch/50 caliber Mark 7 naval rifles, capable of firing a shell up to 27 miles away. They are also armed with numerous CIWS systems, 5-inch dual purpose guns as secondaries, and even Tomahawk missiles. Their armor is also impressive: It was designed to take hits from the Japanese Yamato-class battleships, which fired 18.1-inch shells, so you can imagine how tough it is. As said above, all are currently museum ships, but at least two are ready to be recommissioned at any time the US needs these gunships.
''Pft, the Iowa-class battleship would annihilate the Yamato-class any day! Based American FCS over optical sights!''
''Erm, you do know that the Yamato-class also had radar, right?''
''Yes, but not the radar American ships had!''
''Erm, you do know that the Yamato-class also had radar, right?''
''Yes, but not the radar American ships had!''
by Firebolt1089 August 13, 2018