About this Unit
USS Iowa (BB-61) is the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships, commissioned into the United States Navy in 1943. She served with distinction in World War II, providing fire support during the Pacific campaigns and escorting aircraft carriers. USS Iowa later saw action during the Korean War, bombarding enemy positions along the coast. After periods of decommissioning and modernization, she was reactivated in the 1980s before finally being decommissioned in 1990, and now serves as a museum ship in Los Angeles, California.
Historical Facts
•
Flagship for WWII Leaders: During World War II, USS Iowa served as the flagship for Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., and even transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943.
•
Presidential Bathtub: To accommodate President Roosevelt's needs during his voyage, a special bathtub was installed aboard the Iowa—a rare luxury on a battleship.
•
First to Fire 16-inch Shells in Korean War: USS Iowa was the first battleship to fire her 16-inch guns during the Korean War, providing crucial shore bombardment support.
•
Only Battleship with a Peace Treaty: The Japanese surrender ending World War II was signed aboard her sister ship, USS Missouri, but Iowa was present in Tokyo Bay for the historic event.
•
Cold War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War and again in the 1980s, Iowa was modernized with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, making her one of the most powerful surface combatants of her era.
•
Tragic Turret Explosion: On April 19, 1989, a devastating explosion in Turret Two killed 47 crewmen—the deadliest peacetime accident in U.S. Navy battleship history.
•
Nickname "The Big Stick": USS Iowa earned the nickname "The Big Stick," referencing President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote and the battleship’s imposing firepower.
•
Longest Battleship in U.S. History: At 887 feet, Iowa and her class were the longest battleships ever built for the United States Navy.
•
Survived Kamikaze Attack: In 1944, while operating in the Pacific, Iowa survived a close call when a kamikaze plane narrowly missed her.
•
Museum Ship Today: Decommissioned in 1990, USS Iowa is now a museum ship located at the Port of Los Angeles, California, where visitors can tour her historic decks.
