USS IOWA(BB-61)
Detailed History
A special THANKS to BILL KELLY for researching all of this
information!
1940 - 1990
Activities by Year
IOWA springs from a distinguished line of namesakes. The first IOWA, a 3,200
ton gunboat, dates back to 1864. The second, a 11,000 tonner, fired the first shot at
Santiago Bay in the Spanish-American War and took the Spanish Admiral prisoner.
Construction of the third IOWA was cancelled under the terms of the Washington Treaty. The
present IOWA was conceived as the first of the 45,000-ton class of battleships on the
drawing boards of the nations's marine and naval architects in the late 1930's.
Source Info/Accuracy Statement
QUICK ACCESS:
Click on one of the three "Era's" below or click on a
particular year to be taken to that area or use the scroll bar to look through all of
IOWA's history. While browsing the "History Section" - at the bottom of each
year is a link to take you back to the top of that particular ERA. At the Top of each Era
there are links to other Era's and this "Quick Access" section.
World
War II Era:
1940, 1942, 1943,
1944, 1945, 1946,
1947, 1948, 1949
KOREAN
Era:
1951, 1952, 1953,
1954, 1955, 1956,
1957, 1958
1980's
Era:
1982, 1984, 1985,
1986, 1987, 1988,
1989, 1990
World War II Era:
1940,
1942, 1943, 1944,
1945, 1946, 1947,
1948, 1949
HISTORY MENU: Quick Access | World War II | Korean Conflict | 1980's Era
Source Info/Accuracy Statement
1940
-June 27 Keel laid down at New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn. Œ
Back to World War II
Era Top
1942
August 27 Launched at New York naval Yard. Sponsored by Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, wife
of the Vice President. Œ
Back to World War II
Era Top
1943
February 22 Commissioned (On Washington's Birthday) Œ
Commanding Officer Captain John L. McCrea USN Ž
February 24 To Sea for shakedown in Chesapeake Bay and along
Atlantic Coast. Œ
July 9 USS IOWA completed her post shakedown overhaul. Ž
August 27 En Route to Newfoundland and the North Atlantic for her
first war patrol.
Assignment, the "Tirpitz Watch" , the German battleship,
thereby contributing to the neutralization of the threat presented by that warship then
poised in Norwegian waters. Œ
October 25 To Norfolk Navy Yard for two weeks of maintenance in
preparation for taking President Roosevelt to North Africa for Tehran Conference. Œ
November 11 En route to Mediterranean with FDR and other
high-ranking members of American delegation to Casablanca and then Tehran. The Tehran
Conference was with Stalin and Churchill. Œ
December 16 Completion of mission with return of FDR to United
States. Œ
Back to World War II
Era Top
1944
January 2 En Route to Pacific as Flagship of Battleship Division 7, in company with
USS NEW JERSEY. The USS IOWA became a charter member of the famous Pacific Fleet Task
Force 58. Œ
January 7 Transit Panama Canal. Œ
January 23 First Pacific campaign in support of carrier air
strikes against Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls. Œ
February 16 First firing of weapons in combat in attack on
Japanese naval base at Truk in Caroline islands.
In action off Truk, the USS IOWA sank light cruiser
Katori. Œ
March 18 First shore bombardment against Mili Atoll in Marshall
Islands. The USS IOWA received her first hit when she was struck by two Japanese 4.7
projectiles, neither of which caused significant damage. Œ
March 30 In support of Task group 58, air strikes against Palau
and Woleai islands, followed by further strikes against Hollandia, Aitape and Wake
Islands.Œ
April 22 Supporting Army landing at
Aitape, Tanahmerah and Humbolt
Bays. Œ
May 1 Bombardment of airfield, bombs wharf and other enemy
facilities at Ponape. Œ
June 13 Shelled Saipan and Tinian and blew up an ammunition dump. Œ
June 19 In action throughout battle of the Philippine Sea. Downed
at least three attacking planes. Œ
August Commanding Officer Captain Allan R. McCann USN Ž
September A unit of Fleet Admiral William F. "Bull"
Halsey's third Fleet in support of carrier strikes against Philippine and Caroline
Islands. Œ
October 10 Participating in air strikes against Ryukyu Islands,
Taiwan and Luzon. Œ
October 23 Headed for Battle of Leyte Gulf. Œ
November Commanding Officer Captain James L. Holloway Jr., USN Ž
November 25 Kamikaze attack on Third Fleet. USS IOWA claimed two
Jills and a Judy. Œ
December 17-18 At Ulithi for replenishment and maintenance. Lost
plane - washed over the side during typhoon. Damage to shaft caused by storm required USS
IOWA to return to the United States for overhaul at Hunters Point Shipyard, San Francisco.
ΠAs one crew member recounts, "It was a very
scary night, the Iowa rolled to about a 45 degree angle at one point and we all held our
breaths that it wouldn't happen again. As our luck went, it happened at meal time so you
can imagine the condition of the deck in the mess hall." There were 24 ships damaged,
plus the destroyers Monoghan, Hull, and Spence which were sunk with a loss of 765 sailors.
Back to World War II
Era Top
1945
January 15 In drydock until March 19, 1945. This was the first major overhaul since
leaving the East Coast. Bridge area was enclosed. New search and fire control radar
installed.Œ & Ž
April 15 Arrives off Okinawa to relieve USS NEW JERSEY. Œ
May 25 Supported air strikes against Kyushu. Œ
July 1 En route to Northern Honshu and Hokkaido. Œ
July Commanding Officer Captain Charles Wellborn Jr. USN Ž
July 15 USS IOWA, USS MISSOURI and USS WISCONSIN attacked Muroran
on Hokkaido inflicting significant damage on Nihon Steel Company and Wanishi Ironworks. Œ
July 17 The three battleships bombard industrial city of Hitachi
Miro. During this action, USS IOWA served as flagship for Rear Admiral Oscar Badger. Œ
July 29-30 Bombarded island of
Kahoolawe. Œ
August 27 In company with USS MISSOURI, USS IOWA put into Sagami
Bay to effect the surrender of Yokosuka naval district. Œ
August 29 USS IOWA and USS MISSOURI entered Tokyo Bay in support
of landing of occupation forces to take place next day. Œ
September 20 Underway for the United States. Œ
October 15 Arrived in Seattle, Washington and from there went on
to Long Beach where she engaged in training operations along the West Coast. Œ
November Commanding Officer Captain Frederick I. Entwistle USN Ž
Back to World War II
Era Top
1946
January 27 Arrived in Tokyo Bay to serve as flagship of Fifth Fleet until March. Œ
March 25 Returned to Long Beach to operate along West Coast
conducting drills, maneuvers and Naval Reserve and midshipmen training cruises. Œ
July Commanding Officer Captain Raymond D. Tarbuck USN Ž
October USS IOWA again overhauled. This time it was at Puget Sound
Navy Yard. She received SK-2 radar and had many 20mm and 40mm mounts removed. Then was
painted haze gray on all vertical surfaces. Ž
Back to World War II
Era Top
1947
April Commanding Officer Captain Thomas M. Stokes, USN Ž
Back to World War II
Era Top
1948
- March Commanding Officer Captain Edward A. Solomons, USN Ž
-August Commanding Officer Captain William F. Jennings, USN Ž
-September Inactivation begun at San Francisco. Œ
Back to World War II Era Top
1949
January Commanding Officer Captain Bennett M. Dodson, USN Ž
March 24 Placed out of commission in reserve. Œ
Back to World War II Era Top
THE KOREAN ERA
1951,
1952, 1953, 1954,
1955, 1956, 1957,
1958
HISTORY MENU: Quick Access | World War II | Korean Conflict | 1980's Era
Source Info/Accuracy
Statement
1951
August Commanding Officer Captain William R. Smedberg III, USN Ž
August 25 Recommissioned due to the escalating level of hostilities in Korea. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1952
April 1 Underway for Far East to relieve USS WISCONSIN and become flagship of Vice Admiral
Robert T. Briscoe, Commander, Seventh Fleet, operating in support of United Nations Forces
in Korea. Œ
April 8 Conducted gun strikes against enemy supply routes in Wonson-Songjin
area. Œ
April 9 Joined bombline to strike enemy troop concentrations, supply areas and
suspected gun positions in vicinity of Suwon Dan and Kojo. Œ
April 13 Bombardment in support of I ROK Corps, killing 100 enemy troops,
destroying six gun emplacements and seriously damaging divisional headquarters. Œ
April 14 In Wonsan Harbor to bomb warehouses, observation posts and railroad
marshaling yards and then back to the bombline to support UN forces in Kosong area. Œ
April 20 Operating north of 38th Parallel, the USS IOWA closed four railroad
tunnels near Tanchon. Œ
April 25-26 Bombardment of Chindong and
Kosong. Œ
May 25 In action against North Korean industrial and rail transportation center
at Chongjin. Not since the USS MISSOURI bombarded Chongjin in November 1950, had a
battleship operated that far north, just forty-eight miles from the Russian border. The
USS IOWA effectively destroyed Chongjin's industrial center. Œ
May 27 Bombardment of Songjin, closing railroad tunnels and seriously damaging
area bridges. Œ
May 28 Again on bombline in support of X Corps, followed by gun strikes on
islands in Wonsan harbor. Œ
June 1 Underway for Sasebo and replenishment. Œ
June Gun strikes against Mayang-do,
Tanchon, Chongjin, Chodo-Sokto and ports of
Hungnam and Wonsan. Œ
June 9 USS IOWA'S helicopter rescued downed pilot from USS PRINCETON. Second
USS PRINCETON pilot is rescued by USS IOWA's helicopter. Œ
July Commanding Officer Captain Joshua W. Cooper, USN Ž
August 20 Went to aid of destroyer USS THOMPSON off
Songjin, taking aboard her
casualties and covering her escape to safer waters. Œ
September 23 Gun strikes in Wonsan area observed by General Mark Clark, USA,
Commander-In-chief of United Nations Forces who was aboard. IOWA's gunfire destroyed a
major ammunition dump. Œ
September 25 Gun Strikes against railroad and thirty-car train. Œ
October 14 Participated in Operation Decoy, an attempt to draw enemy troops
under fire at Kojo. Œ
October 16 Provided anti-aircraft support for the USS MOUNT MCKINLEY during
Kojo action. Œ
During her Korean tour, the USS IOWA steamed more than 40,000 miles.
October 17 En route to Norfolk, Virginia for overhaul, followed by training
operations in the Caribbean. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1953
July Commanding Officer Captain Wayne R. Loud, USN Ž
July Serving as flagship of Second Fleet, USS IOWA was a participant in
Operation Mariner, a major NATO exercise in Northern Europe. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1954
June On Midshipmen training cruise, rendezvous with three other USS IOWA class
battleships in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Œ
September Commanding Officer Captain William C. Bryson, USN Ž
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1955
Visited Mediterranean, becoming first battleship in the Mediterranean since the war
ended. Ports visited Gibraltar; Mers El Kebir, Oran; Genoa & Naples, Italy;
Instanbul,
Turkey; Athens, Greece; and Cannes, France.
June Midshipmen Cruise. Visited
Barcelonia, Spain and Portsmouth, England.
August Norfolk, Virginia for a four-month overhaul , followed by training
cruises and operational exercises.
November Commanding Officer Captain John W. Ailes III, USN Ž
December Regunned for the first time. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1956
April 13-15 Visited Havana Cuba.
April 15 USS IOWA's baseball team played the University of Havana in Havana.
June Midshipmen Cruise Able 1956. Visited Guantanamo Bay, Bermuda, Portsmouth,
England, and Copenhagen, Denmark.
December Commanding Officer Captain F. Julian Becton USN Ž
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1957
January Returned to Mediterranean for duty with the Sixth Fleet. Œ
June 13 Participated in International Naval Review off Hampton roads, Virginia.
September Participate in NATO's Operation strike Back in North Atlantic. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
1958
February 24 Decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Œ
Back to KOREAN Era Top
THE 1980's ERA
1982,
1984, 1985, 1986,
1987, 1988, 1989,
1990
HISTORY MENU: Quick Access | World War II | Korean Conflict | 1980's Era
Source Info/Accuracy
Statement
1982
September 1 In tow from Philadelphia to New Orleans and Avondale shipyard, Inc., for
modernization and reactivation. Subsequently towed to Ingalls shipbuilding, Pascagoula,
Mississippi for completion of work. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1984
April Commanding Officer Captain Gerald E. Gneckow, USN Ž
April 28 Recommissioned ahead of schedule and within budget. Œ
April 30 Underway to Autec Range for Naval Gunfire Support
(NGFS) training. Œ
May Two weeks refresher training at Guantanamo Bay. Œ
May 21 Off Vieques island, Puerto Rico, for NGFS qualifications for IOWA's
16-inch and 5-inch batteries. Œ
June 19 Underway for Caracas, Venezuela conducting a number of systems checks
and gunnery exercises en route. USS IOWA also made stops at ports en route in support of
"Naval Presence" operations designed to back-up friendly states in Central
America and Caribbean. Œ
Mid-July Off Vieques Island for gunnery exercises. Œ
August 8 Underway to begin pacific Coast operations. Œ
August 12 Two US Army UH-1 helicopters from USS IOWA were used when medical and
dental assistance was needed in Guatemala. Œ
August 13 SAR communications drill. Œ
August 14 Engaged in surveillance of thirteen miles of Nicaraguan coast in
conjunction with embassy contingency communication exercises. Œ
August 26 Nicaraguan surveillance completed and USS IOWA returned to
Balboa,
Panama for trip back through canal. Œ
September 17 Arrived in Norfolk. Œ
October Week long visit to New York. Œ
November 1-20 Participated in COMPUTEX 1-85 in Puerto Rican Operations area. Œ
December In port Norfolk. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1985
January Sea Trials. Œ
February Underway for deployment in Central America. Completed several civic
action and humanitarian projects in Costa Rica and Honduras. Participated in encounter
exercises with Battleship Surface Action Group. Œ
March Engaged in Battle Force integrated training and post-shakedown
availability training operating out of Norfolk. Off loaded ammunition at Yorktown's Naval
Weapons Station. Œ
April 26 Into drydock at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va. Œ
July 31 Out of drydock to load gun ammunition while at Whiskey Island Anchorage
in Hampton Roads. This was followed by a demonstration of her Tomahawk Handling system,
then ten days of sea trials and ammunition onload at Yorktown. Œ
August 22 Received Battenburg Cup Award as best all-around ship in Atlantic
Fleet for 1984. Œ
August 27 Underway for Ocean Safari as part of Battleship Surface Action Group
providing protection for convoy of supply ships en route from Boston to Northern Europe. Œ
September 20 Operation Ocean Safari completed following rendezvous with USS
America Battle Group, USS IOWA went on through English Channel to Le Havre, France, then
Copenhagen & Aarhus, Denmark and Oslo, Norway. Œ
October 12 Underway for Baltic Operations
(BALTOPS) 85 in Baltic Sea. Part of
US Task Unit conducting multilateral exercises with allied vessels in Baltic area. Œ
October 18 BALTOPS 85 concluded with USS IOWA in port at Kiel, West Germany. Œ
October 26 Underway for Norfolk, conducting numerous drills/exercises en routeŒ
November 5 In Norfolk for preparations for
INSURV/UMI and final contract
trials. In Central America as peaceful presence in support of friendly countries. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1986
March Continued presence in Central American waters. Œ
July Commanding Officer Captain Larry
Seaquist, USN Ž
July 4 Carried President Ronald Reagan for Liberty Weekend's International
Naval Review in Hudson River. Œ
August Underway along Florida coast and in Gulf of Mexico conducting
operational and training exercises. Œ
August 17 Underway for North Atlantic and (NATO) Operation Northern Wedding.Œ
September Participated in Operation Northern Wedding off southern coast of
Norway, Following operations at sea, USS IOWA visited Portsmouth, England and
Bremerhaven,
West Germany. Œ
October 2 Underway for return trip to United States. Œ
December 9 Underway for sea trials off Virginia Capes. First launch, flight and
recovery of a Pioneer RPV was made. Œ
December 14 USS IOWA fired 1,000 th round of 16-inch ammunition since being
recommissioned in 1984. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1987
January 9 Departed Norfolk en route to Caribbean. Œ
January 10 Participated in exercise BLASTEX 1-87 in Caribbean. Œ
January 18 Operations in Caribbean with port visits in Honduras, Columbia and
Virgin Islands. Œ
February 11 Arrived Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for ORI (Operational Readiness
Inspection). Œ
February 13 Departed Guantanamo Bay for gunnery exercises at Vieques Island,
Puerto Rico. Œ
February 26 Arrived Norfolk. Œ
February 27 In restricted availability at Norfolk. Œ
March Independent ship exercises. Œ
March 30 In service restricted availability at Norfolk. Œ
April 25 Departed Norfolk en route to Caribbean. Œ
May 4 Conducted SACEX in Puerto Rican operations area. Œ
May 25 Independent ship exercises. Œ
July 8 Participated in FLEETEX 3-87 in Western Atlantic. Œ
July 26 Arrive Yorktown Naval Weapons Center for loading ammunition. Œ
July 28 Arrive Norfolk. In Service restricted availability (SRA). Œ
August 17 Independent ship exercises. Œ
September 10 Departed Norfolk en route to Mediterranean. Œ
September 20 INCHOP (enter Mediterranean) to join Sixth Fleet. Œ
September 22 Participated in Exercise Display Determination. Œ
October 8 Port visit - Instanbul. Œ
October 22 OUTCHOP, detach from Sixth Fleet. Œ
October 26 Began North Sea operations. Œ
October 30 Arrived Trondheim, Norway. Œ
November 8 INCHOP. Œ
November 25 Transited Suez Canal. Œ
December 4 Arrived Diego Garcia to commence Persian Gulf Presence Operations. Œ
December 7 Depart Diego Garcia for operations in the Indian Ocean and North
Arabian Sea. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1988
January 1 In Gulf of Oman. Operations included escorting convoys through the southern
Strait of Hormuz and protecting convoy assembly areas off Masirah Island and Muscat, Oman.
Œ
February 20 Transited Suez Canal. Œ
February 29 OUTCHOP Œ
March 10 Arrived Norfolk. In service restricted availability. Œ
April 20 Departed Norfolk en route to New York City to celebrate "Fleet
Week" 21-25 of April. Œ
April 25 En route to Yorktown Naval Weapons Station for off load of ammunition,
prior-to entering Norfolk Naval shipyard for SRA (25 April-23 August).Œ
May Commanding Officer Captain Fred P.
Mossally, USN Ž
August 24 Sea Trials, Virginia Capes Operating Area. Œ
October 7 En route to Port Everglades, Florida for port visit (9-11 October). Œ
October 13 Arrived Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training.Œ
November 28 Gunnery exercises at Vieques Island.Œ
December 7 Arrive Norfolk.Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1989
January 20 En route St. Martin, operating with units of the standing Naval Forces,
Atlantic. Œ
January 26 USS IOWA fired the longest 16-inch round in history at Vieques
Island. The projectile traveled 23.4 NM for a first round hit on target. Œ
February 1 En route to New Orleans for port visit (5-9 February). Œ
March 16 Arrive Norfolk. Œ
April 10 Embark Commander, Second Fleet. Œ
April 13 Underway, FLEETEX 3-89.Œ
April 19 Explosion within Turret Two kills 47 crewman off the coast of Puerto
Rico. Œ
April 22 Arrive Norfolk. Œ
May 30 - June 2 Ammunition loaded at Whisky Island Anchorage. Œ
June 7 Underway for Northern Europe and Mediterranean. During this deployment,
USS IOWA traveled 30,983 NM and crossed eight time zones. Port visits included: Kiel, West
Germany; Portsmouth, England: Rota, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Gibraltar; Marseille,
France; Antalya, Turkey; Gaeta, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Haifa, Israel; Alexandria, Egypt;
Ajaccio, Corsica; Augusta Bay, Sicily; Naples, Italy and Palma, Mallorca.Œ
July 24 -August 1 Restricted availability, Marseille, France. Cut short one
week due to
contingency operations in the Mediterranean, off the Lebanese coast. Œ
August 15 Embark Commander, United States Sixth Fleet. Œ
September 16 Exercise Display Determination, 1989. Œ
November 17 Sixth Fleet departs USS IOWA, flag returned to USS
BELKNAP. Œ
November 26 En route Norfolk. During this transit, last 16-inch round fired,
giving USS IOWA a total of 2,873 rounds fired since 1984 recommissioning. Since USS IOWA's
initial commissioning date in 1943, a total of 11,834 16-inch rounds fired. Œ
December 7 Arrive Norfolk. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
1990
January 4 Turret Two memorial plaque unveiled. Œ
January 16 SRA at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Œ
February 20 Nuclear Weapons closeout Inspection. Œ
April 17 Return to Naval Base Norfolk.Œ
April 19 Turret Two Memorial Service. Memorial plaque dedicated. Œ
May Commanding Officer Captain John P.
Moorse, USN Ž
May 25 Marine Detachment deactivates. Œ
June 22 - July 6 Midshipmen summer training. Œ
October 26 USS IOWA decommissioned. Œ
Back to 1980's Era Top
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
ΠFrom the material provided by the USS IOWA
Veterans Association to members and attendees at the 1997 reunion in Colorado Springs, CO.
From the "1955 Mediterranean Cruise
Book".
Ž From the Pictorial Histories Publishing Company
book entitled"Warship's Data #3, USS IOWA (BB61)"
We are making every effort to ensure the historical accuracy of the this information.
If you would like to add anything, Email John
Schultz with your information and your source and we'll get it added as soon as
possible!
Sea stories MAY be added - BUT they must be 'clean' and 'applicable' to the topic. Any
sea stories above are so marked and that information cannot be confirmed by sources. The
USS IOWA(BB-61)Veteran's Association Web-Group has the final say as to what is published
on this page.
HISTORY MENU: Quick Access | World War II | Korean Conflict | 1980's Era
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