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The Enduring Legacy of the Iowa-Class Battleships: Icons of Naval Power

Although the era of battleships might have been over, the impact of the Iowa-class battleships of the U.S. Navy-USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin continues to echo loudly. These formidable warships had unprecedented firepower and played leading roles in World War II through the Gulf War, as the emergence of aircraft carriers gradually shifted focus away from them.

Originally, the Iowa-class battleships had been designed to counter the most likely naval threats associated with World War II. By the end of the war, the U.S. Navy operated twenty-three battleships; however, by the end of the war, only four Iowa-class ships remained active. Such vessels were not mere relics of a bygone era but were reactivated multiple times to leverage their unique capabilities.

During the Korean War, the USS Missouri was the first to return to action, providing critical artillery support. Its huge guns of 16 inches were able to pound into targets as far away as 20 miles in numerous bombardment missions up and down the Korean Peninsula. The remaining three Iowa-class battleships-New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Iowa-were similarly reactivated in support of U.S. and UN forces, which further demonstrated the continued usefulness of these behemoths of the sea.

This led to the reactivation of the USS New Jersey in 1967 during the Vietnam War. With rising aircraft losses in the conflict, the Navy had to fall back upon the battleship’s firepower in support of ground operations sans risking pilots. New Jersey served briefly but powerfully, shelling North Vietnamese positions with devastating effect.

The Iowa-class battleships enjoyed another rebirth in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan. With the latest weapons added to their arsenals, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Phalanx anti-missile systems, they were ready to get into action again. The first to return to service was the USS New Jersey, supporting U.S. Marines ashore in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983. Missouri and Iowa later participated in Operation Earnest Will, escorting Kuwaiti tankers against Iranian attacks.

The last chapter for these battleships came with Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Activated once more, the USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin went into the Persian Gulf, firing Tomahawk missiles and conducting naval gunfire against Iraqi forces. It was a presence of strategy in itself, tying down Iraqi troops under the threat of an amphibious assault.

The Iowa-class battleships were retired from service despite their storied history by the end of 1992. They are today museum ships, so to speak, serving as witnesses to carry on the tradition with all its might to future generations. USS Wisconsin, nicknamed “Big Whiskey,” is now a museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia. It remains a testimony to the power and resilience of those kinds of vessels.

As military historian Kyle Mizokami explained, “Although their big guns are still useful, the ships require nearly two thousand crew each, making them expensive to operate.” This is a battleship class that many have debated and discussed when talking about reactivation, but which does little else in modern naval warfare.

The Iowa-class battleships might never sail again, but they have undoubtedly left an indelible mark upon the annals of naval history. These warships proved the lasting presence of naval artillery from World War II to Desert Storm, together with the presence and strategic values of well-built warships. Their legacy now generates a sense of wonder and respect among military enthusiasts and historians alike.

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