[BenLurkin]

Giver her a nuclear power plant, pull off two of the big turrets and replace then with VLS weaponry, manufacture remaining new ammunition’s for her main battery, add modern secondary batteries and CIWS....send her up and down the Taiwan Straight nonstop.

[stevem]

I suspect it would cost much to bring them back as fighting ships. Then the crews are quite large. I don't see that ever happening.

I have visited the New Jersey. It's a darned interesting tour.

[Tallguy]

Never happen. Propulsion systems are too old. When Reagan reactivated them there were still some Korea vets and shipyard guys around who had worked on the Iowa’s. Those guys are long gone now. Plus the Navy isn’t going to train up & crew a ship that size when they are at the same time retiring the Ticonderoga’s.

[allendale]

Given the reality of modern technology which includes but is not limited to pinpoint surveillance and positioning, lethal stealthy drones launched from land, planes, cruise missiles and submarines as well as stealthy modern long range missiles, the era of surface combatants is over. Few if any would survive against even a moderately technologically competent opponent. The brave young sailors would never see or be able to fight back against the people who killed them. Nor would the “battleship” admirals who sent them to their watery graves ever be held accountable.

[Reno89519]

Wishful thinking but wasted talk and funds. The ship is too old and the refurbish to re-commission would only benefit the shipyard.

[Kartographer]

Nancy might get the money for it and have the Navy park it in the Potomac to protect the Capital!

[Bonemaker]

Iowa and Missouri were used during Desert Storm.

[lurk]

The Iowa’s are awesome, effective, beautiful museum pieces. But the cost of refitting them with new energy and tech systems is not worth it.

[Locomotive Breath]

I’m from Norfolk and worked in shipyards there during high school and college during the late 70s. Not on anything so large as BB-64 USS Wisconsin but ships from the same era (LST, LSD, AO and AR). Been on the tour of the “Big Whiskey” multiple times. No way it could set to sea again. It’s bolted to the pier

[outofsalt]

Her 24" guns fired the shells, on the left side of the scale, 24 miles!

This display is in the Nauticus museum next to her berth in Norfolk, VA

[Oatka]

I read that the Air Force was behind getting those battleships into action during the Vietnam war. Why risk planes and pilots to bomb infrastructure 20 miles inland from the coast, when a battlewagon could lob 1-ton shells, with accuracy, that same distance?

[Mariner]

She will never be reactivated.

The cost to bring up to standard is prohibitive.

All new power plant.
All new electrical and plumbing.
All new electronics and radars.
VLS
All new crew accommodations.

Essentially they would have to take it apart and put it back together...just to have a 75yr old ship.

Better to build new.