14,700 shells fired: The US Navy Iowa-class battleships wore out their 16-inch barrels in the Korean War. The replacements came from ships that were never built

1945 ^ | Aug 7, 2026 | Harry J. Kazianis

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Thousands of full-charge rounds wore the rifling out of the Iowas’ 16-inch guns, and the Navy replaced barrels after the war. The spares came from weapons ordered for ships that were never finished — the incomplete Illinois and Kentucky, and the cancelled Montana class. Battleships that never fired a shot kept the ones that did in action.

Four Iowa-Class Battleships Fired More Than 14,700 16-Inch Shells in Korea: Every completed Iowa-class battleship served against North Korea: USS Missouri, USS New Jersey, USS Wisconsin, and USS Iowa. Missouri arrived first in September 1950. New Jersey followed in May 1951, Wisconsin in November 1951, and Iowa in April 1952. The ships rotated through the theater until New Jersey delivered the final battleship bombardment of the conflict on July 27, 1953.

The public records do not provide a uniform class total, but the documented lower bound exceeds 14,700 rounds from the 16-inch guns. Missouri fired 6,756, New Jersey at least 3,000, Wisconsin 977, and Iowa reached its 4,000th heavy round before its deployment ended. Missouri alone added 12,422 5-inch shells; the other three used thousands more against rail lines, tunnels, bridges, bunkers, coastal guns, and troop concentrations.

North Korean artillery hit two of the ships. New Jersey suffered a direct strike on its forward turret and a separate airburst that killed one sailor and wounded three. Wisconsin took a 155 mm round near a starboard anti-aircraft position, injuring three sailors and damaging a gun mount, deck planking, wiring, and ventilation. Neither battleship was forced off station by the damage.

The Iowa class did not fight an enemy battleship, cruiser, or destroyer in Korea. United Nations forces controlled the surrounding seas, and North Korea had no surface fleet capable of challenging them.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 16inchguns; battleship; navalguns

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Never thought of barrel wear on the 16 inch guns, but with all power used it would be significant.

[Repeal The 17th]

The USS Nevada received the repaired guns
from the USS Arizona’s second forward turret.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Those beasts were formidable. Unfortunately, ever since WW2 our political leadership has been unwilling to wield American power suitably to win Korea, Vietnam or any other challenging engagement except for the 1st Iraq war. In my youth I believed in proportional response but I’m over that now. The objective of any operation where Americans are asked to die should be victory without reserve or temperament. I have been radicalized by the frivolous treatment of American lives over the last 3 decades.

[Texas_Jarhead]

This radicalization extends far beyond combat to include immigration and politics in general. The objective of all should be victory, again, without reservation. Our opposition already operates under this assumption. Our collective comfort and stability have made us weak.

[exnavy]

That’s impressive.

[Psalm 73]

Thanks for the post. I need to make it down to Camden to see the New Jersey - would be a fun day-trip.

[poconopundit]

Good attitude and commentary, Texas_Jarhead.

The New Jersey' 16-inch armour piercing shells wore 2,900 lbs -- roughly the weight of a Toyota Corolla.

[NFHale]

Amazing fireball…. All four turrets firing???

Look at the water under the blast…

[KingLudd]

I hope you don’t mind me posting this 39 minute youtube video about the manufacture of naval gun barrels. Very interesting especially after my recent tour of the Navy Yard in DC. https://youtu.be/QLwsl_BH1Gs?si=JXErO7uUg59M5J7T

[fso301]

Always surprise me how few rounds could be fired before accuracy began to suffer and the barrel had to be replaced.

[AZJeep]

Last use of battleship was using Missouri in Lebanon in 80ties.
They commented about the reasonable price of that.
All ordinance was WWII leftovers.

[Tallguy]

Three. Fast Battleships had 2 main gun triple-turrets forward, but only 1 aft. That’s how they kept the ship’s weight down & have the engineering space to make 30+ knots.

Had we actually built the Montana-class, they would have traded that 30 knot top speed for a fourth turret aft and more armor. But during WW2 the steel to build those ships was re-allocated to other ship construction (primarily aircraft carriers).