USS Iowa battleship arrives off San Pedro coast

ABC ^ | May 30, 2012 | John Gregory

[moonshot925]

SAN PEDRO, Calif. (KABC) -- The historic USS Iowa battleship arrived off the coast of San Pedro Wednesday morning, marking an exciting event.

Crews were cleaning the vessel as it pulled into San Pedro. The ship will stay on the coast for a few days before docking at its permanent home. The ship is expected to open to the public July 7.

[MeganC]

Wow! Awesome picture! Can I ask what that is?

[UCANSEE2]

It's called the K-7 Flying Fortress. The original 'photo' has been subjected to many a photoshop 'edit'.

In other words, the photo is mostly fake.

The REAL K-7 was created by the Russians.

It did not, however, have things like armor plating and 12" artillery cannons on it.

Here are some photos of an ACTUAL K-7.

[Pilsner]

The blast that nearly sunk the USS Cole would have only scorched the paint on the Iowa.

After HMS Sheffield destroyed by an Exocet missile, during the Falklands War, the skipper of one of the Iowas Reagan put back into service was asked what he would do if his BB was hit by an Exocet. He replied:

"I'd pipe sweepers."

[UCANSEE2]

While web-surfing, I found this. Thought you might also enjoy it.

http://www.foodman123.com/cut.htm

[dragnet2]

When do they start shelling ‘Kalifornication’?

You're pissed of the USS Iowa came to Southern California which is now the property of the Pacific Battleship Center, after they spent two years and $7 million to buy and rehabilitate the ship so it could be displayed for tourist and history buffs?

Cheer up, maybe you guys down in New Mehico will get some beads and trinkets to put on display along the roadside, outside that big cave ya got down there.

[Kartographer]

You are just jealous because New Mexico has more beach than ‘Kalifornication’. ;-)

[dragnet2]

See 65.

[Churchillspirit]

Good one!!

Tried taking a couple of photos of the Iowa as she was anchored off shore.....too far away and too hazy but worth a try.

Heard some interesting stats. about her including the fact that her range was 26 miles and each shell weighed as much as a VW bug.

She's be a great addition to the LA/Long Beach waterfront.

[IamConservative]

I used to live on Pt. Fermin in San Pedro in the 80’s. Seeing the Military ships coming and going from Long Beach Naval Shipyards was always a pleasure. I did field service and got to go on board Naval ships in port a few times to fix equipment. Most of the ships that came into LBNS at the time were there for major rework. Many were being converted to nuclear and all were getting the newest defensive and offensive systems courtesy of President Reagan. Always a thrill to go there.

[citizen]

The IOWA is off the coast of Kalifornia. Can’t they go ahead and bombard it? I suggest they move up the coast to SF first....

[dragnet2]

You’re pissed of the USS Iowa came to Southern California which is now the property of the Pacific Battleship Center, after they spent two years and $7 million to buy and rehabilitate the ship so it could be displayed for tourist and history buffs?

Isn’t Georgia best known for the state that brought us Jimmy Carter? Oh, and peanuts and peaches...

[GreyHoundSailor]

They don’t have anything yet. The first one, projected to be delivered in 2014, will spend at least five years as a test platform. Navy initially wanted 32, then 24, then 7 and now a whopping total of three are planned due to the enormous cost. Three whole NFS platforms (assuming the first one or two get all the kinks worked out of them) for $9.3 billion.

[bonfire]

Toured it last summer with the most wonderful Navy Vet Guide!

[citizen]

Thanks for the Zumwalt page!

[tanknetter]

Suppose I wonder about just how much “readiness” these ships have. The Missouri has engines removed, and the gun elevation mechanisms gone. One of the tricks the crew turning it into a museum had was elevating them from an embarrassing droop to the deck.

I don't think that's accurate. The engines are within an armored citadel designed under the "all or nothing" principle of armor protection. The ship would literally have needed to been cut in half to get them out.

As to the gun elevation, the issue wasn't removal of the mechanisms (again, they're buried within armored turrets that would have to be cut into pieces to get to them), but the fact that as part of the demilitarization process the gearing was welded in place. And that happened to NJ in what was apparently an isolated act of over-enthusiasm in rendering her "inoperable", not to Missouri.

With the exception of the NJ's elevation mechanisms being welded, all four class members were treated very well and lightly when it came to being de-mil'd. I went aboard Hornet (CVS-12) in the Fall of 1998 right about when she opened as a museum at Alameda. SHE'D had major power conduits severed, and the vet/tour-guide who I spent a good deal of time talking with on her Navigation Bridge told me that they were having all sorts of problems restoring power to critical parts of the ship.

Compare/contrast with the heavy cruiser USS Salem. When it was un-mothballed in Quincy Mass as a museum it was in such good and unmolested condition that one of its former air-search radar operators (now a restoration volunteer) was able quickly fire up his old set. And took down Logan Airport for a couple hours ...