Fliger747 wrote:
Interesting the "Joy Z" has three light turret roofs. An ID feature? As BJS noted much of the after deck was covered by a rubbery mat non skid wire as the Helicopter deck and ramp were non skid on steel. Mo at various times had her whole after decking cover with the stuff aft of the aft MK38 and forward of the Heli Ramp. Some others had wooden walkways left in.
As to the "anchor deck" note the black between the anchor chains.
T
I don't think it was a specific ID feature for New Jersey, she would have been the only Iowa Class in commission at the time of that photo in 1983. So her silhouette likely spoke for itself. I'm not sure what the reasoning for the light grey was? Personally I think it looks better than the dark grey, well in 1980's configuration anyway. In any case New Jersey later had her turret roofs painted dark grey. Not sure of the exact date, but they were certainly dark grey by the time this photo was taken in 1985:
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/ships-us/ships-us-n/uss-new-jersey-bb62/330-cfd-dn-st-87-06864.htmlSame with Iowa, she had light grey main gun turret roofs on her sea trials but they seem to have been repainted dark grey upon her 1984 recommissioning or some time thereabouts.
Missouri to my knowledge never had light grey main gun turret roofs anytime during her 1980s era service from 1986-1992.
While Wisconsin had light grey main gun turret roofs throughout her all too short 1980's service life from 1988-1991.