Calling all Iowa-class (BB-61) fans

[Timmy C]

The big air search radars were different: Mo had the SK-2 dish, while Wisky had the SK rectangular.

[BB62vet]

The four IOWA class ships were NOT identical - not at their initial construction and not today. You might want to compare the conning towers of both ships (BB-63/BB-64) as they were "similar" in construction but not identical. The 08 Level and 011 Level were not constructed the same on these two ships (likewise with NEW JERSEY/IOWA). I would also compare the actual 40mm mounts and 20mm mounts on each ship as they might also have been different in total count. Placement of various ancillary items such as accommodation ladders, fueling hoses, removable davits, etc. would not necessarily been located on bulkheads identically - this was much a shipyard decision during construction as to where these items would be located/stowed.

As Timmy C. has mentioned, the masts/RADARs on both ships were not the same in 1945.

Hope this helps,

[chuck]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there were any significant differences between the Wisconsin and the Mighty Mo by the end of WWII. I've pored over pictures and as far as I can tell, the two were nearly identical, right down to the arrangement of bulkhead details. I was wondering anyone could confirm my suspicions?

Thanks!

Missouri received 4 MK-57 directors around spring 1945, 2 between forward MK-37 director and the forward director fire control tower, and 2 on the aft fire control tower behind the aft funnel. All the picture I�ve seen of the wisconsin in 1945 show she did not have them.

Missouri was built with sk-2 dish antenna on her foremast, Wisconsin was built with sk mattress antenna in the same location and didn�t receive an upgrade to sk-2 until after the war.

Wisconsin�s main top mast Behind the aft funnel was always significantly and noticeably taller than Missouri�s. Missouri only had an SG radar at the top of her main mast through out the war. Wisconsin Had an SC radar added on the top of her main mast Sometime between Jan and July 1945

Missouri has a TBS antenna mounted ahead of the SG radar platform on the main mast. On the Wisconsin the TBS antenna seems to be mounted on the yard arm under the SG radar.

Although both ships carried the same measure 22 camo pattern, the executions differ in detail: 1. The top of Missouri�s 5 inch gun houses were painted haze gray, somewhat against regulation. The tops of Wisconsin�s 5� gun houses were painted deck blue, as per regulation. 2. Missouri�s 16� barrels are painted uniform haze gray. Wisconsin�s countershaded with deck blue on top and haze gray on the bottom. 3. Missouri�s bollards are all painted navy blue. Wisconsin�s all haze gray.

The steam pipes feeding the whistle on the sides of the forward director tower are routed differently between the two ships.

At the back of the director tower, above where the tower joins with the fire funnel, there is a slot on the Missouri that allows the foremast to be lowered into it to enable the ship to pass under the Brooklyn bridge. I believe this slot is not there on the Wisconsin or New Jersey.

Missouri received a small platform on the Front the director tower for mouNting a TDY antenna in spring 1945. Wisconsin appears Not to have received a similar platform at the end of the war.

The boarding ladder stowed again the aft superstructure is stowed sitting on the deck on the Missouri. And affixed to the side of the superstructure some distance off the deck On the Wisconsin.

The bulwark behind the 20mm oerlikon tubs at the extreme bow of the Two ships are different. Wisconsin is built like the Iowa and New Jersey. The back side of the bulwark is longer and rounded off Compared to missouri.. Missouri�s bulwark is unique and squared off. The arrangement of wind deflecting Venturi on the front side of the tubs are also different.

[MartinJQuinn]

CHANGING COMMAND OF FIFTH FLEET ON USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62)Tokyo Bay, 2/27/1946 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/80009

In color! Looks like NJ is painted in the neutral grays. You can also see Nagato in the background a few times. Credit to Jeff Sharp, who originally posted the link over on SN.

[Jeff Sharp]

Thanks Martin! There are plenty more films there with some great footage. Here are some stills of Missouri entering Tokyo Bay.

[Tracy White]

Looks like she still had the tennis (squash?) court starboard of #1 turret.

[taskforce48]

Found this interesting show on YouTube last night by accident. Lot's of interesting views of the New Jersey when she was coming out of mothballs in the late 60's.
The American Dreadnaught (1968)
Matt

[BB62vet]

Found this interesting show on YouTube last night by accident. Lot's of interesting views of the New Jersey when she was coming out of mothballs in the late 60's.
The American Dreadnaught (1968)
Matt

Matt,
Thanks for sharing - this is a great video for those interested in the modifications made to BB-62 in 1967. I served in her from Sept. 68 - Dec. 69 and built a 1:200 scale model of her over a 6 year period (the build log & photos are on SMF) and used this video for reference.

Hank

[Mr. Church]

Found this interesting show on YouTube last night by accident. Lot's of interesting views of the New Jersey when she was coming out of mothballs in the late 60's.
The American Dreadnaught (1968)
Matt

Some decent film of Iowa and Wisconsin in mothballs too.

[johndon]

From the photos I can find, when the Iowa was in Measure 32, the front face of the forward turret was black but were the barrels black as well? They certainly look darker than the barrels of the other turrets but I can't decide if they were black or not?

Thanks

John

[James M]

In the beginning they where dull black along with the hull, later the hull got painted to dark blue and the barrels remained black.
The barrels of turrets 1 and 3 where completely painted while the barrels of turret 2 where painted on only the port side
Turrets 1 and 3 had their faces painted while turret 2 remained grey.

Here is a WWII history of her that I put together showing with photos and time frames.
viewtopic.php?f=74&t=158893
There are several color photos of her along with a color video for reference.

Hope this help with your build.

James

[johndon]

Thanks James, much appreciated.

John

[johndon]

A follow up question, this time on the turret tops. The Trumpeter instructions would have you paint the turret tops black, some of the photos of the Iowa I've seen would suggest that the turret tops were a darker colour but not necessarily black, possibly the same dark blue that the decks were stained?

If I'm going for Measure 32 in black, would the turret tops also have been black?

John

[James M]

The turret top would be deck blue.
All horizontal surfaces would have been painted deck blue.

What color scheme are you going to paint her in? The dark blue scheme or the dull black scheme?

James

[johndon]

Thanks again James, I'm going for dull black.

[bigjimslade]

I am looking for measured drawings of the SPS-49 antenna.

[grim reaper]

The Floating drydock has a couple pamphlets on the SPS 49

https://new.floatingdrydock.com/product ... r-pamplets

[bigjimslade]

The Floating drydock has a couple pamphlets on the SPS 49

https://new.floatingdrydock.com/product ... r-pamplets

THanks. I ordered them. Hopefully, they will have the info.

[stevegallacci]

Corrected 1/200 Iowa hull?

Anyone have one available? Was originally considering doing the corrections myself, but, wow. Doing it old school would have been my only solution, and wasn't looking forward to all the really heavy slicing and dicing needed.

[johndon]

I have a question about the number 2 turret on the Iowa and, in particular the 'jibs' on the turret roof that, I believe, were to assist with the loading of the 16" shells.

The Trumpeter kit does include them and there is a photo on page 90 of Sumrall's book that clearly shows the jib on the starboard side of the turret in July 1943 at the New York Navy Yard. However, a photo on page 109 taken on 27 December 1944 at Ulithi shows no such jib on the starboard side (or the port side for that matter). Were they demountable and only fitted in place when needed?

John