Calling all Iowa-class (BB-61) fans

[Fliger747]

Looks just like the keel blocks that Hank laid for his 1:200 NJ. Saw an interesting clip about the anodes, which because she was in fresh water they would switch to aluminum. Some 1200 plates on the exterior and some internal ones as well.

[bigjimslade]

Here is an illustration from my next book that might clarify the placement of the blocks. Amidship there are five columns of blocks.

[FFG-7]

can get the docking keel block layout from this link.
BB-61 - BB-64 Iowa Class Docking Plan (194x) https://archive.org/details/bb61classgad194x

[Iceman 29]

[Fliger747]

Easy to see where the 60 lb shell plating ends, no oil canning! Great photo of the propellers!

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Thanks Pascal for posting the photos - very much like my recollection of her in Fall, 1969 - Bremerton, WA when she was drydocked for mothballing. A bit more wear & tear on the paint, etc. back then - but, not from sitting tied up to a pier!

It will be interesting to see the progress on her as things move along on this project.

Hank

[Iceman 29]

Glad it brought back memories, Hank, we'll be keeping an eye on it!

The old lady is apparently doing well.

[Fliger747]

In the bow on photo looks like Gulliver tied down by the Lilliputians. I hope the hull is in good condition, at this point not really that much younger than Texas.

[Iceman 29]

She seems in good shape. Not the same age.. And operational maintenance ended in 1991.

"However, Section 1011 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 1996 requires the U.S. Navy to reinstate in the Naval Vessel Register two Iowa-class battleships that were struck from the Navy in 1995. These ships must be maintained in the U.S. Navy's reserve fleet, and the Navy must ensure that the two reinstated battleships are in good condition and can be reactivated at any time42. Due to the explosion of the USS Iowa's number 2 turret, the Navy opted for the New Jersey, which was considered less costly to maintain in the reserve fleet. The New Jersey and Wisconsin were therefore reintegrated into the Naval Vessel Register and returned to the reserve fleet.

New Jersey remained in the reserve fleet until Strom Thurmond's National Defense Authorization Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on October 18, 1998. Section 1011 requires the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to maintain the USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin on the Naval Vessel Register, while Section 1012 requests the Secretary of the Navy to remove New Jersey from the Naval Vessel Register and transform it into a non-profit entity in accordance with section 7306 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. Section 1012 also requires that the battleship remain in the State of New Jersey. The Navy made the transfer in January 1999, and on September 12, New Jersey was towed by the Sea Victory from Bremerton to Philadelphia, where restoration work was carried out to turn her into a floating museum."

[Iceman 29]

[Fliger747]

Interesting! I hadn't known that the pressure per sq ft on the dry dock floor was an important consideration. The floating dry dock decks must have been hell for stout! He was off on his math by a factor of ten, maybe 90 tons per block rather than 900?

[bigjimslade]

I am taking lights down there so we can FINALLY get a picture of the docking keel.

[Iceman 29]

[Iceman 29]

[JackSix]

Hi,

I am building the USS Iowa late 1944 and I was wondering what her pennant number looks like. Was it (i) plain white or already (ii) with a black shadow as todays USN pennant numbers (as in the above post pic for example)? It was sure very small compared to todays sizes.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a close-up of her pennant number, thus, I can't tell. Does anybody have a close-up, insight or an idea?

Thx,

Jack

[Timmy C]

Fairly certain shadowed numbers weren't used during the war.

In any case, these two large images on Navsource from Dec 1944 shows plain white numbers, no shadows:
https://navsource.org/archives/01/061/016107c.jpg
https://navsource.org/archives/01/061/016107.jpg

[Admhawk]

Fairly certain shadowed numbers weren't used during the war.

In any case, these two large images on Navsource from Dec 1944 shows plain white numbers, no shadows:
https://navsource.org/archives/01/061/016107c.jpg
https://navsource.org/archives/01/061/016107.jpg

Correct. They were 24" high and usually white.
On lighter paint, they could be black.

Shadows came back when camo was removed post war and Haze gray was standardized.
Interestingly, the shading was 'not required during emergencies' So once the Emergency of War was over, it could be used again.

Aug 1946 is the earliest instruction letter I've seen for PacFlt ships to be painted Haze gray (Measure 13).
NAVSHIPS 250-374 Ship Concealment Camouflage Instructions came out in 1953, which is the first post war publication I've seen calling for gray ships. Measure US 27 (Haze Gray) or Measure US 17 (Ocean Gray)
NAVSHIPS 250-374 superseded Ships-2 March 1945 revision, so it took a while to standardize ship painting after the war.

[Iceman 29]

[BB62vet]

Pascal,

Thanks again for posting! Quite interesting as things move forward.

Hank

[Fliger747]

More interesting things about the ship and the renovation process. After seeing this I'm pretty happy with the props I 3D designed and printed for my 1;192 Missouri.

Cheers: Tom