USS Iowa BB61

USS Iowa BB61 Turret Explosion set to My Machine by HedNoize. 47 brave sailors died April 19, 1989. All news headlines were scanned from my own scrapbook. Some pics gathered from various online sources. View http://ussiowa.info

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Music

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• USS
• Iowa
• BB61
• Turret
• Explosion
• navy
• aged
• ocean
• Hednoize
• machine
• gun
• history
• captainjoekickass
• President
• Bush
• Military

[cutter043]

i rememebr this day .. i weeped for those dead sailors .. for i was a sailor at the time .. im someone who believs we should bring back 2 battleships... for the 47 in heaven we remember you we miss you ... may god have you at peace ... FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS ...

[captainjoekickass]

@cutter043 thanks for you kind words fellow sailor but It does not look like recommisioning is going to happen.

:(

[blakkcoffee1]

My father was a third classman in the radio shop when this happened. My heart aches for those who lost their loved ones. Hearing my dad tell the story gives me goosebumps everytime.

[captainjoekickass]

@blakkcoffee1 Ask your dad to tell his story and capture it in video, audio or text. I'd love to hear it.

[htc6600]

I've read that old powder bags were to blame. Can somebody tell me how they would be a hazard? I'm not being smart-assed: I'm asking a question because I don't know.

[captainjoekickass]

@htc6600 Gun Powder, much like any other chemical compound, degrades over time and in reaction to elements, such as extreme temp. In this case, 3 110 LB bags of powder are stored in a metal canister which may have been subject to high heat in a storage facility. The particular issue with old powder is it becomes more sensitive over time. When compressed by the powered ram in the gun turret, the powder became subject to added pressure and unplanned ignition.  I hope this answers your question.

[SgtFluffytheoriginal]

Books, news reports, speculations.....If you did not serve aboard her....you do not know her

G3

87-90

[captainjoekickass]

Wow. That's not the Iowa I remember.

[rtech580]

@dearzoey  Thank you for your your service and I hope you get to see IOWA at her new home! The interior is pristine I hear!

[rtech580]

@dearzoey  If you get a chance read "Lessons Not Learned, The U.S. Navy's Staus Quo Culture". I think you can read it online for free. It says that in NATO war games in 1988, a former Navy officer say the Iowa was "sunk" by a Dutch Frigate lurking behind a civilian oil tanker. Months later, it was trounced by UK, Canadian and West German forces in Carribean war games. Turret crews had to use 25 watt bulbs because any bigger bulb would blow fuses. Google Books online for free.

[dearzoey]

@rtech580 I served on the Iowa from 85 to 89 I was in turret two's powder mag that day, as far as war games go we had never lost a war game, in fact we sank every carrier in the atlantic fleet (in war games that is). Their were no hatches rusted shut we all had immense pride in our ship and took great pains to keep her fit for sea duty.

[dfreeman102207]

i am going to add that no one really knows what happened that dreadful day i lost alot of friend that day and to this day it still upsets me to see some of the comments and the videos making fun of the uss iowa if anyone can remember the kingston zoo house yes i am the daughter of jim owens and i would love to get into touch with anyone that was on that ship that day plz contact me at 724-378-1240

[b789har]

I was born minutes after the explosion... 4-19-89 my sixth birthday was the oklahoma bombings... Seeing as how today is 9-11 and ten years after it happened RIP to all those who have died and are not with us anymore

[cutter043]

joe ... ive learned to have some faith . one thing they can do is bring them back as a tool for education for the midshipmen.. kinda like what they do with the USS CONSTITUTION,.. i think they can take one or 2 turrests and use them as a training tool for history as well ... we need these ships .. u think a computer can ever last. hel no u drop one nuke yuhave EMP fried comps .. these babies yu have good ol human engineering . its what needs to be done . BRING BACK THE BATTLESHIPS

[blakkcoffee1]

@captainjoekickass I actually recorded him for a class project, Ill ask him to see if its ok I post it and if so Ill put it up and link it for you.