USS Iowa Escapes Mothballs

The Battleship Iowa escapes the Mothball Fleet, where she has been sitting for the past 10 years. We left in the little Rv to go see her and were lucky enough to discover Bay View Charters had a special cruise planned just for this event. We were so surprised it wasn't a full boat! What a comfey ride! And Joe is still smacking his lips over their Scotch... The next day we greeted her as she came into the Port of Richmond. Just remember, it never hurts to ask. To be continued. . .

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Knadler
• USS
• Iowa
• Pacific
• Battleship
• Center
• Bay
• View
• Charters
• Navy

[buidseach]

She looks great, i always wonder how much of it actually works after 10 years weather its all seized up or still functioning ?

[ajgraphix]

@buidseach She was tugged to Mothballs and will be tugged to San Pedro. I don't think she runs anymore... but we will have a chance to meet some of the volunteers working on her soon, so I will ask!

[Drewster327]

What a sight, too bad that plane flying over wasn't a P51 or WWII aircraft, that would have been pretty awsome

[ajgraphix]

@Drewster327 Got a pic of one from the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. It was a WWII Navy airplane. WWII plane club pilots flew strafing runs, and volunteers helped with the O'Brien guns, as if they could really fire on the planes. What a grand experience! Fleet week aboard her was a blast too - literally! Wowee! You can see it if you are on FB. Look for their page. You will see recent posts from me there, one with a pic of the Navy plane. Enjoy!

[USSWISCONSIN64]

@ajgraphix actually about a foot was left in the panama canal. if the capt move too quick or too slow that could cause a major problem.

[ajgraphix]

@USSWISCONSIN64 Joe says that there was only a few inches to spare in the Panama.

[USSWISCONSIN64]

@dklein2008 same with wisconsin. but we could have her in green bay if she could fit the locks in the canals around the great lakes.

[dklein2008]

As someone who lives in Iowa, I wish our state was on the coast so she could come to the state she's named after, but I am happy she will finally be a museum to be appreciated by many instead of a ship that sits in the Mothball fleet to only be seen by few. She is, after all, the ship that carried FDR to Casablanca so he could go to Tehran in 1943, not to mention her substantial Pacific involvement during WWII and her involvement during Korea, plus the explosion in the #2 gun turret.

[kittywoman5309]

Wow !Her final voyage!My Dad would be proud!

[HeyRadialMoon]

I've been watching this grand old ship sit and rust there in mothballs for a long time. I'm sad to see her go, but I'm glad she will finally be restored and put on display, even if it isn't here in the Bay Area. Thanks for posting this and bon voyage USS Iowa!