Four ships "Iowa" type are the largest and Fleet battleships of the US Navy, took part in World War II, and leave a good and long memory. AT 1936 city, freed from the shackles of the Washington Agreement 1922 city, The US Navy has started realization of the program of construction of new warships with a displacement 45 000 t, making, in this way, the next step of the ships of the "South Dakota". Although the new battleships mainly preserved artillery previous projects, from their predecessors, they have better armor and specific speed.
Video volleys battleship type “Iowa”
Speeds up to 33 knots, Battleships type "Iowa" was the most high-speed ships of its class, ever before to build the world's. They set a new 16-inch. (406-mm) long guns 50 caliber guns instead of the previous length 45 calibres. Battleships type "Iowa" were also improved turrets, thus saving 850 t weight. US Navy sought to implement the Pacific concept of the use of rapidly reacting to a situation Task Force. In the Navy headquarters true predicted the, that in the coming war, Japan uses the same groups for attacks on merchant ships, cruising the Pacific Ocean. Battleships type "Iowa" was created with the intention of using them to provide cover for US aircraft carriers, aircraft which will strike at surface and ground targets of the enemy.
In accordance with the plan assumes the construction of six battleships, but only four were built: USS «Iowa», USS «New Jersey», USS «Missuri» and USS «Viskonsin». Battleship "Iowa" was laid 27 June 1940 city, launched 27 August 1942 g. and prepared for release in march 22 February 1943 g. Ships of this type began to carry military service already at the final stage of the war and, in this way, not caught many carriers fights, which could best demonstrate their ability to perform the tasks, for which were created. However, the battleships of the "Iowa" proven themselves, fighting as part of Task Force fast aircraft carriers from the US Navy ships often as the staff. Detail battleships all differed from each other mainly in the composition of the zenithal weapons, constantly throughout the war undergoes changes.
All of them acted on the Pacific Ocean and all lived up to the surrender of Japan, act on which it is signed on board the USS «Missouri". AT 1943 g. The USS "Iowa" was involved in the so-called "watch to track down" Tirpitz ", and in November he brought on board to Tehran Roosevelt. The real war for "Iowa" began 23 January 1944 city, when she participated in strikes against the enemy in the Marshall Islands. Not far from the Truk Islands (Micronesia) battleship sank a Japanese cruiser "Katori", and then continues to support the attack on the Philippine Islands, and during the battle of Leyte Gulf in October. December 1944 g. on the way home "Iowa" with honor stood the test, cooked her raging elements, breaking typhoon, damage or put down on the bottom 24 other ship. Returning to the place of fighting in April 1945 city, "Iowa" was replaced by the USS "New Jersey", which operated off the coast of Okinawa. By July 1945 g. three battleship "Iowa" type were firing on enemy targets in fact the Japanese territory, a 29 August 1945 g. "Iowa" with "Missouri" was included in the Tokyo harbor, to accept the surrender of Japan.
Battleships type "Iowa", despite the great length, proven as a highly maneuverable ships, popular with their crews. Meanwhile, battleships operation very costly, but because they have preserved after the war. Remaining within the Reserve Fleet of the US Navy, battleship "Iowa" and then type 1945 g. continued to be a powerful means of fire support. To this end, they were used during the Korean, and later during the Vietnam War. Preserved for the third time in the early seventies, battleships were back in service in the Reagan era, becoming a symbol of American military power and prestige.
At some point, they hatched plans for their conversion into a kind of "hybrid" carriers with flight deck aft, intended for aircraft vertical or short takeoff. These plans were not destined to come true, but battleships equipped with cruise missiles "Tomahawk" and anti-ship missiles "Harpoon", wherein at battleship "Iowa" type retained differed little scattering shell 1b inch. (40b mm) guns of the main fire. "Iowa" participated in a show of force from the coast of Nicaragua in th 1984 and served as an escort vessel, escorting tankers in the Persian Gulf 1988 g. Other battleships of this type provided fire support to friendly forces during the conflict in Lebanon in the eighties and against Iraqi forces in Kuwait during Operation "Desert Storm". AT 1989 g. due to an explosion in one of the main gun turrets, "Iowa" was unable to take part in the preparations for "Operation Desert Storm" in October 1990 g. been cannibalization. There are currently four types of battleship "Iowa" in reserve, waiting for his fate decisions.
Performance characteristics battleships type “Iowa”
| Displacement | standard 48 110 t; full 57 540 t |
| main dimensions | length (overall) 270,43 m; width (at the waterline) 32,97 m; draft 11,02 m |
| Power plant | eight boilers of Babcock-and-Wilcox, four turbines with total capacity of General Electric 212 000 hp, four rotating propellers |
| full speed | 33 with. |
| booking | the thickness of the belt from bead 305 mm 40 mm; armored deck from 152 mm 38 mm; nadstroek of 287 mm; main towers 500 mm |
| weaponry | nine 16-inch. (406-mm) guns of the main caliber, 20-5-inch. (127-mm) mine guns, 60 – 40-mm 60 – 20-mm anti-aircraft automatic guns, three aircraft |
| Command | 1921 human |
photo battleship “Iowa”
