Iowa class

type/designation:battleship
principal user:US Navy
ship builder Laid Launched commissioned history
Iowa (BB-61) New York Navy Yard Jun 27,1940 Aug 27,1942 Feb 22,1943 see history
New Jersey (BB-62) Philadelphia Navy Yard Sep 16, 1940 Dec 7,1942 May 23,1943 see history
Missouri (BB-63) New York Navy Yard Jan 6,1941 Jan 29,1944 Jun 11,1944 see history
Wisconsin (BB-64) Philadelphia Navy Yard Jan 25,1941 Dec 7,1943 Apr 16,1944 see history
Illinois (BB-65) Philadelphia Navy Yard cancelled August 12,1945, scrapped in 1958
Kentucky (BB-66) Norfolk Navy Yard Mar 7,1942 unfinished hull launched: Jun 8,1942 restarted Dec '44 cancelled Jan 22,1950

Design History: Finally the Washington naval treaty had expired and the US could finally build the fast battleship they wanted. Speed was increased to 32.5 knots, for this the ship had to be 194' longer than the South Dakotas(to accomodate the engine spaces). The armour scheme of the South Dakotas was retained, however the ships were equiped with a new gun: the longer 16"/50 caliber which could shoot the 2700lb AP shell to 42, 345 yards.

Dimensions

Length: 877' overall; 860' at waterline
Beam: 108'
Draft: 38' (max); 36' (average)

Displacement: 59,300 tons (standard BB61-BB63) 58,750tons(BB64)
                          43,900tons (light ship)
                          45,000 tons (design displacement)

Propulsion
Boilers: 8 Babcock and Wilcox 3 drum type. Twin furnaces and double uptakes.
Pressure: 565psi
Temperature: 850 degrees F
Turbines: 4 geared turbines (GE turbines on Iowa and Missouri, Westinghouse turbines on New Jersey and Wisconsin) dirving four shafts.
Horespower: 212, 000shp
Speed: 32.5 knots
Endurance: 20, 150 nautical miles at 15 knots
                     15, 900 nautical miles at 17 knots
                     4, 890 nautical miles at full power
Armament
Main Armament: 9 16"/50 caliber 3 triple turrets (2 fore, 1 aft)
Secondary: 20 5"/38 caliber 10 twin turrets (5 port, 5 starboard)
Anti-Aircraft: At commisioning: Iowa- 15 40mm quad bofors mounts; 60 20mm oerlikons
                                                         New Jersey-Wisconsin- 20 40mm quad bofors mounts; 49 20mm oerlikons
                          At end of war: Iowa- 19 40mm quad bofors; 52 20mm oerlikons
                                                   New Jersey- 20 40mm quad bofors; 57 20mm oerlikons
                                                   Missouri- 20 40mm quad bofors; 43 20mm oerlikons
                                                   Wisconsin- 20 40mm quad bofors; 51 20mm oerlikons
  
Armour
Belt: 12.25" on .875" STS plate inclined at 19 degrees.
Deck: main: 1.5"; second: 5" plus 1.25" STS; third: .625"
Barbettes: 17.3"
Turrets: 19" (face); 9.5" (sides); 12" (back); 7.25" (top)
Conning Tower: 17.5" (sides); 7.25" (roof); 4" (deck)
Immunity Zone: 17, 600 yards to 31, 200 yards vs 16" gun with 2240 lb shell.
 

Crew: 2800
Tactical Analysis: The Iowa class was quite likely the best battleship ever. This class was even stronger than the Yamatos, unfortunately these ships never got to test their mettle against enemy battlewagons.