Uss Iowa News

The Navy wants, and needs, more ships; but it can’t build them fast enough.While the U.S. Navy aims to achieve a 355-ship fleet, it is decommissioning older (and some not so old) ships at about the same rate it's adding new ones.A Congressional Research Service report stated that, as of April 17, 2023, the Navy included 296 battle force ships. "The Navy projects that under its FY2024 budget submission, the Navy would include 293 battle force ships at the end of FY2024 and 291 battle force ships at the end of FY2028."But there is progress…

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus hosted a ship-naming ceremony today in Ames, Iowa to announce that SSN 797, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will bear the name USS Iowa. The submarine will be named to honor the history its namesake state has with the Navy. Iowa is home to former Naval Air Station (NAS) Ottumwa, one of a few air training stations created to increase the number of trained pilots in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The future USS Iowa will be the fourth naval vessel to bear the name. The first, a 3,200 ton gunboat, dates back to 1864. The second was commissioned in 1897 and is best known for its initial spotting of Spanish ships off the coast of Cuba and the resulting first shot fired during the Spanish American War's Battle of Santiago.

Today in U.S. 1912 - Lt. Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard. 1940 - CNO Adm. Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on four plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific. 1942 - First day of the three days of fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. 1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB-61) to go to the Allied conferences at Teheran, Iran, and Cairo, Egypt.

The Port of Los Angeles has released a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) Project. The proposed project, which involves the construction and operation of a railyard on outer Port property, is located in an industrial area between Sepulveda Boulevard to the north, Pacific Coast Highway to the south, SR-47 to the east and the Dominquez Channel to the west. The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners will consider certifying the Final EIR at its meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 8:30 am. The original meeting location in the Final EIR notice has now been changed to the Cruise Center Terminal Annex Building, located at 390 N. Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, just north of the USS IOWA.

Recognized for coatings performance on restoration of historic battleship. PPG Industries' (NYSE:PPG) protective and marine coatings (PMC) business received The Society of Protective Coatings (SSPC) 2013 Military Coatings Project Award of Excellence during the SSPC 2013 trade show at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The award is given annually by SSPC to recognize exceptional coatings work performed on U.S. military ships, structures or facilities. PPG earned recognition for the performance of PSX(R) ONE coating, a one-component acrylic-siloxane coating, applied to the exterior of the historic USS Iowa battleship. PSX ONE coating provides high color and gloss retention in a durable, low-VOC (volatile organic compound), non-isocyanate formulation.

PSX ONE coating restores ‘Battleship of Presidents,’ now an interactive naval museum. The USS Iowa protected America for nearly 50 years. Now PSX® ONE coating, an advanced marine coating introduced last year by PPG Industries, is protecting the ship. Known as the “World’s Greatest Naval Ship” and the “Big Stick,” the 887-foot-long, 45,000-ton USS Iowa was first deployed in 1943. It is also called the “Battleship of Presidents” because it hosted more visits by U.S. presidents than any ship of its kind, including its historic escort of Franklin D.

Historic battleship being restored, now interactive naval museum at Port of Los Angeles. The exterior of the historic battleship USS Iowa has been repainted using PSX(R) ONE coating, a one-component acrylic-siloxane coating introduced last year by PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) protective and marine coatings business (PMC). The ship, which was originally commissioned in 1943 and served in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets during World War II, opened July 7 as an interactive naval museum at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif.

One of the most powerful battleships of all time, the Iowa was built starting in 1940. After it was commissioned, the ship transported President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. The ship also saw action in World War II and the Korean War. The Navy awarded the ship to a nonprofit group to display as an interactive naval museum that will highlight its place in American history, explains CBS News. Among those in attendance at the rededication included Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Surrounded by pleasure boats and other vessels, the 887-foot long, 58,000-ton battlewagon was towed through the bay and passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Crowds watched from both sides of the bridge as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye provided an official escort and the San Francisco fireboat Phoenix led the way. At the St. Francis Yacht Club on San Francisco’s shoreline, officers and crew members of the USS Decatur, outfitted in their dress whites, saluted as the Iowa drifted past, Rogers said.

From Navy News Service:   1952 - USS Iowa (BB 61) bombards Chongjin, Korea. 1973 - Launch of Skylab 2 mission, which was first U.S. manned orbiting space station. It had an all Navy crew of Capt. Charles Conrad Jr. (commanding), Cmdr. Joseph P. Kerwin, and Cmdr. Paul J. Weitz.       For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at http://www.history.navy.mil.

Harbor Commission Approves Environmental Impact Report, Lease Agreement; Historic Battleship Plans to Open to Public July 7. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission today voted unanimously to create a new home for the historic battleship, the USS IOWA, in a prime location along the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. In separate actions, The Harbor Commission approved the lease agreement and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) necessary to bring the World War II icon to the LA Waterfront  where it will be converted to an interactive naval museum and living memorial.

Following years of aging in the San Francisco Bay area’s ghost fleet, the 887-foot long ship that once carried President Franklin Roosevelt to a World War II summit to meet with Churchill, Stalin and Chiang Kai Shek is coming to life once again as it is being prepared for what is most likely its final voyage. Firing its 16-inch guns in the Arabian Sea, the battleship Iowa shuddered. As the sky turned orange, a blast of heat from the massive guns washed over the ship. This was the Iowa of the late 1980s…

USS IOWA Takes on Iowa Coins, Regains its Mast, Prepares for its Final Journey; The Battleship of Presidents will open as an interactive naval museum in Los Angeles. The time-honored tradition of adding coins to the mast of a ship for good luck took place as two Iowans stood atop a 205-foot-tall platform and dropped Iowa state quarters into the mast of the USS IOWA as it hung from a barge crane. Former Iowa legislator Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny and Becky Beach of Des Moines released a handful of coins into the mast shortly before eight welders reattached it to the historic battleship.

HydroComp Inc. announced that it is participating in the IOWA Project. Recreating a model of a fully functioning historical battleship requires time, passion, and dedication. Donn McKinney’s passion will soon produce a fully operational and functional replica of four Iowa Class battleships ships: The U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63), U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61), U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62) and U.S.S. Wisconsin (BB-64). Several donors have teamed with McKinney on this project. HydroComp was called upon to assist with the recreation of the ship propellers.

1865 - A Union squadron under the command of Rear Adm. David Dixon Porter bombards and captures Wilmington, N.C. 1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, the Darien Expedition, commanded by Cmdr. Thomas O. Selfridge Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay. The exhibition then surveys the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal. 1909 - The "Great White Fleet" returns to Hampton Roads, Va., from its historic around-the-world cruise. 1943 - USS Iowa (BB 61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned. 1974 - Lt. j.g. Barbara Ann Allen becomes the first Navy officer designated as a female aviator. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

1912 - LT Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard. 1940 - CNO Admiral Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on 4 plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific. 1942 - First day of the three days of fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. 1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB-61) to go to the Allied conferences at Teheran, Iran, and Cairo, Egypt. (Source: Navy News Service)

1952 - USS Iowa bombards Chongjin, Korea. 1973 - Launch of Skylab 2 mission, which was first U.S. manned orbiting space station. It had an all Navy crew of CAPT Charles Conrad, Jr., USN. (commanding), CDR Joseph P. Kerwin, USN and CDR Paul J. Weitz, USN. During the 28 day mission of 404 orbits, the craft rendezvoused with Skylab to make repairs and conduct science experiments. Recovery by USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) (Source: Navy News Service)

By Journalist Seaman Apprentice James Kusher, Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. The Spruance-class destroyer USS Deyo (DD 989) was decommissioned Nov. 6 during a ceremony conducted in its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. After being introduced by Capt. Thomas Abernathy, commander, Destroyer Squadron 22, the ship's final commanding officer, Cmdr. James A. Pelkofski, addressed the many families, friends, crewmembers, and former crewmembers who attended the solemn ceremony. "What do you say as the commanding officer during the decommissioning of a proud and great warship?" said Pelkofski. "Today is about the men and women who brilliantly manned Deyo for more than 23 years.

From the Navy News Service 1865 - A Union squadron under the command of Rear Adm. David Dixon Porter bombards and captures Wilmington, N.C. 1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, the Darien Expedition, commanded by Cmdr. Thomas O. Selfridge Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay. The exhibition then surveys the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal. 1909 - The "Great White Fleet" returns to Hampton Roads, Va., from its historic around-the-world cruise. 1943 - USS Iowa (BB 61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned. 1974 - Lt. j.g. Barbara Ann Allen becomes the first Navy officer designated as a female aviator.

The leadership of Sealift Logistics Command Europe and Commander, Task Force 63 changed hands at SEALOGEUR headquarters in Naples, Italy. Capt. James E. Tranoris assumed the dual command from outgoing commander, Capt. Nicholas H. Holman. SEALOGEUR, Military Sealift Command's arm in Europe and Africa, oversees at-sea movement of combat cargo for U.S. 6th Fleet. CTF-63 is responsible for the ships and aircraft that provide logistics support to 6th Fleet combatant ships. The commander's area of responsibility includes more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, 91 countries and 67 percent of the world's coastlines. It covers roughly half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica, as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North seas.

1912 - LT Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard. 1940 - CNO Admiral Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on 4 plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific. 1942 - First day of the three days of fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. 1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB-61) to go to the Allied conferences at Teheran, Iran, and Cairo, Egypt. (Source: Navy News Service)

1865 - RADM Porter's gunboats' bombardment cause surrender of Wilmington, NC . 1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, and supported by USS Guard and USS Nyack, the Darien Expedition, commanded by CDR Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay to survery the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal. 1909 - Great White Fleet returns from round the world cruise to Hampton Roads, VA 1943 - USS Iowa (BB-61), the lead ship of the last class of American fast battleships, is commissioned. 1974 - LTJG Barbara Ann Allen becomes first Navy designated female aviator (Source: Navy News Service)

From Navy News Service 1952 - USS Iowa (BB 61) bombards Chongjin, Korea. 1973 - Launch of Skylab 2 mission, which was first U.S. manned orbiting space station. It had an all Navy crew of Capt. Charles Conrad Jr. (commanding), Cmdr. Joseph P. Kerwin, and Cmdr. Paul J. Weitz.