USS Iowa

look 171 · 11-10-2012, 08:53 PM

My little boys and I are planning to go see it tomorrow. Any tips? Anyone know if it will be crowded with massive lines?

abisel · 05:50 AM

I did not know that the Iowa was on display for public viewing.

Last I knew it was up near San Fransciso in the Suisun Bay in the Mothball Fleet and you could take a boat ride to view her, but not walk her decks.

Glad to see that she was rescued from the scrap heap.

http://pacificbattleship.com/

I must make a trip to see her.

sammyg2 · 11-11-2012, 10:25 AM

It's free today, lots of stuff going on, plan on lots of people.

Seahawk · 11-11-2012, 12:35 PM

I had the privileged to land on the Missouri during the first Gulf War. Nothing special, trash and Pony.

I also got to call fires for a BB: "Fire for effect". It was an excellent flight.

look 171 · 11-11-2012, 10:13 PM

I know nothing about battle ships. Wow, info overload. It was too much for my little boys, but I can spend a week on that thing. They are still trying to sort it all out and there are places I would have love to see but weren't available. It was well worth 18 bucks per person. I just they had more people to answer questions.

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

It was scheduled to be placed in San Francisco but they refused it.... it's a War ship..ya' know and that makes it way un-PC for those pony tail PC babies...

I'd love to see it.

SF refuses most any war related monuments and I'm surprised they still have the Blue Angels perform there.....hmmm...maybe they kicked them out too...?

rcooled · 11-12-2012, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

They are still trying to sort it all out and there are places I would have love to see but weren't available. I just they had more people to answer questions.

If you & the kids enjoyed the IOWA, plan on checking out the USS MIDWAY Museum down in San Diego. It's been opened for quite a while now and is really well organized with lots of exhibits along with a full compliment of aircraft on display. You'll have pretty much full access to all areas of the ship and there are docents (many of whom are vets who served aboard) everywhere to answer questions and talk about how it all worked.
On a recent visit there, I thought I spend an hour or two checking out the MIDWAY before heading off to do other things but was so fascinated by it that I wound up spending almost the entire day aboard. Here's a link.

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier | San Diego Museum | San Diego Tours

look 171 · 11-12-2012, 09:31 AM

OH yeah, that's next this winter. The heat wave we had this summer stopped us from going getting fry on that big deck was out of the question.

lane912 · 11-12-2012, 10:48 AM

the science museum here in Portland has a submarine on display that you can tour-
very interesting and enlightening-
it must take alot to live that close to others for extended periods of time plus add the "you are deep under water in this little can-

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has an entire German sub which was captured in WW II...fun to walk thru. There's also a WW II US Sub in SF. Dunno why those clowns have not scuttled her yet...

scottmandue · 11-13-2012, 09:59 AM

I live in San Pedro and applied for a job there (have a job but how cool would it be to work there!?! Plus it is only ten minutes from my house).

abisel · 01:13 PM

Working to restore the Iowa would be awesome.

However, reduced charge or not, I don't think I would want to stand on deck while the big guns go off.

look 171 · 11-16-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drdogface

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has an entire German sub which was captured in WW II...fun to walk thru. There's also a WW II US Sub in SF. Dunno why those clowns have not scuttled her yet...

I was going to ask about the sub in Fisherman's wraf.

look 171 · 11-16-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abisel

Working to restore the Iowa would be awesome.

However, reduced charge or not, I don't think I would want to stand on deck while the big guns go off.

Were sailors on deck (near the guns) when they go off during was time? That would have been an awesome experience I just may not want to go through.

daepp · daepp's Garage

Great visit last month:

The Lane Victory steamed by

Door to armored conning tower

Inside conning tower

Close in defense

Can't wait till they open more of it up to tourists!

abisel · 11-16-2012, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Were sailors on deck (near the guns) when they go off during was time? That would have been an awesome experience I just may not want to go through.

I think the decks were cleared except for those manning the stern deck anti-aircraft guns. Scroll up and look at the top picture and the concussion radius of the guns.

There is a story from a New Jersey BB-62 vet about when a gun fired with the muzzle a bit too close to a maintenenace shack, the blast buckled the wall of the shack. Still visible in the pictures at that web site: Battleship USS New Jersey BB-62

scottmandue · 11-16-2012, 03:25 PM

There are two gun implacements a few miles from the Iowa just up the coast near my house, I believe they were 14" or 15" guns, it is said that:
A) They could have hit Catalina if they wanted to.
B) They only test fired them once, it broke almost ever window in San Pedro.

scottmandue · 11-16-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

My little boys and I are planning to go see it tomorrow. Any tips? Anyone know if it will be crowded with massive lines?

So, how bad were the lines?

look 171 · 11-16-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abisel

I think the decks were cleared except for those manning the stern deck anti-aircraft guns. Scroll up and look at the top picture and the concussion radius of the guns.

There is a story from a New Jersey BB-62 vet about when a gun fired with the muzzle a bit too close to a maintenenace shack, the blast buckled the wall of the shack. Still visible in the pictures at that web site: Battleship USS New Jersey BB-62

I see the pics on top and that's why I asked. How did those tourist deal with it in the other pic?

look 171 · 11-16-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

There are two gun implacements a few miles from the Iowa just up the coast near my house, I believe they were 14" or 15" guns, it is said that:
A) They could have hit Catalina if they wanted to.
B) They only test fired them once, it broke almost ever window in San Pedro.

I know where they are and read about them a little.