Watch the Progress of BB 61, as the Iowa heads to L.A.

kmcclish

Click on the following link to see the progress of the Battleship USS Iowa as it is being towed by one tugboat from Richmond, CA where it was being painted. It is headed to Los Angeles Harbor where she will be a permanent attraction. It is slated to be open to tours in July.

The State of Iowa wrote a check for 3 million dollars to fund the recent painting. Maybe they can loan California a bit to tide us over.

The participants on the Delta Cruise are used to seeing the Iowa moored in Suisun Bay with other ships of the mothball fleet, but not this year. Check other websites and you can see the many tugs that moved her over to the Richmond shipyards. She barely cleared the bridges and that was with the antennas removed.

Wikipedia has a pretty good history of the Iowa and the other 3 Iowa Class Battleships. The New Jersey, the Wisconsin and the Missouri. Marcia and I had the privilege of touring the Missouri a couple of months ago in Pearl Harbor. It's a don't miss experience.

When the Iowa reaches the Los Angeles area, it will be moored near Seal Beach where the bottom will be cleaned. It is slated to be towed into Los Angeles Harbor on June 9th with a huge celebration.

Enjoy! http://www.pacificbattleship.com/page/track

Kent
MARCIA JANE

Captains Cat · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting Kent. I was the Technical Directfor for the reactivation for the class in the 80's. Lots of history there!

Charlie

jep111 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:58 am Post subject:

I was both in Richmond and at the Gate when she went through... I took a nice picture of a C-Dory in front of the Iowa, but I don't know how to post pictures in the forum. If I figure it out or the guy who owns the aforementioned C-Dory pms me, he can have the photo.

Cheers!

John

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 7:36 am Post subject:

John, send it to me by email if you can. cvinroot at gmail dot com

I'll post it for all of us.

Thanks

Charlie

jep111 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:02 pm Post subject:

Hi Charlie,

E-mail sent. Thanks!

John

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:20 pm Post subject:

Here it is John. Any one know who belongs to that CD 22 in the foreground? Those white specks near the waterline of IOWA look like seagulls.

jep111 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:00 pm Post subject:

Them's seagulls, all right!

potter water · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject:

Ships that size that have been sitting for a long spell carry a lot of marine life below the water line. When she's towed at about any speed, the "low hanging fruit" washes off and the seagulls have a nice meal.

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 4:24 pm Post subject:

You might notice that the gun barrel of the #2 16" turret has been replaced (but not made operational). That was the one that exploded, killing 32 sailors.

Those were impressive ships, still are!

Charlie

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject:

Great shot. calendar page next year?

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject:

Good call Tom! Trying to read the name on the side of the Honda on that CD, no name on the boat but looks like some kind of name on the side of the engine. The Brat Map was of no help although there are a few 22's in that area of upper SF bay. Can't quite see the registration number either.

Happy Memorial Day!

Charlie

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 6:36 pm Post subject:

I remember when the Iowa was tied up on the Delaware River at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It was a sad sight to see it out there with it's one 16 inch gun just hanging low. I'm happy to see the beautiful picture above and to learn of it's future. By the way, in the late 1990's, they towed the New Jersey, BB-62, from Bremerton, WA through the Panama Canal and up the Delaware to Camden, where she is now on display. I also remember crossing the Atlantic on the Albany, CA-123, next to the Wisconsin, BB-64, in the summer of '57. It, the Wisconsin, is now on display at Norfolk, I think. Beautiful ships all.

jep111 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject:

The registration number is CF 6376 TP... and the engine just has Honda, 75, and Four Stroke on it.