Memorial Day- the Iwoa class battleships

[Kossetx]

As I reflect on Memorial Day and give thanks to those who sacrificed I also think of the magnificent machines that helped pave the way for our freedoms. As a young man I was lucky enough to have walked aboard the USS Misouri as a sailor in the navy. There have been a few awe inspiring events in my life and stepping aboard that ship was one of them. The emotions that I felt walking aboard. Seeing this awesome machine of war, thinking of those who served on it and what it must have been like in battle. It's sole purpose was was ment for battle. Besides the 9 16" cannons there were dozens of smaller guns ment both for offense and defense. It was great and was an event that has stayed with me my whole life.

I used to volunteer on the USS Texas helping with its restoration and no offense to the Texas but it was a shadow to the Iowa class battleships. They defined the term "war machine".

Anyone else had that experience or were lucky enough to see an Iowa class battleship?

[sailor]

Here's what I think, is a great pic..............
I believe, anytime you step aboard an American
ship of war...... It's an awesome experience..........

[JES]

When I was in the Navy I spent my enlistment doing maintenance on fast attack submarines in New London, CT and Norfolk, VA. When I transferred to Norfolk I needed to see an oral surgeon and the only one available was on the Theodore Roosevelt which is an aircraft carrier. I had only been around submarines and had been on my ship, a submarine tender, L.Y. Spear a very short amount of time. When I walked onto the hangar deck of that carrier I was awestruck. All I could think was how many submarines would fit in there. It was such a huge space. What an amazing ship and it’s ability to bring the fight of those planes to anywhere in the world. We have the greatest Navy in the world and our reach is unmatched.

[Phillip Fields]

I've seen the IOWA and the WISCONSIN. From 1987 until I retired in 2010 I was a Contract Specialist awarding and administering ship repair contracts at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth Virginia. I've been onboard many of the Navy's warships including several different Carriers, but I never got the chance to go onboard IOWA or WICONSIN. My wife was a Safety Specialist at NNSY and went on board many different ships including submarines. She has been onboard both the IOWA and WISCONSIN.

[timoub007]

I was in Pearl Harbor last week and took the Missouri and Arizona tours, two totally different experiences. I wish we had more time on the Missouri. It was truly awe inspiring.

Thank you for all who have served, their families and to those that gave all especially.

Tim

[tvc184]

As I reflect on Memorial Day and give thanks to those who sacrificed I also think of the magnificent machines that helped pave the way for our freedoms. As a young man I was lucky enough to have walked aboard the USS Misouri as a sailor in the navy. There have been a few awe inspiring events in my life and stepping aboard that ship was one of them. The emotions that I felt walking aboard. Seeing this awesome machine of war, thinking of those who served on it and what it must have been like in battle. It's sole purpose was was ment for battle. Besides the 9 16" cannons there were dozens of smaller guns ment both for offense and defense. It was great and was an event that has stayed with me my whole life.

I used to volunteer on the USS Texas helping with its restoration and no offense to the Texas but it was a shadow to the Iowa class battleships. They defined the term "war machine".

Anyone else had that experience or were lucky enough to see an Iowa class battleship?

The difference is one ordered in 1910 and one ordered in 1939. I believe when the USS Texas was commissioned, it was the most powerful ship in the world. It was the first battleship to launch an airplane and the first American ship to have what is the predecessor of a modern fire control system.

The Texas was designed almost a decade before the USA entered World War I. She was an old lady by the time that the Iowa class what designed at almost to beginning of World War II. Imagine a 1910 aircraft compared to a P-51 Mustang in WWII and yet the old lady took part in the invasions at Normandy, southern France, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.