The Iowa class battleships in their heyday were feared across the globe for both their speed and firepower - their main offensive capability housed in their three armored 16” gun turrets, two forward and one aft. Each turret has three guns which can move their barrels vertically independently of each other, from -2 to +45 degrees. Each turret can also turn just past 90 degrees, giving the IOWA nearly a 360 degree firing radius with a range of 24 miles on a perfect day. With a full crew of 79 highly trained sailors operating each turret at full efficiency the “Mighty I” could fire at a rate of one round every 45 seconds which gave her one of the fastest and furthest firing batteries on the water in World War II and into the Korean war.

How long is each barrel of the gun? Drop your guesses in the comments below.

#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #History #Navy #Military #Museum #VisitCA #SanPedro ...

There's still time to sign up for our STEM Adventure Summer camp! Scholarships are available.

History and science will join together to introduce students to valuable scientific and engineering concepts as they were applied in the design and operation of the historic battleship.

Each week-long session is tailored to specific grade levels, ensuring the activities are engaging and lessons are academically relevant to each participant. Learn more and register today. Link in bio.

#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Education #STEM #LosAngeles #Navy #Museum #History ...

This Thursday we’re taking a look at what held the IOWA "on the hook" (at anchor) when she wasn't screaming along at thirty knots. The “Mighty I” sports two giant steel anchors, each behemoth weighing in at about 30,000 pounds. Attaching them to the IOWA are 1,080 foot long anchor chains, or in nautical terms, two twelve-shot chains - a shot being nintey feet long. "Hauling back" (pulling up) an anchor requires the use of a 225 horsepower electro hydraulic anchor windlass.

Drop a guess in the comments: what does ONE LINK in our chain weigh?

#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Navy #History #Military #Sailing #LosAngeles #Education ...

Today we remember and commemorate the heroism and lives lost seventy-seven years ago on June 6, 1944. Operation NEPTUNE - more commonly known as D-Day - the land invasion of Normandy, began at 6:30 AM local time on beaches now the final resting places of over 2,200 American service men.

While all of the IOWA class battleships were in the Pacific theatre of war, numerous other battleships and cruisers played an essential part in the D-Day invasion by supporting the smaller landing craft with shore bombardments and seeking out German mines and U-Boats.

Battleship IOWA has a special tie to D-Day. The invasion was planned aboard the ship as FDR and his war cabinet traveled to the Tehran Conference in 1943.

#DDay #BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #History #Museum #Navy #Military #WWII #NeverForget ...

Yesterday the IOWA hosted an action packed day of e-sports as the Troy High School JROTC faced off against the @usnavy in a @playvalorantofficial tournament.

From weddings to e-sport tournaments, corporate events, and everything in between the IOWA crew works with you to ensure that your event is a success. Find out more and book your next event with us at the link in our bio.

#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Valorant #Navy ...

Museum update today! We wrap up our HULL PRESERVATION campaign, sum up Memorial Day, and preview coming attractions for summer - time for drive in movies and camp! Get the details on our website blog. Link in our News highlight.

📷 Memorial Day photos courtesy of Troy E Vail

#BattleshipIOWA #update #surfacenavymuseum #LAMuseum ...

Battleship IOWA is home to many stories - from the heroic, to the tragic, to the funny, and everything in between, the “Battleship of Presidents'' has seen it all.

One sailor who has a story of bravery and laughter to tell is Lester J. Levin. Lester joined the U.S. Navy straight out of high school in the fall of 1951. After going through boot camp in sunny SoCal - which was quite a change for a teenager from north western Iowa, Mr. Levin was stationed on the USS IOWA as a Machinist’s Mate. He remained with the ship all four years of his service to our country.

Lester was onboard the IOWA during her bombardment of Korea. He was stationed in the engine rooms, keeping the ship at peak battle performance.

While he was a young sailor and mechanic, Lester also had a playful and mischievous side to him. One of the tales he loves to tell is how he was responsible for bringing her very first washing machine onto the IOWA!

At the time many sailors on the ship didn’t like the shade of blue used for their uniforms. They would drag their uniforms behind the ship when she was underway at sea so the salt water would fade the color. They wanted a faster method, though, and one that would work while they were in port. When the ship was dry-docked in Norfolk, Virginia, Lester led a small group of fellow sailors to find a solution.

They caught a cab to the nearest appliance store, purchased a full size washing machine with donations from the crew, and miraculously fit it into the back of the cab! Once back at the IOWA, the daring sailors snuck the washing machine aboard, down four decks to one of the engine rooms, and hooked it up. For the rest of his time in the Navy, Lester never complained about the shade of blue of his uniform and became a hero on the IOWA.

For his time onboard the IOWA, Lester was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

Lester will turn 89 this October. Thanks to him and his family for sharing his wonderful story! ...

Today marks the 80TH ANNIVERSARY of the end of one of naval history's most captivating sagas - the chase of KMS BISMARCK.

BISMARCK began "Operation Rhine," its first sortie, on May 19, 1941. Its aim was to enter the Atlantic to wreak havoc on supply convoys. The Royal Navy, out in force to prevent it from doing so, caught up with it and its cruiser escort PRINZ EUGEN in the Denmark Strait on May 24.

In the ensuing battle a projectile from BISMARCK slammed into the pride of the British navy - the battlecruiser HMS HOOD. It hit in exactly the right place to do the most damage: HOOD exploded and sank within a shocking three minutes, leaving a mere three survivors out of a crew of over 1,400.

BISMARCK and PRINZ EUGEN escaped, but the German battleship had sustained some damage in the engagement - not enough to cripple it, but enough to require it to make for St. Nazaire for repair. BISMARCK detached PRINZ EUGEN and headed for France.

Still capable of over 25 knots, it remained elusive until May 26, when the out-for-revenge British sent outdated Swordfish biplanes from the carrier ARK ROYAL to find it. The Swordfish, armed with torpedoes, were doubly lucky: not only did they locate BISMARCK, but one of the torpedoes they launched hit the heavily-armored ship in the one place it was vulnerable: its rudder. Unable to do anything but steam in a circle, BISMARCK was doomed. Thirteen British ships converged on its position on May 27 and pummeled the BISMARCK for more than an hour.

The battleship took extensive damage and heavy casualties, yet refused to sink. In the end BISMARCK's remaining officers ordered the crew to abandon ship and allegedly scuttled it. Out of a compliment of over 2,000, 115 survived.

The wreck of BISMARCK was discovered in 1989 by famed undersea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, who also found TITANIC. BISMARCK, HOOD, and other legendary shipwrecks are featured in a fascinating exhibit aboard Battleship IOWA called Lost At Sea.

As we approach Memorial Day, the story of BISMARCK reminds us of the sacrifices those who serve in armed forces across the globe make for their countries. May we always honor those who “gave all.” ...