Built as cost-no-object gunships, the Iowas are arguably the finest battleships ever built (their only serious competition were the British Vanguard and the Japanese Yamato class). Cancelled 17 February, 1947.Īll four of the completed ships were recommissioned in the 1980s, only to be decommissioned in the 1990s after the Cold War ended. Kentucky (BB-66), keel laid at New York Navy Yard.Illinois (BB-65), keel laid at Philadelphia Navy Yard.Wisconsin (BB-64), built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.Missouri (BB-63), built at the New York Navy Yard.New Jersey (BB-62), built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.Iowa (BB-61), built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.The Iowa class were constructed at two Navy Yards:

Navy and were removed from service in the 1990's. These were the last battleships built by the U.S. The Iowa-class was preceded by the South Dakota class battleships and would have been succeeded by the Montana class battleships if the Montana's had not been cancelled prior to construction. Two other Iowa-class ships, Illinois and Kentucky, were scrapped prior to completion. Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentuckyįour battleships of the Iowa-class battleships (BB-61 through BB-64) were built in the early 1940s in the United States.

World of warships iowa gun penetration