Iowa hull life. How much left?

[Stan]

im just annoyed to be honest when i read this whole thread that the british never kept even one of our magnificent battleships

[Dreadnought]

Aye, I was quite surprised with their Naval history that they didnt even spare Vangard.

[Stan]

it was brutal im wondering though are there any of our bs still intact some place rotting away or are they completely gone. we need a british battle ship back home to portsmouth

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by STAN

it was brutal im wondering though are there any of our bs still intact some place rotting away or are they completely gone. we need a british battle ship back home to portsmouth

The only one I know of is HMS Belfast not so much a BB then a cruiser but none the less a survivor of the battle line era. Outside of that I believe Japan still has one afloat (Mikasa IICR) and the U.S. still has I believe eight still afloat.

And one famous armored cruiser the Olympia..The very same ship that brought home America's "Unknown Soldier" and flagship of Admiral Dewey.

I would have loved to see the Brits spare a King George class, Elizabeth class or R Class for their future Naval lads.

Needless to say if the Brits did spare one I would certainly travel to see it. After thing in the terrorist world calm I would also like to view Mikasa some day.

[Shipwreck]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

For Shipwreck:
Normally I would enjoy going over your points and counterpoints one by one. But please forgive me, I just do not have the time or mental state to do so. I've got a stack of medical bills to analyze and see if my wife paid anything on them before last week's elbow surgery. Then I have to try to figure out what we are being billed for and how much Blue Shield has paid.

No problem, Dick.

Family comes first.

Take care.

[neilmpenny]

In answer to the original question "How much servicable hull/boiler life does each of the Iowas have left"?

It depends from what angle you look at it. If there is a need for these ships and a role that cannot be fulfilled by any other ship in service today then these ships will undergo refits to keep them in front line readiness for as long as they are needed. I suppose it is an argument between capability and cost of keeping them service ready.

I served on an old aircraft carrier in the Australian NAVY that was 35 years old. You got the old stories of how a Jasons pistol or chipping hammer punctured the hull whilst it was in drydock being antifouled (who knows if they were true). I guess a hull plate could be replaced as and when required.

Boilers are easy to maintain (relatively) and the tubes can be replaced as and when required. Re-bricking is also not a major undertaking. They can be kept going indefinitely as long as there is the will and the financing.

The HMAS Melbourne as far as I know got paid off because her auxiliary systems were ancient by any measure you may employ. And because we only had one (and I believe she only had three sister ships, one still in service in the Indian NAVY today!!!!) we sufered from a lack of scale. Parts were at a premium as they generally had to be custom made.

Government policy changes over time too as well as geoplolitical policies and objectives, alliances, trade agreements and technological requirements to name a few. It may be fine to focus on the engineering limitations of these ships but what could well do them in is a shift in the strategic or political environment.

[Dreadnought]

A gentleman on this board inspects the Iowa class battleships periodically. His findings are part of what the USN uses in their studies for ship/hull condition findings and suggestions. He has a long experience with these battleships.

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

A gentleman on this board inspects the Iowa class battleships periodically. His findings are part of what the USN uses in their studies for ship/hull condition findings and suggestions. He has a long experience with these battleships.

WHAT? The Navy is still using me? Perish the thought. And at my age too, tsk, tsk.

[TopHatter]

Originally Posted by neilmpenny

The HMAS Melbourne as far as I know got paid off because her auxiliary systems were ancient by any measure you may employ

Here's a shot of the old girl for you

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by TopHatter

Here's a shot of the old girl for you

That's an old picture too as it shows the Enterprise with her pre-1981 superstructure.

It almost looks like Enterprise is chasing the Melbourne away because on June 3, 1969, 74 American sailors died when the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans was cut in two by the Melbourne. Or Melbourne is getting out of the way of Enterprise making a sudden turn starboard.

[RAL's_pal?]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

It almost looks like Enterprise is chasing the Melbourne away because on June 3, 1969, 74 American sailors died when the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans was cut in two by the Melbourne. Or Melbourne is getting out of the way of Enterprise making a sudden turn starboard.

Two guys from the Frank E. Evans ended up working in my shop in the yard. One guy was the only surviving member from the forward fireroom. In all the years I knew him he only mentioned it once and I could see that it still really bothered him.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

WHAT? The Navy is still using me? Perish the thought. And at my age too, tsk, tsk.

Thats because they know Mr L. is secretly building a Montana class in his garage on a limited budget.

[neilmpenny]

Originally Posted by RAL's_pal?

Two guys from the Frank E. Evans ended up working in my shop in the yard. One guy was the only surviving member from the forward fireroom. In all the years I knew him he only mentioned it once and I could see that it still really bothered him.

I joined many years after the Frank E Evans tragedy. Before that one the Melbourne also sank a ship called HMAS Voyager. I served with an old hand who said he servd with a fellow off of the Voyager, used to keep a packed bag under his bunk ready to go if it happened again. After the Frank E Evans sinking they concreted up the bow of the Melbourne just forward of the cable locker. I have no idea why.

Top Hatter, thanks for the pic mate. Brings back a lot of memories. Compared to the 'Big E' she is a minnow. Did I ever tell you the one about the Canadian pilot who tried to land on her and wrote off a skyhawk...........

[RustyBattleship]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Thats because they know Mr L. is secretly building a Montana class in his garage on a limited budget.

Must have shown up in Google Earth. Darn satellites anyway. But the ocean is 12 miles away. I wonder if I can slide it down Lakewood Blvd on banana peels.

Naw. Couldn't make the turn at the traffic circle.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

Must have shown up in Google Earth. Darn satellites anyway. But the ocean is 12 miles away. I wonder if I can slide it down Lakewood Blvd on banana peels.

Naw. Couldn't make the turn at the traffic circle.

Not to mention the BRAKES!