Bring Back The Iowa Class Discussion And Debate

[Rumrunner]

Still prowling off the coast of Northern Japan no doubt. She also is generally credited with firing the first US BB shells of WWII at Casablanca onto the French Jean Bart.

[Dreadnought]

In the final days of WWII, the USS
Massachusetts bombarded the Japanese iron and steel industrial center and then returned to combat in Kamaishi. Here, she is believed to have fired the last 16-inch shot of WWII combat.;)

Blurbs:

*Bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, 14 July 1945. Battleships and heavy cruisers steam in column off Kamaishi, at the time they bombarded the iron works there, as seen from South Dakota (BB-57). Indiana (BB-58) is the nearest ship, followed by Massachusetts (BB-59). Cruisers Chicago (CA-136) and Quincy (CA-71) bring up the rear.

*Bombardment of Kaimaishi, Japan, August 1945. Massachusetts (BB-59) opens fire on Kaimaishi, in the last battleship bombardment of World War II, 9 August 1945. Photographed from Indiana (BB-58).

This would also be found in "Operations of the Fast Battleships" by John C. Reilly. You have to order the report (both editions) but they are a very interesting read as far as the ships, their targets, operations and comments go and how they could be improved upon.

[shadow01]

Like I've said in previous posts, I live 10 miles from where Mamie is a memorial ship and visit at least once a year.

Any news or stories of her war time service is welcome.

[Dreadnought]

Battleship Massachusetts was built in Quincy, Massachusetts at the Fore River Shipyard of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. The ship was launched on September 23, 1941 and holds the record as the heaviest ship ever launched in Quincy. "Big Mamie", as her crew knew her, was delivered to the Boston Navy Yard in April 1942 and commissioned the following month.


Following her shakedown period Battleship Massachusetts went into action on November 8, 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. While cruising off the city of Casablanca, Morocco, the Battleship engaged in a gun duel with the unfinished French battleship Jean Bart, moored at a Casablanca pier. In this battle, Massachusetts fired the first American 16" projectile in anger of World War II. Five hits from Big Mamie silenced the enemy battleship, and other 16" shells from Battleship Massachusetts helped sink two destroyers, two merchant ships, a floating dry-dock, and heavily damaged buildings and docks in Casablanca.


The ship returned to Boston for refitting and resupply and in February 1943 went through the Panama Canal to join the action in the Pacific, where she would remain for the remainder of her 3 1/2 years of active service. Assigned to the Southwest Pacific, the Battleship saw action in the New Guinea-Solomons area and participated in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, the invasion of the Marshall Islands in January 1944, the powerful carrier strikes against Truk in February 1944, and a series of raids against Japanese bases in the Western Pacific and Asia.


Following a bombardment of Ponape Island in May 1944, Battleship Massachusetts returned to Bremerton, Washington for modernization and a well-deserved rest for her crew. In September 1944 the ship returned to action in the invasion of Palau Islands and acted as an escort for the fast carrier task forces using her 5", 40mm, and 20mm guns to defend the carriers against enemy aircraft.

Big Mamie's 16" guns pounded Iwo Jima and Okinawa before those islands were invaded in 1945, and by July of that year she was off Japan with the Third Fleet. The Battleship bombarded the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Kamaishi, and then sailed south to bombard a factory at Hamamatsu. Returning to Kamaishi, Battleship Massachusetts fired the last American 16" projectile of the war.


With peace achieved, "Big Mamie" returned to the United States and operated with the Pacific Fleet until mid-1946, when she was ordered deactivated. The Battleship remained in the Reserve Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia until she was stricken in 1962 from the Navy Register and ordered sold for scrap. However, her wartime crew had held annual reunions since 1945 and lobbied to save their ship as a memorial. With the assistance of Massachusetts school children, they raised enough money to bring Big Mamie to Fall River in June 1965. She was opened to the public two months later. Now the centerpiece of Fall River's revitalized waterfront and one of the five National Historic Landmark ships at Battleship Cove, "Big Mamie" with her guns trained fore and aft in the posture of peace, stands ready to welcome visitors from around the nation and across the world as she has for more than a quarter century.

[shadow01]

I wonder after all the firing she had done if during her last overhaul after returning from the Pacific they had relined her 16" guns.

That was quite a bit of 16" ammunition expended in those last months of the war.

Again thanks for all the replies about my home town favorite.

I remember when their was talk in the 80s about even bringing her back to active duty. I know it never was seriously considered and she was raided for parts for the Iowa class BBs they did bring back, but it is fun to speculate of what might have been!

[Dreadnought]

I wonder after all the firing she had done if during her last overhaul after returning from the Pacific they had relined her 16" guns.

That was quite a bit of 16" ammunition expended in those last months of the war.

Again thanks for all the replies about my home town favorite.

I remember when their was talk in the 80s about even bringing her back to active duty. I know it never was seriously considered and she was raided for parts for the Iowa class BBs they did bring back, but it is fun to speculate of what might have been!

*Her towing rig and a few other things were looted and the thief, well he is among us here on the WAB aka RustyBattleship.:));)

[shadow01]

I saw in some post from Rusty that he stated as much about the towing gear off the Mamie.

Most of what I have heard about the Mamie are from the great group of veterans that volunteer their time to pass on their knowledge to "greenhorns" like myself.

And the info that Rusty has supplied to me both on the board and private messages makes me want to meet this man at some point in time.

[RustyBattleship]

I saw in some post from Rusty that he stated as much about the towing gear off the Mamie.

Most of what I have heard about the Mamie are from the great group of veterans that volunteer their time to pass on their knowledge to "greenhorns" like myself.

And the info that Rusty has supplied to me both on the board and private messages makes me want to meet this man at some point in time.

Actually I only cannibalized, LEGALLY, the Towing Pelican Hook off of Mamie that was used for aft towing gear of a disabbled ship. New Jersey's Pelican Hook accidentally got scrapped along with the Boat and Airplane crane to make room for the Nixie winch. (Pages 220 t0 222 of my book).

I also cannibalized 2 winches off the Chicago for the new boat lifting booms installed on the port side for both Missouri and Wisconsin (pages 211 to 214).

However, as reactivating the Iowas was in full swing, NAVSEA 05 off loaded anything and everything from both Massachusetts and North Carolina that could be used as spare parts for the Iowas.

And Dread, I am NOT a crook - er - thief. We just knew how to legalize "Midnight Requisition".

[Dreadnought]

And Dread, I am NOT a crook - er - thief. We just knew how to legalize "Midnight Requisition".

Translation: Our dept NEVER left the ship or atleast at no time which the logs will show. Especially in the middle of the night.;)

[looking4NSFS]

Actually I only cannibalized, LEGALLY, the Towing Pelican Hook off of Mamie that was used for aft towing gear of a disabbled ship. New Jersey's Pelican Hook accidentally got scrapped along with the Boat and Airplane crane to make room for the Nixie winch. (Pages 220 t0 222 of my book).

I also cannibalized 2 winches off the Chicago for the new boat lifting booms installed on the port side for both Missouri and Wisconsin (pages 211 to 214).

However, as reactivating the Iowas was in full swing, NAVSEA 05 off loaded anything and everything from both Massachusetts and North Carolina that could be used as spare parts for the Iowas.

And Dread, I am NOT a crook - er - thief. We just knew how to legalize "Midnight Requisition".

Rusty,
These, a-hem, "spare parts". Based on the language used "anything and everything...... that could be used as spare parts" would leave one to believe they were not all "used". If that is the case, where would these "parts" be now? I have an image in my mind of a vast warehouse (think Raiders of the Lost Ark here) with "parts" in it. And with all the BB's now off the Naval Register were the last of the "parts" the barrel liners, spare barrels etc etc disposed of? Seems there was ammunition and propellent as well, are they gone?

[RustyBattleship]

Rusty,
These, a-hem, "spare parts". Based on the language used "anything and everything...... that could be used as spare parts" would leave one to believe they were not all "used". If that is the case, where would these "parts" be now? I have an image in my mind of a vast warehouse (think Raiders of the Lost Ark here) with "parts" in it. And with all the BB's now off the Naval Register were the last of the "parts" the barrel liners, spare barrels etc etc disposed of? Seems there was ammunition and propellent as well, are they gone?

I have several pages of a list of Battleship Spare Parts. They have all been declared "excess". So I'm trying to round some up now.

Anybody from the USMC Barstow, CA base? Or the San Diego area? Could use your help in getting a visitor's pass and do an inspection of the parts.

[RustyBattleship]

Got some bad news about those 15 barrels in Hawthorne, Nevada. You can have them but they must be "demilitarized" first. The latest procedure of demilitarizing them is cutting them in two.''

0001 - Uncategorized at Government Liquidation

[dave lukins]

Got some bad news about those 15 barrels in Hawthorne, Nevada. You can have them but they must be "demilitarized" first. The latest procedure of demilitarizing them is cutting them in two.''

0001 - Uncategorized at Government Liquidation

Rusty' what do you think is the going rate for just one of these barrels?

[USSWisconsin]

Rusty' what do you think is the going rate for just one of these barrels?

be sure to add shipping and handling to the price - it will be steep

[RustyBattleship]

Rusty' what do you think is the going rate for just one of these barrels?

I really don't know. I'm a "nuts & bolts" creature and not an appraiser or auctioneer. However, if you are representing a military museum and would like to have one (or two or three) for display purposes without totally "demilitarizing" the (hacking in two with a carbon arc), you may be able to get them as a "donation".

BUT you have to provide your own transportation of the barrels. They will not deliver except to another US Military facility, such as Earl NAVWEPS test center or Seal Beach Naval Supply Base. But the paperwork may be overwhelming.

Doesn't hurt to try though so Good Luck.