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    Debate Over the Revival: Reviving the Iowa-Class Battleships

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    In a surprising turn of events, fervent supporters of the venerable dreadnoughts have convinced the United States Navy to return two legendary battleships, the Iowa (BB-61) and the Wisconsin (BB-64), to the Naval Vessel Register (NVR).

    Battleship USS Iowa (BB-61)” by Ian E. Abbott is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    The utilization value of these storied vessels, despite their obsolescence and the staggering cost exceeding that of modern destroyers, has become a topic of both intrigue and scrutiny within the military community.

    The decision was catalyzed by a concerted campaign of press coverage and persuasive letters to Congress, culminating in a 17 to 3 vote by the Senate Armed Services Committee on 29 June 1995 to retain these ships in mothballs.

    These advocates argued that the Iowa-class battleships remained the Navy’s “only remaining potential source of around-the-clock accurate, high-volume, heavy fire support,” according to the Senate report.

    The Navy, however, had delayed their reinstatement until a memo was signed on 21 January 1998 by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jay Johnson, and later by Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton on 12 February 1998.

    Yet, the two battleships were brought back into the fold on 30 December 1997, raising questions about their relevance in an era where naval warfare has evolved drastically.

    071004-N-2568S-073
    GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) – U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

    With the advent of over-the-horizon amphibious assaults utilizing MV-22 Ospreys, helicopters, and air-cushioned landing crafts, the 16-inch guns of the Iowa class—with a maximum range of 27 miles—fall short of the required capabilities.

    Alternatives to the outdated 16-inch guns include the 5-inch/62-caliber gun aboard the destroyer Winston Churchill (DDG-81) with a range of 63 nautical miles.

    MV-22 Ospreys assigned to the U.S. Presidential Helicopter Squadron land on the flight deck of the future USS Gerald R. Ford.” by Official U.S. Navy Imagery is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    And the vertical gun for advanced ships (VGAS) expected to enter service by 2008, offering a range of about 100 nautical miles.

    NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, USA – MAY 10, 2023: The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) located at the maritime themed museum Nauticus at dusk.

    Missiles such as the Army Tactical Missile System and Tomahawk variants, deployable by cruisers and destroyers post-2000, offer even greater flexibility and range.

    The financial burden of reactivating these two battleships is another significant concern.

    With the total cost for reactivation during the Reagan administration’s four-ship fleet build-up amounting to approximately $1.66 billion, the projected expense to bring back just two ships could surpass $1 billion.

    That’s more than the cost of an Aegis destroyer outfitted with 90 missiles.

    Additionally, there are logistical challenges in upgrading the battleships with compatible modern equipment and sourcing the massive 1,600-person crew per ship.

    A view of the superstructure of the battleship USS IOWA (BB-61) while the ship is undergoing its second phase of reactivation at the Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard.

    And providing up to six months of at-sea training before these ships could be combat-ready, potentially extending the timeframe to 18 months from order to operational status.

    Relevant articles:
    The U.S. Navy: The Battleships Are Back!, U.S. Naval Institute
    Yes, Los Angeles Has a Battleship: All Aboard the USS Iowa, exp1.com
    Battleship Wisconsin: Fought in Three Wars (And Could Fight Again?), nationalinterest.org

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