MILNET: Old Ships

The object of this page is to pay homage to famous ships that have only recently (in the last decade) been retired. Occasionally, a piece of news relating to these ships will come our way, and this is the place we will post it.

Battleships

Desig Name Comments

BB-61 U.S.S. Iowa (Class Vessel) The Iowa class battle ships were the largest vessels at sea in modern times. Built during the last years of the World War II's Pacific Campaign, the battleships were only smaller to two Japanese Battleships, the Yamato and Musashi.
After the conclusion of World War II, all but the Missouri were mothballed, the latter remaining on as a training ship. At the time, the battleships had three sets of huge triple guns, firing 16 in. shells (406 mm). Also, they carried 12 to 20 5 in guns.
In April of 1984, the U.S.S. Iowa, BB-61 was recommissioned into the fleet. She was armed with an additional 4 mk15 Phalanx CIWS, and later upgraded to fire Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (32 in quad box launchers), and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in quad launchers.
After the conclusion of the Gulf War in 1991, all the battleships were mothballed once again.

BB-62 New Jersey Mothballed at the end of World War II, the New Jersey was modified and recommissioned in December of 1982. The New Jersey modifications included addtion of 4 Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad launchers, and 16 Harpoon also in quad launchers.
The New Jersey's original equipment include her 3 sets of triple 16 in (406mm) guns, and 12 5 in (127mm) guns.
After the conclusion of the Gulf war in 1991, all the battleships were mothballed once again.

BB-63 U.S.S. Missouri Mothballed after the end of World War II, the Missouri (Mighty Mo) was recommissioned and used in the Korean War, earning five new battle stars to add to the three earned during World War II. She was mothballed in 1955, and then recommissioned in April of 1986 following a refit. During the refit, the Missouri was armed with four 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad deck mounted box launchers, and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in deck mounted quad launchers.
The Missouri's original equipment included 3 sets of 16 in cannon (total of 9), and 20 40mm deck guns, making the Mighty Mo one of two of the world's most heavily armed warships (see Wisconsin below).
The Missouri fired her last combat shots as she launched Cruise Missiles and later her 16 inch guns at Iraqi targets during the Gulf War.
The Stephen Seagall movie, The Siege was staged aboard the U.S.S. Missouri as she sailed to Hawaii for the 50th anniversay of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a real world event which was the last operational voyage of the ship's long career.
She was mothballed shortly after the conclusion of the Gulf war.
The Missouri is now being sailed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (expected to arrive by June 22, 1998) where she will be refurbished, repainted, then dedicated as the Battleship Missouri Memorial, in January of 1999.

BB-64 U.S.S. Wisconsin Mothballed after the end of World War II, the Wisconsin was recommissioned in 1988. She was armed with an additional set of 4 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad deck mounted box launchers, and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in deck mounted quad launchers.
The Wisconsin's original equipment included 3 sets of 16in cannon (total of 9), and 20 40mm deck guns, making the Wisconsin one of two of the world's most heavily armed warships (see Missouri above).

milnet@milnet.com

Desig	Name	Comments
BB-61	U.S.S. Iowa (Class Vessel)	The Iowa class battle ships were the largest vessels at sea in modern times. Built during the last years of the World War II's Pacific Campaign, the battleships were only smaller to two Japanese Battleships, the Yamato and Musashi. After the conclusion of World War II, all but the Missouri were mothballed, the latter remaining on as a training ship. At the time, the battleships had three sets of huge triple guns, firing 16 in. shells (406 mm). Also, they carried 12 to 20 5 in guns. In April of 1984, the U.S.S. Iowa, BB-61 was recommissioned into the fleet. She was armed with an additional 4 mk15 Phalanx CIWS, and later upgraded to fire Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (32 in quad box launchers), and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in quad launchers. After the conclusion of the Gulf War in 1991, all the battleships were mothballed once again.
BB-62	New Jersey	Mothballed at the end of World War II, the New Jersey was modified and recommissioned in December of 1982. The New Jersey modifications included addtion of 4 Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad launchers, and 16 Harpoon also in quad launchers. The New Jersey's original equipment include her 3 sets of triple 16 in (406mm) guns, and 12 5 in (127mm) guns. After the conclusion of the Gulf war in 1991, all the battleships were mothballed once again.
BB-63	U.S.S. Missouri	Mothballed after the end of World War II, the Missouri (Mighty Mo) was recommissioned and used in the Korean War, earning five new battle stars to add to the three earned during World War II. She was mothballed in 1955, and then recommissioned in April of 1986 following a refit. During the refit, the Missouri was armed with four 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad deck mounted box launchers, and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in deck mounted quad launchers. The Missouri's original equipment included 3 sets of 16 in cannon (total of 9), and 20 40mm deck guns, making the Mighty Mo one of two of the world's most heavily armed warships (see Wisconsin below). The Missouri fired her last combat shots as she launched Cruise Missiles and later her 16 inch guns at Iraqi targets during the Gulf War. The Stephen Seagall movie, The Siege was staged aboard the U.S.S. Missouri as she sailed to Hawaii for the 50th anniversay of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a real world event which was the last operational voyage of the ship's long career. She was mothballed shortly after the conclusion of the Gulf war. The Missouri is now being sailed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (expected to arrive by June 22, 1998) where she will be refurbished, repainted, then dedicated as the Battleship Missouri Memorial, in January of 1999.
BB-64	U.S.S. Wisconsin	Mothballed after the end of World War II, the Wisconsin was recommissioned in 1988. She was armed with an additional set of 4 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 32 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles in quad deck mounted box launchers, and 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles also in deck mounted quad launchers. The Wisconsin's original equipment included 3 sets of 16in cannon (total of 9), and 20 40mm deck guns, making the Wisconsin one of two of the world's most heavily armed warships (see Missouri above).