Walk the Decks Where Presidents Slept and Sailors Fought on This WWII Naval Beast in Los Angeles

USS Iowa (Los Angeles, California)

They called her “The Big Stick.” The USS Iowa ruled the seas from World War II through the Cold War, hosted three presidents, and showed up to every major naval fight of her time. From top secret missions to port parties, she’s done it all. Here’s the full story of LA’s most famous museum ship.

World War II’s Most Powerful Ship

Ordered on July 1, 1939, the USS Iowa took shape at New York Naval Shipyard as the lead ship of America’s final battleship class.

When launched on August 27, 1942, with Vice President Wallace’s wife as sponsor, Iowa represented the pinnacle of naval firepower. Commissioned on February 22, 1943, under Captain John L. McCrea, she brought unprecedented combat power to the fleet.

Her nine 16-inch guns could hurl 2,700-pound shells over 20 miles with deadly accuracy, while her crew of 2,700+ sailors lived and fought aboard this floating fortress.

Roosevelt’s Secret Wartime Voyage

In November 1943, Iowa received her most distinguished passenger – President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The President boarded on November 12, bound for the crucial Tehran Conference with Churchill and Stalin to plan Allied strategy.

Special accommodations included the only bathtub ever installed on an American battleship, specifically for Roosevelt’s comfort. During an anti-aircraft drill, escort destroyer William D. Porter accidentally fired a live torpedo directly at Iowa carrying the President.

After frantic warnings, Iowa turned hard while Roosevelt, rather than taking cover, asked to be moved to the railing to watch the torpedo explode in the battleship’s wake.

Baptism By Fire at Kwajalein

Iowa’s combat debut came in January 1944 as flagship of Battleship Division 7 under Rear Admiral Badger.

From January 29 to February 3, her massive guns bombarded Japanese positions at Kwajalein and Eniwetok ahead of Marine landings. Her first battle wounds came when two Japanese shore battery projectiles struck – a 5-inch shell pierced her hull while a 6-inch shell bounced off Turret 2’s armor.

Iowa’s Kingfisher floatplanes spotted targets for her gunners, ensuring devastatingly accurate fire against enemy bunkers and artillery positions.

The bombardment pulverized Japanese defenses, helping secure these vital stepping stones across the Pacific.

Sinking Enemy Ships at Truk

In February 1944, Iowa joined Operation Hailstone – the attack on Japan’s fortress harbor at Truk Lagoon. While carriers launched devastating air strikes, Iowa and New Jersey broke away to hunt Japanese ships trying to escape.

On February 19, Iowa’s 16-inch guns opened fire on light cruiser Katori at 9:30 AM, her massive shells quickly overwhelming the smaller warship. Within 30 minutes, Katori and destroyer Maikaze slipped beneath the waves, victims of Iowa’s devastating firepower.

Vice Admiral Willis Lee personally directed this surface action from Iowa’s bridge, one of the few times a four-star admiral participated directly in ship-to-ship combat.

Blasting Enemy Bunkers on Saipan

In June 1944, Iowa’s guns turned toward the Mariana Islands as Marines prepared for their crucial assault.

On June 13-14, Iowa bombarded Japanese fortifications on Saipan and Tinian, her shells systematically destroying defensive positions. One perfectly-aimed salvo struck an ammunition dump, creating a spectacular explosion that Marines cheered from nearby transports.

Her gunners methodically worked through target lists provided by reconnaissance units, obliterating bunkers, artillery positions, and troop concentrations.

This precise bombardment significantly weakened Japanese defenses before Marines stormed ashore on June 15, saving countless American lives.

Shooting Down Japan’s Best Pilots

On June 19, 1944, Iowa helped create the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot” – history’s most one-sided carrier battle.

As Japanese aircraft attacked in waves from carriers Taiho, Shokaku and Zuikaku, Iowa’s anti-aircraft guns created a wall of fire protecting American carriers. Gunner’s Mate Frank Thompson recalled, “Our 40mm guns fired so fast the barrels glowed red hot as Japanese planes fell from the sky.”

Iowa’s gunners definitely claimed three enemy aircraft destroyed while helping shoot down almost 600 Japanese planes in a single day. This devastating loss of irreplaceable veteran pilots effectively finished Japan’s naval air power for the remainder of the war.

Hunting Japanese Carriers Northward

In October 1944, Iowa sailed with Halsey’s Third Fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. When Japanese aircraft carriers were spotted on October 24, Halsey ordered a high-speed pursuit with Iowa racing north at flank speed.

Unknown to Halsey, these were merely decoy carriers with few aircraft, part of a Japanese trap to lure powerful American ships away from the invasion beaches.

As Iowa chased north, Japanese battleships nearly reached vulnerable American transports before being turned back by escort carriers and destroyers.

The controversial decision demonstrated Iowa’s exceptional speed – maintaining 33 knots alongside fast carriers when most battleships could barely manage 28.

Surviving Deadly Typhoon Cobra

In December 1944, Iowa battled Typhoon Cobra in the Philippine Sea – a deadlier enemy than any Japanese warship. Mountainous 70-foot waves crashed over her bow as 140-knot winds howled through her superstructure on December 17-18.

Seaman Martin Lewis recalled: “Iowa rolled 45 degrees, dishes flew everywhere, and we thought she might capsize, but she fought back against the storm.” While three American destroyers capsized with 790 sailors lost, Iowa’s massive hull plowed through the maelstrom despite severe rolling.

Iowa sustained propeller shaft damage requiring shipyard repairs, but her survival amid nature’s fury demonstrated her remarkable seaworthiness.

Shelling the Japanese Homeland

By July 1945, Iowa bombarded Japanese home islands as the war neared its end. On July 14-15, her shells pounded Muroran on Hokkaido, destroying steel mills and setting oil storage tanks ablaze.

Three days later, she targeted Hitachi on Honshu, with reconnaissance photos showing seven major factories completely destroyed. Japanese coastal batteries returned fire, but their shells fell short of the battleship as she bombarded targets beyond their reach.

These attacks forced Japan’s leadership to face a terrifying reality – American warships could strike their homeland at will with virtual impunity.

Iowa at Japan’s Surrender

When Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, Iowa stood ready as Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet flagship.

On August 27, Iowa and Missouri entered Sagami Bay to oversee Yokosuka Naval Arsenal’s surrender, Japanese sailors watching silently from shore. Two days later, Iowa entered Tokyo Bay with occupation forces, her guns trained on the Japanese capital during this tense period.

While Missouri hosted the formal surrender ceremony on September 2, Iowa remained Halsey’s flagship throughout these historic events.

Iowa departed Japanese waters on September 20, having earned nine battle stars during her world-changing wartime service.

Steel Rain Against Korean Targets

Iowa returned to war in 1951, recommissioned under Captain William Smedberg III for Korean operations. On April 1, 1952, she relieved Wisconsin and became flagship of the Seventh Fleet under Vice Admiral Briscoe.

Her first Korean combat mission on April 8 targeted Communist supply lines near Wonsan-Sŏngjin with devastating accuracy. Throughout June, Iowa’s guns hammered enemy positions at Mayang-do, Tanchon, Chongjin and other coastal targets, completing 43 fire missions.

Marine Corps forward observers directed her fire, with Captain Maxwell Hunter radioing: “Iowa’s shells are falling like steel rain on enemy troops.”

Exploring USS Iowa Today

Today, you walk the same teak decks where sailors once fought World War II and the Cold War aboard this massive floating fortress.

You can also explore multiple decks of this museum ship, from the massive 16-inch gun turrets to President Roosevelt’s cabin with his historic bathtub.

Interactive exhibits show life aboard a battleship, and you’ll be able to stand on the bridge where admirals commanded fleets and see the combat information center where battles were coordinated.

Visiting USS Iowa

You’ll find Battleship Iowa Museum at Berth 87, Port of Los Angeles, 250 S. Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, California, easily reached via I-110 to the Harbor Boulevard exit.

It’s open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with last admission at 3:00 PM and extended summer hours during peak tourist season.

It’s $25.95 for adult admission, with discounts for seniors ($22.95), military personnel ($19.95), and children ages 5-11 ($15.95), while children under 5 enter free.

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