BATTLESHIP USS IOWA (BB-61)
Honoring Service, Power, and Purpose
Commissioned in 1943 and carrying forward the name of the great state of Iowa, USS Iowa (BB-61) was a dominant force in World War II, earning 11 battle stars before being recommissioned for service in the Korean War and again during the Cold War. Known as the “Battleship of Presidents,” the “Big Stick,” and the “Grey Ghost,” she carried commanders-in-chief, fired her massive 16-inch guns in combat, and stood as a symbol of American strength across generations.
Decommissioned for the final time in 1990, IOWA now serves as the flagship of LA Fleet Week, the National Museum of the Surface Navy, and a growing national movement to honor service, inspire purpose, and strengthen our communities.
Ship Characteristics Infographic
Top 10 Activities
- June 27, 1940: Keel laid at New York Naval Shipyard
- February 22, 1943: Commissioned into the U.S. Navy
- November 1943: Carried President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference
- 1944–1945: Earned 9 battle stars for Pacific combat in WWII
- August 25, 1951: Recommissioned for the Korean War
- April 1984: Recommissioned during Cold War naval buildup
- April 19, 1989: Turret explosion kills 47 sailors
- October 26, 1990: Decommissioned for the final time
- July 4, 2012: Opened as a museum ship in Los Angeles
- 2021: Named future National Museum of the Surface Navy
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