Did you serve on a battleship?

[charlie sherrill]

I was on the USS Springfield, a light guided missile cruiser. It did many of the things a battleship did, just on a smaller scale. I have recently been on board the Alabama and the Texas. The Texas is older, smaller, and has fewer guns. Both ships were impressive and effective in their own time. I watched as two of the four BB's were overhauled in Pascagoula, Ms. back in the 80's. They were beautiful ships and served the short purpose they were rebuilt for. Battleships were made obsolete by the carriers. I personally think carriers are vulnerable and obsolete, but I don't make the decisions to spend billions building them and manning them. Some of the carriers have over 5,000 people and billions of dollars worth of equipment on them. China, and I'm sure Russia and possibly others have the means to take them out with devastating results on lives and equipment. I would rather see smaller ships with fewer planes and personnel until we have the technology to fly directly to the battle from long distances. We can do that in some instances now. Battleships became obsolete due to their vulnerability and the fact that smaller ships can pack almost the same punch with modern ordinances, except maybe in beach landing situations against someone who can't shoot back at you. Carriers are a catastrophe waiting to happen on a mass scale. The only reason they haven't been attacked in the Middle East is any potential attacker knows we would make a glass parking lot out of whoever succeeded in hitting one. They may be majestic and intimidating to some of these small countries, but the guys we should worry about aren't scared of them.

 

[31FordA]

I never served on a battleship, but my grandfather helped build them and overhaul them. My grandfather worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for 41 years (1924-1965), and among the ships he helped build was the USS New Jersey. I loved talking to him about ships because he had so many good stories. He had worked on many of the ships that would be at Pearl Harbor during the inter-war years.

I was in grade school when Reagan announced that the Iowa class battleships would be recommisioned. I was thrilled to hear it, and so was my grandfather. We would read all the news we could get, and I still have newspaper clippings around here somewhere. I was probably the only seven year old who could talk your ear off about the advantages of the battleship, and how those 16" guns would provide much needed gunfire support for the Marines.

 

[Bat Guano]

Like many kids in the 50s I too made a model of the Missouri. Not only got to see it up at Bremerton but my kids did as well. I was amused to see my 6 YO boy around something even he couldn't break...

Some years after that I got to see the New Jersey come out of a fog bank on the Columbia. One moment you couldn't see anything; then--there it was. A magnificent sight; talk about chills up your spine!

 

[31FordA]

Didn't serve in one but my First CO had been a gunnery officer on the New Jersey when she was activated for Viet Nam. He said the concussion from a three gun salvo would knock the breath out of you if you were anywhere topside.

Have another friend who one one of the project officers for the Iowa re-activation in 1983-84. He has some interesting stories about the different proposals for configuration changes for the ships. Got invited to the recommissioning ceremony and got to sit in the second level VIP seating. Sat behind the Assistant Royal Navy Attache. Then Vice President Bush was the speaker. It was an interesting day.

She was moored almost bow to bow with the Yorktown (CG-48) which was to be commissioned a couple of months later. Iowa was a lot better looking.

I remember the Yorktown really well. It was at Penn's Landing in Philly one summer and holding tours. My parents and I stood in line in the blazing heat for a couple of hours because I insisted on taking the tour. We finally get aboard and I promptly pass out, landing with a thud on the steel deck. I came to after only a couple of seconds, but the Corpsman who checked me out suggested I should stay out of the heat for a while. We were taken to the ward room and given plenty of cold drinks until I said I felt better, then we got a really nice tour. Getting to be in the ward room of a cruiser was the highlight of my summer vacation.

Yorktown was an impressive ship. Last I heard she had returned to Philadelphia to die. She was in the back channel of the Navy Yard awaiting disposal. When our govt decided to gut the Navy the early Ticonderoga class CG's, including Yorktown, were decommissioned. I think only the CG's with VLS for missiles were retained.

 

[Frank46]

Back in '67 at the Philadelphia Naval shipyard I was waiting for my separation papers to come through and they were recommissioning the U.S.S. New Jersey. Knowing I would never see her afloat a few of the other guys waiting for their papers went aboard her. Photos do not do her justice. Massive 16" rifles and such a beautiful ship. At the time they were having trouble filling her berths and most of the guys were getting out and few were re enlisting. In fact there was an officer who asked what our ratings were and the ships we were from. A couple of us were asked if we were interested in re enlisting to serve aboard her. Maybe I should have re enlisted as I made MM3 soon after I left. Frank

 

[badge]

While I did not serve on her, when the USS Iowa was in Port Everglades in 1983 I was able to get a guided tour. I had the occasion to do several Swabbee's a favor and was rewarded with said tour which was ost impressive, even meeting the Capt. in the Bridge. One area I was admonished to stay out of was the orange ringed area with the two Marines patrolling as if crossed they would react. It was a very eye opening tour and made more enjoyable by our men serving.

 

[Cyrano]

I guess I'm lucky. I lived near the North Carolina for a while and toured her several times. The interior of her turrets are most impressive. I can't imagine what it must be like when she's firing those 16" 45s. I've also toured the Massachusetts. Once when I was in Houston for a while, I got to tour the Texas. Compared to the others, she's almost a rowboat in size. But the time I remember the most was when I was living in Seattle in 1945. I was 12 years old. the Missouri made a port call, and I went over her. In my mind's eye I can still see that bronze plaque in the teak of the quarterdeck where the Japanese surrender was signed. I love the symbolism of her being moored almost bow to bow with the Arizona.

 

[CajunBass]

The closest I've ever come to even seeing a battleship was one afternoon my wife and I made a delivery to an office in downtown Norfolk. I was busy looking for a place to park, spotted one and ducked into it, and ran into the building to make my delivery. When I came out, I glanced around (mostly looking for a meter-maid) then across the street and thought, "Man, that building looks like a ship." It was then I realized I was looking at the bow of the Wisconsin. I had no idea it was that close to the street. When I got back in the car my wife was almost jumping up and down...."Did you see that ship?"

We drove around the block to get another look, then had to head back to Richmond.

 

[Aden67]

My father served in the Navy in WWII in the Pacific. He was on a submarine tender, but after the war ended and he was in Japan, he went over to the Missouri to see a friend. He said it was huge and he got lost trying to find his buddy.

The pictures below are of the New Jersey in Camden. Also included a pic of a new ship that visiting Philly...can't remember the name right now...but sure different that your standard ship.

 

[Tom S.]

I guess I'm lucky. I lived near the North Carolina for a while and toured her several times. The interior of her turrets are most impressive. I can't imagine what it must be like when she's firing those 16" 45s. I've also toured the Massachusetts. Once when I was in Houston for a while, I got to tour the Texas. Compared to the others, she's almost a rowboat in size. But the time I remember the most was when I was living in Seattle in 1945. I was 12 years old. the Missouri made a port call, and I went over her. In my mind's eye I can still see that bronze plaque in the teak of the quarterdeck where the Japanese surrender was signed. I love the symbolism of her being moored almost bow to bow with the Arizona.

Been there, saw that:

 

[Salty RI]

When they recommissioned the Missouri, my son was on the first crew.

 

[bobcat]

Read "Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal by James D. Hornfischer" for a gut wrenching account of the naval battle off of Guadalcanal. It was a bloody slug fest and details a lot of the ships actions during that campaign, and during the battle of the slot. He's a heck of a writer...

 

[scha]

Never served on any ship, but I have a strong interest in WWII history and have visited most of the museum battleships - USS Alabama, USS Wisconsin, USS Missouri, USS Massachusetts, USS Texas, USS Iowa.

While in Hawaii, I took the extended "below decks" guided tour of the Missouri. There were only 6 people on the tour and we got a great view and explanation of how these ships actually worked. Well worth the money for a guided tour.

It is truly amazing that we built so many huge ships (and everything else used in WWII) in just a few years. Today it would be impossible.

 

[Texas Star]

I never served on a battleship, but my grandfather helped build them and overhaul them. My grandfather worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for 41 years (1924-1965), and among the ships he helped build was the USS New Jersey. I loved talking to him about ships because he had so many good stories. He had worked on many of the ships that would be at Pearl Harbor during the inter-war years.

I was in grade school when Reagan announced that the Iowa class battleships would be recommisioned. I was thrilled to hear it, and so was my grandfather. We would read all the news we could get, and I still have newspaper clippings around here somewhere. I was probably the only seven year old who could talk your ear off about the advantages of the battleship, and how those 16" guns would provide much needed gunfire support for the Marines.

Well, not just Marines. Didn't they also support Army troops in the Normandy invasion? Those big shells could go about 20 miles inland, I think.


It must have been a nightmare for Japanese troops on those islands when the US and Australian navies pounded their defenses from the sea before landing troops.

 

[jeffsmith]

The Three US Battleships @ Normandy were
Arkansas, Nevada & Texas
Older ships with 14 inch guns

Still Formidable but not like the later Battleships

 

[67tempest]

I took a tour of the New Jersey a couple of years ago, very impressive. Climbed inside one of the 16" gun turret's, had to practically be a contortionist to move around inside there. I guess they weren't designed for someone of my height. I had to walk through the entire ship hunched over to keep from hitting my head on the "overhead".

 

[M E Morrison]

My father served in the Navy in WWII in the Pacific. He was on a submarine tender, but after the war ended and he was in Japan, he went over to the Missouri to see a friend. He said it was huge and he got lost trying to find his buddy.

The pictures below are of the New Jersey in Camden. Also included a pic of a new ship that visiting Philly...can't remember the name right now...but sure different that your standard ship.
View attachment 264396

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That's the USS Somerset, LPD-25.

 

[Sconnie]

No service on a Battleship or any ship for me but my son went into the Navy and did the last two deployments for the USS Enterprise. But on one visit in 2010 we did go to Nauticus and went on board the USS Wisconsin. You couldn't go in many areas but we climbed around on what you could. A very impressive ship indeed.

I know I remember seeing fellas walking around here in WI wearing USS Wisconsin caps. They were of a vintage that I am sure they were WWII vets but I haven't seen any for quite a while.

Of course, the Big E was an impressive ship too.

 

[M E Morrison]

No service on a Battleship or any ship for me but my son went into the Navy and did the last two deployments for the USS Enterprise. But on one visit in 2010 we did go to Nauticus and went on board the USS Wisconsin. You couldn't go in many areas but we climbed around on what you could. A very impressive ship indeed.

I know I remember seeing fellas walking around here in WI wearing USS Wisconsin caps. They were of a vintage that I am sure they were WWII vets but I haven't seen any for quite a while.

Of course, the Big E was an impressive ship too.

What dept was your son in onboard the Big E?
I may have met him while working at the shipyard.

 

[Sconnie]

He was an AME with a squadron versus assigned to the ship. So he was only on board when it was out. Once he took me on a tour. He seemed to know his way and I just followed up and down, and around and around.