modern fleet is replete with examples of how the ships, built ten or twenty years ago, it is still quite relevant.To those, for example, is the famous American battleship "Iowa".The ships of this type have become famous?Until now, many historians and gunsmiths believe that these battleships were the perfect combination of armor, weapons and maneuverability.Designers really managed to create vehicles that have excellent reserve, speed and security.
Start developing
began work on ships dates back to 1938 already.The creators once set the task - to create a fast and well-armed battleship, which could follow the aircraft carriers and repel attacks aimed at them.The main problem was the achievement of running speed of 30 knots.At the same time we began the first problems with Japan, so it was necessary to hurry: many realized that the descendants of the samurai will not fail the opportunity to attack the US fleet.
Without further ado, we decided to use as the basis of ships such as "South Dakota".As a result, the battleship "Iowa" was a displacement of 45 tons, and the main caliber artillery guns began to 406 mm.I must say that the length of the hull added about 70 meters, but the width of the hull had to leave virtually unchanged since the Panama Canal dictated his standards.
«Marine batons»
Designers also used the original solution: the new location of the power plant.The result is a much Sause nose, providing excellent handling characteristics of vessels.Because of this, the battleship "Iowa" was nicknamed "stick."Of course, because of the increased length of the body has increased the weight of his armor, but its characteristics were exactly the same as on the ships, "South Dakota".Thus, the main bronepoyas all had the same thickness of 310 mm.
were built four ships of this class:
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Directly "Iowa" - was the battleship flagship.
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«New Jersey."
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«Missouri."
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«Wisconsin."
There were also projects of ships "Illinois" and "Kentucky", but built them were not.It happened for the banal reason - the war ended, and spending $ 100 million for the construction of each ship in the light of this event was stupid.By the way speaking, the nose of the "Illinois" was used for the repair of "Wisconsin".
Where can I see the battleship "Iowa"?Model 1: 200, you can buy almost any ship modeling resource that will give you that opportunity.In addition, special editions there is a huge number of pictures of ships.Of course, they have a picture in our article.
General Specifications
What features has the battleship "Iowa"?Performance characteristics are as follows:
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displacement is 57,450 tons.
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total length - 270.5 m.
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width of 33 meters of the ship.
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Draft vessel - 11 meters.
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In their motion brought four diesel engines, the power of each component of 212,000 horsepower.
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maximum speed - 33 knots, which is about the 61 km / h.
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Cruising range - not less than 15 thousand nautical miles.
Armament was also very impressive:
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four settings "Volcano".
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Four anti-missile complex "Harpoon" (after the upgrade).
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three 406-mm artillery installation (three on each barrel).
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six 125-mm plants (two in each of the trunk).
In addition, the battleships of the "Iowa" after upgrading received an additional 32 "Tomahawk", which made them even more dangerous opponents.
new artillery systems
length guns left unchanged, 50 caliber, barrel increased to 406 mm.New guns were designated Mk-7.They are far superior to the 45-caliber Mk-6, which was set at the court of the "South Dakota".Among other things, the weight was reduced artillery systems, many of the technical solutions of the last century have been replaced by modern.Generally, the battleship "Iowa" drawings which also has an article of its time was really an advanced ship.
Increasing the size
Generally, this swatch of arms is interesting history.So, for 20 years before that it produced a lot of artillery systems of 406 mm caliber, but subsequently their use is restricted by law.Then this restriction gave that allowed us to solve two problems at once.Firstly, the battleship "Iowa" has got really a worthy service.Secondly, there was a "legal" basis for the increased displacement, by which received a "squeeze" in the ship many other technical innovations.
However, it soon became clear that the need to increase the displacement of another 2,000 tonnes, which already does not fit into the framework of the terms of reference.The yield was found quickly - guns facilitated, used to produce other alloys, and give up some of the design elements.In the same period, the Americans began to be widely used method of chromium plating barrel, and in a thickness of 0.013 mm.The service life of the gun was about 300 shots.
Shutter - piston type, with the shot he swings down.After making the shot barrel forcibly blows air under pressure.Without shutter gun weighed 108 tons and with it weight reached 121 tons.
projectiles used for firing
used monstrous shots, only one propellant charge which weighed nearly three quintals.He could launch a projectile weighing 1225 kg over a distance of almost forty kilometers.The assortment of ammunition were both armor-piercing and high-explosive variety.But not only these missiles were in the arsenal ship "Iowa".The battleship was armed with Mk-5 shots, which weighed 1116 kilograms.Closer to 1940 US Navy also received bomb MK-8 (and older varieties) and weighed 1225 kg.
general shots of the weight and size were the basis of firepower American ships, beginning with "North Carolina."It may seem incredible, but only 1.5% of the weight was just an explosive charge.However, this is still insufficient to breaking the armor of enemy ships.Thus, in the events in the Pacific during the war with Japan it was distinguished "Iowa".The battleship, which has photos in the article repeatedly took part in the sweep of the waters of the enemy ships.
nuclear age
In the early 50-ies on arms went round Mk-23, which came with a nuclear warhead, the capacity of which amounted to 1 kt.It weighed "only" 862 kilograms, had a length of a little over one and a half meters, and the appearance was virtually indistinguishable from the Mk-13.According to the official version, special missiles operated by the US Navy from 1956 to 1961, but in reality they are always kept in the coastal arsenals.
In the early 1980s it was found that the battleships of the "Iowa" have a pretty mediocre results of the firing range, and that these characteristics would do well to seriously improve.To cope with this problem, the American engineers began developing a special piercing projectiles for the 406-millimeter guns.Weighing just 654 kilograms, he was supposed to fly at least 66 kilometers.That's just this development did not come out of the testing stage.
Rate guns was two shots per minute, with each barrel could lead independent fire.A tower with a 406-millimeter guns weighed about three tons.Responsible for the shooting of 94 people calculation (for each weapon).By the way, how many people were on board the ship "Iowa"?Battleship, a photo which has repeatedly found in an article in 2800 demanded the sailors to fill all the vacancies.
pickup systems, turrets
Horizontal tower could be induced by 300 degrees, Vertical - from 45 and -5 degrees.The shells were stored in two tiers, vertically from inside Barbette gun installation.Between the store and the rotary mechanism of the tower there were two more platforms that can rotate independently of the tower itself.On them there were shells of shops, after which they were transported to the guns.Is responsible for it just three ski lifts, the capacity of each of which was 75 hp.
Ammunition Storage
Ammunition was stored on two levels in the lower compartments.Submission to the towers is also carried out by an electric motor, but in this case its power is 100 hpAs in the case of "Dakota" ship design contained no reloading compartments that could save the crew during the explosion of ammunition.
Americans to solve this problem provided a rather complex system of airtight doors.Experts often say that the decision sharply increased the risk of death for the crew, but in practice, the reliability of the battleship was confirmed.What survived the catastrophe battleship "Iowa"?Explosion.This happened in 1989.Then a second gun turret exploded 406-millimeter guns, and as a result 47 people were killed immediately, while setting on fire.Until now, the causes of the incident may not be established.
Causes PE
assumed that the explosion has arranged some of the sailors, but his motives are not clear.Another version is that one of the exploded projectiles because of a manufacturing defect.Actually, the whole thing looks very bad: the very next day the tower was completely cleaned, painted, and debris thrown off into the sea.
Whatever it was, sealed doors fulfill their function: the ship stayed afloat, there was no serious damage.And that killed 47 sailors in their total number of 2800 also speaks of the reliability of the system.The second tower after the incident has been sealed and is no longer used.In addition, because of this class battleship "Iowa" could not take part in the Nicaraguan events.
Combat application
All ships of this series participated in World War II, the Japanese surrender was signed aboard one of them, USS «Missouri."In 1943, she "Iowa" was involved in hunting down the German "Tirpitz", and in November of the same year on board were brought to Tehran President Roosevelt.But the real clash with the enemy began only in 1944, when the ship was involved in liquidation of Japanese groups in the Marshall Islands.
The case when the battleship sank alone the same class Japanese "Katori" and actively participated in the attack on the Philippine Islands.High quality running ship confirmed the December storm in 1944 when the battleship is not only proudly stood the test but did not receive any any serious damage.After that, the battleships of the "Iowa" in 1945 already shelled Japanese territory.Shortly after the atomic bombing of the country, "Iowa" and "Missouri" received the Japanese delegation.
postwar situation
While the crews were very fond of these ships for their excellent maneuverability and weapons, high driving performance and vitality, their contents bypass the US military budget is too expensive.And so in the same court in 1945 it was put on conservation, as the need for them actually disappeared.
But battleship "Iowa", the characteristics of which were quite impressive for the time, in the reserve did not stay long: in the beginning of the Korean incident brought them back to the "forward echelon", then was Vietnam.By the way speaking, Vietnamese events have shown that the only one cruiser in some cases can replace at least 50 bombers due to the high density of fire on the area.Since a considerable part of the fighting took place in the coastal bridgehead, the Americans have saved a lot of planes.
After Vietnam battleships once again put "in canned foods", but was sent back to the front in the 70s, during the Cold War.Reagan wanted to show the Soviet Union that the United States - the country strong and powerful, and several well-armed ships suitable for this purpose perfectly.
but everyone understands that it is just silly: existing at the time of coastal missile systems could turn any metal in the ship long before the moment when it might have to use his weapons.
Modernization ships
As we have already mentioned, by 1980 it became obvious fact morally and technically obsolete ships.Ought to do something.At one time in the air fantastic ideas ... in the conversion of vessels carriers.The absurdity of the proposal emphasizes the shape of a ship, the same "stick."On the restructuring would need to spend so much money, that the introduction into service of the new carrier would be a little cheaper.
How converted class battleship "Iowa"?Model upgrades, approved by the Senate, provides for the installation of missiles "Tomahawk", which dramatically increases the combat capability of the ships.In addition, the missiles were mounted "Harpoon", an overhaul of engines and other equipment of vessels.
