USS Iowa: Benicia to Los Angeles
The USS Iowa BB-61, is an Iowa class battleship commissioned in 1943. At 887 feet long, equipped with 3 16"/50 triple main gun turrets, Tomahawk box launchers for long-range cruise missiles and sixteen harpoon launchers, 'The Big Stick' was a dangerous weapon in the United States Naval roster.
She served for nearly five decades and has a rich history. During 1943, the transported Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference as well as being present during the Tokyo Bay surrender ceremony marking the end of WWII. She also partook in the Korean War and various NATO exercises, however the most recognized incident involves the death of 47 sailors when Turret #2 exploded during a gunnery exercise in 1989.
She was decommissioned in 1990, and placed in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in 2001, where she remained until 2012.
This series documents her journey from the Reserve Fleet in Benecia, in 2008, to Berth 87 at the Port of Los Angeles in 2012.
