Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2012 by Martin Cox
USS IOWA arrived in Suisun Bay near San Francisco on April 21, 2001 joined the reserve fleet. Today, after a weather delay the USS IOWA departed San Francisco Bay under tow for Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon May 26, 2012, to become a floating museum. Following her eleven years in “the bay”, USS IOWA is now under tow to San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles. The journey will take four days. A permanent berth, just upstream from the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, is being prepared for the ship to opened as a museum in July.
At about 10AM, a small crew aboard the IOWA began hauling in the mooring lines. The small tug, the DELTA BILLIE, nudged the IOWA into the channel.
Ocean going tug WARRIOR was connected by a 1,000-foot-long, 2½-inch-thick steel cable to the IOWA and passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge about 2:30PM, with the San Francisco fire-boat PHOENIX leading the way.
WARRIOR towing USS IOWA. Photo © Chris Willson
USS IOWA departing. Photo © Chris Willson
USS IOWA departs. Photo © Chris Willson
Special thanks to Chris Willson.
captgeo
May 27, 2012 at 4:42 am
I served twice on IOWA (50′s and 80′s), and its good to see she is finally getting a home instead of rusting away with the reserve fleet in Suisun Bay. Congrats to the Los Angeles group who will make her a museum ship in San Pedro. All four Iowa-Class battleships now have a “home.”
captgeo
Dimitrios G. Chandris
May 27, 2012 at 11:13 am
Its great news that the Iowa will be preserved and become a museum just like her 3 sisters. I remember visiting her many years back in New York during fleet week in 87..Boy how time flies. Congrats to all those involved in saving this ship, because she is not just a ship, she part of American history that should never be forgotten.
John F. Pepper
May 27, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Exceptional that this move happens on Memorial Day weekend in the US. Too bad San Francisco doesn’t want the Iowa, so glad that LA does. Salute to a great and powerful ship. Safe passage south.
matt arruda
May 27, 2012 at 7:33 pm
was alot of work done to her prior to leaving the reserve fleet. she has her top radar mounted and it looks like fresh water line paint and other details like the phalanx CIWS are installed. shes looking much better!
John C Rogers KF6TTR
May 28, 2012 at 8:23 am
It is Fantastic that this move happened on Memorial Day weekend. I Thank all Veterans for their dedication and Service, God Bless You and you’re Families! The USS Iowa BB-61 will be an Exceptional Museum Ship in San Pedro at Berth 87, right next to the Maritime Museum at Berth 84 Home to The United Radio Amateur Club URAC K6AA and the SS Lane Victory V-794 at Berth 46 one of the last working Victory Ships and Home to the SS Lane Victory Radio Group Amateur Radio Club W6LV! All this at the mouth of the Los Angeles River and Port of LA!
73 John KF6TTR
John C Rogers KF6TTR
May 28, 2012 at 8:35 am
John Rogers KF6TTR
http://www.sanpedro.com/marine-traffic-maps/California-Marine-Traffic-Map-Large.htm
Track The Crowley Tug Warrior Towing The USS Iowa BB-61 to the LA Harbor!
John C Rogers KF6TTR
May 28, 2012 at 8:49 am
http://www.sanpedro.com/marine-traffic-maps/California-Marine-Traffic-Map-Large.htm
Track the Crowley Tug towing the Uss Iowa!
Please replace bad link with this one!
Thank you!
Martin Cox
May 28, 2012 at 8:55 am
http://www.sanpedro.com/marine-traffic-maps/California-Marine-Traffic-Map-Large.htm (This one seems to be working – Martin)
Glenn L.
May 28, 2012 at 12:05 pm
What a great thing to happen to a great ship. During the early 80′s she visited Brooklyn,N.Y. My friends and I waited on line to tour her amid protesters holding no nukes signs and singing/chanting. Although she was conventionally powered, her Tomahawks missles could deliver a nuke warhead at the time.
My Dad’s old ship USS Glaicer is or was laid up in Suisun Bay with Iowa, Good for Iowa. Thanks for the article.
Chris Willson
May 28, 2012 at 5:15 pm
This writeup turned out great. Much credit really needs to placed with Paul Charlton for helping take great pictures of this ship and chasing her all day until she exited the golden gate. It was a fun trip and I know the Iowa will have a great future. Thank You Paul
Susan Yewell Fernandez
May 28, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I am thrilled to hopefully get to go aboard the infamous Iowa. My father was aboard the Iowa on it’s maiden voyage and also when she had Pres. Roosevelt on board. He even got to speak to the President and pet his dog, Falla.
Neil SF
May 30, 2012 at 1:28 am
More pictures of the Iowa and spectators as she departed San Francisco…
http://histbase.com/USS_Iowa/Iowa_Golden_Gate.htm