Synopses & Reviews
“The Bonner’s are at it again! And this time maritime journalism’s most prolific writer/photographer team focus their deft talents on a beloved sure-fire subject – the mighty battleship Iowa…USS Iowa at War captures the drama of this historic battle – with the U.S. Navy spoiling for revenge for Pearl Harbor – as well as the other great engagements of the Iowa and the mighty vessels of her class.”
Sea Classics
The lead ship of her class, the last of the battleships--and the best--the USS Iowa (BB 61) marks the beginning and end of a naval era. This book traces the Iowas long and storied career--from her conception in the 1930s as the first of the 45,000-ton class of battleships, through her distinguished service in World War II and Korea and the 1980s, to her historic status today. Along the way, the Iowa earned eleven battle stars and took part in what many consider the last of the great battleship engagements, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. USS Iowa at War captures the drama of this historic battle--with the U.S. Navy spoiling for revenge for Pearl Harbor--as well as the other great engagements of the Iowa and the mighty vessels of her class; in particular, the book depicts the ships part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, where Iowa effectively destroyed all that remained of Japans carrier-based aircraft.
Review
Cybermodeler Online, April 2007
"Zenith has released an interesting new title covering the history of the USS Iowa...[USS Iowa at War] is nicely illustrated with a mix of period photos as well as nice images taken around the preserved ship. The illustrations are also very nicely done...If you're a battleship enthusiast or naval history hobbyist, this title will provide you with a nice look at the history and development of these ultimate battleships and their impact on world events. This title is well done and definitely recommended reading!"
Review
Sea Classics, August 2007
“The Bonner’s are at it again! And this time maritime journalism’s most prolific writer/photographer team focuses their deft talents on a beloved sure-fire subject – the mighty battleship Iowa…USS Iowa at War captures the drama of this historic battle – with the U.S. Navy spoiling for revenge for Pearl Harbor – as well as the other great engagements of the Iowa and the mighty vessels of her class.”
Synopsis
The Bonner s are at it again And this time maritime journalism s most prolific writer/photographer team focus their deft talents on a beloved sure-fire subject the mighty battleship Iowa USS Iowa at War captures the drama of this historic battle with the U.S. Navy spoiling for revenge for Pearl Harbor as well as the other great engagements of the Iowa and the mighty vessels of her class.
Sea Classics
The lead ship of her class, the last of the battleships--and the best--the USS Iowa (BB 61) marks the beginning and end of a naval era. This book traces the Iowas long and storied career--from her conception in the 1930s as the first of the 45,000-ton class of battleships, through her distinguished service in World War II and Korea and the 1980s, to her historic status today. Along the way, the Iowa earned eleven battle stars and took part in what many consider the last of the great battleship engagements, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. USS Iowa at War captures the drama of this historic battle--with the U.S. Navy spoiling for revenge for Pearl Harbor--as well as the other great engagements of the Iowa and the mighty vessels of her class; in particular, the book depicts the ships part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, where Iowa effectively destroyed all that remained of Japans carrier-based aircraft.
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Synopsis
The striking of the USS Iowa (BB 61), the lead ship in the last and most capable of the classes of American battleship, from the Naval Vessel Register marks the end of an era for the U.S. Navy. With the departure of the Iowa from the Reserve Fleet anchored in Suisun Bay, near San Francisco, the navy will no longer have any battleships on its rolls. USS Iowa at War traces her long and storied career, from her conception in the 1930s as the first of the forty-five thousand ton class of U.S. battleships, to her distinguished service in World War II as part of the juggernaut bearing down on Imperial Japan, through Korea, into the 1980s, and finally, to recent attempts to obtain custodianship and open her as a public museum. As Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack stated in the book’s foreword, “It has come to be more than just a battleship, but a symbol of the strength and ideals for which this state, and this nation, stand.” The Iowa earned eleven battle stars—nine for World War II service and two for Korean War service. This book includes the technical specifications of her armaments and mechanical systems as well as their updates over the decades.
Synopsis
This book traces the USS Iowa’s (BB 61) long and storied career—from her launch in 1942 through service in World War II, Korea, and the 1980s, to her historic status today.
About the Author
Kit and Carolyn Bonner are naval historians and photographers. They have authored or co-authored numerous books, including Great Ship Disasters, Warship Boneyards, Cold War at Sea, and Great Naval Disasters. Kit was the naval consultant for the 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic. They live in Ione, California.
Governor Tom Vilsack was elected Iowa’s 39th Governor in 1998, the first Democratic governor of the state in more than 30 years. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002.
During his campaigns for election and re-election, Governor Vilsack promised to strengthen Iowa’s communities, transform the state’s economy and strive for excellence in education. Through 21st Century innovation, an old fashion work ethic and collective, bipartisan support, those promises have been kept.
Under Governor Vilsack’s leadership, the state has a record number of employed Iowans, has made significant investments in Iowa’s education system, has increased the number of Iowans with health care coverage, and is now a world leader in renewable energy. The governor has achieved these results while eliminating three state departments, reducing the total number of state employees, and providing targeted tax relief to working families without raising overall taxes.
Governor Vilsack will leave office in January of 2007 having changed the landscape of Iowa through his Administration’s success in numerous fields:
Governor Vilsack has worked to create better paying jobs, increase personal wealth, hold down unemployment and build a quality work force that is ready, willing and able to compete with anyone anywhere.
In 2004, Vilsack created the Iowa Values Fund, a $500 million, 10-year program that is transforming the Iowa economy. In just two years, the fund has invested in businesses that will create or retain over 30,000 jobs, and will leverage more than $7 billion in capital investment in 83 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The average wage of these jobs is more than $37,300 per year, well above the state average. He also launched the Vision Iowa Program which has had a significant positive impact on 188 communities through investments in education, cultural, and recreational attractions. Vision Iowa has utilized over $270 million in state funding to attract $2 billion in total investment, creating 14,000 jobs and attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists to the state.
Governor Vilsack has worked to create lifelong opportunities for learning in Iowa. From expanding access to high-quality preschool; to ensuring adolescents are held to higher standards of achievement he is ensuring the youth of today will be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
The Governor has also led the effort to reduce class sizes in the early grades of elementary school and increase teacher salaries. As a result, Iowa’s fourth-graders placed among the best in the nation in math and science progress and an eight-year decline in reading test scores was reversed, with improved scores in each of the last three years.
The Vilsack Administration has worked cooperatively with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand health care coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children. Iowa is now a national leader in children’s health care coverage, with 92% of all Iowa children having health insurance.
In addition, they have worked to make long term care more accessible, provided for comprehensive mental health care coverage, and reduced the cost of prescription drugs. As of today, 18,000 previously uninsured adults between the ages of 19–64 will receive health coverage due to policies enacted by the Vilsack Administration.
Governor Vilsack has focused on making Iowa a world leader in the renewable energy industry. During the past eight years, energy generation capacity has increased 20%, with a nearly 300% increase in ethanol production in the past five years. Iowa now leads the nation in producing ethanol and biodiesel, and is third in the nation in wind energy production. Due to the governor’s initiatives, Iowa not only feeds, it also fuels the nation.
While Governor Vilsack has led Iowa’s government from the statehouse in Des Moines, he has also promoted the state on the national level through his leadership in numerous national organizations. Governor Vilsack is the chair of the Democratic Leadership Council and is the former chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association, the Midwest Governor’s Conference, the Governors’ Biotechnology Partnership, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), and the Ethanol Coalition. The governor is also a member of the National Governors Association Executive Committee.
Prior to being elected governor, Governor Vilsack was an Iowa State Senator (1992-98) and the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (1987-92) as well as managing a private law practice with his father-in-law. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, orphaned at birth, and adopted in 1951. He received a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York in 1972, and received a law degree from Albany Law School in 1975. Governor Vilsack is a devoted husband to First Lady Christie Vilsack and a dedicated father to sons Jess and Doug.
Tom Vilsack has built a long list of accomplishments during his eight years as governor of Iowa. He has brought Iowans from all political persuasions and all walks of life together to help change the landscape of Iowa, creating successes that all Iowans can share in. Governor Vilsack has built a solid foundation of progress in Iowa that will ensure countless opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
I. Introduction - Historical Perspective of Iowa Class Battleships
II. The World’s Battleships – 20th Century Icons of the Sea
III. Inspiration, Design and Building of the American Iowa Class Battleship
IV. The USS Iowa in Combat – World War II – Almost sunk by the USS William D Porter DD-579 (“Don’t Shoot, We’re Republicans”)
V. Recalled for the Korean Conflict (1952)
VI. The Iowa Class Changes – (1956 – Onward)
VII. The Soviet Sea Menace – the Kirov class Battlecruiser
VIII.Countering the Kirov – the Controversial Modernized Iowa Class of the 1980’s
IX. Tragedy Strikes the Iowa in 1989 – Flareback in Turret # Two and Forty Seven of the Crew is Killed
X. The End of the Line for the USS Iowa - The Battle for the Ship as a Museum (Final Decommissioning of the Great Ship & the tow from Rhode Island to California). The Future of the World’s Last Active Battleship.
Bibliography