The USS Iowa Class Battleships: How They Could Help or Hurt the US in a Global Conflict

Introduction

The USS Iowa class battleships are the last and most advanced battleships ever built by the United States. They were commissioned between 1943 and 1944, and served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. They were decommissioned for the final time in 1990 and 1992, and are now museum ships in various locations.

The USS Iowa class battleships have a legendary status in naval history, and are often admired for their impressive size, firepower, and durability. They are also sometimes proposed as a potential asset for the US Navy in the face of rising global tensions and challenges, especially from China and Russia.

But is reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships a feasible and realistic option for the US Navy? Would they be of any use against China in a theoretical escalation around Taiwan? Could they be of any benefit against Russia in context of Ukraine conflict? Would they need an upgrade? What costs would be involved? How is cost vs benefit vs risk?

In this article, I will try to answer these questions based on publicly available information and AI supported analysis, and provide a balanced and objective perspective on the pros and cons of reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships.

Is reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships feasible and realistic?

The short answer is no. Reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships is theoretically possible, but not very realistic, given the technical, financial, and political difficulties involved.

To reactivate the USS Iowa class battleships, the US Navy would face several challenges, such as:

• Finding and training enough personnel to operate and maintain the ships, which require about 1,800 crew members each.
• Refurbishing and modernizing the ships’ hulls, engines, weapons, sensors, and electronics, which are outdated and deteriorated by decades of exposure to the elements.
• Obtaining and storing enough ammunition and fuel for the ships, especially the 16-inch (406 mm) guns, which fire shells that weigh up to 2,700 pounds (1,200 kg) and cost about $10,000 each.
• Finding suitable berths and facilities for the ships, which are too large and deep-drafted to fit in most modern naval bases and ports.
• Justifying the strategic and operational value of the ships, which are vulnerable to modern anti-ship missiles, submarines, and aircraft, and have limited mobility and flexibility compared to aircraft carriers and other surface combatants.

According to some estimates, the cost of reactivating and modernizing one USS Iowa class battleship could range from $500 million to $1.5 billion, depending on the extent and duration of the work.

Therefore, reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships is not a viable option for the US Navy, and would not be worth the investment and effort required.

Would they be of any use against China in a theoretical escalation around Taiwan?

The answer is maybe. The USS Iowa class battleships could provide some benefits in terms of naval firepower, deterrence, and symbolism, but they would also face significant risks and limitations that could outweigh their advantages.

China considers Taiwan to be a renegade province that must eventually reunite with the mainland, while Taiwan maintains its de facto independence and democracy. The US has a policy of strategic ambiguity, which means it does not explicitly recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, but also does not rule out defending it from a Chinese attack.

In a hypothetical scenario of a military conflict between China and Taiwan, the US could face a dilemma of whether and how to intervene. If the US decided to send the USS Iowa class battleships to the region, they could potentially provide some benefits, such as:

• Demonstrating US commitment and resolve to support Taiwan and deter China.
• Providing naval gunfire support and missile strikes to assist Taiwanese forces and target Chinese assets on the mainland and in the air and sea.
• Serving as a symbol of US naval power and prestige, and boosting the morale of US and Taiwanese allies.

However, the USS Iowa class battleships would also face significant risks and limitations, such as:

• Being exposed to Chinese anti-ship missiles, submarines, and aircraft, which could overwhelm the ships’ defenses and inflict severe damage or destruction.
• Being unable to operate effectively in the shallow and congested waters of the Taiwan Strait, which could limit their maneuverability and firepower.
• Being unable to keep pace with the faster and more agile aircraft carriers and other surface combatants, which could reduce their operational relevance and coordination.

Therefore, the USS Iowa class battleships would have some use against China in a theoretical escalation around Taiwan, but they would also face considerable challenges and dangers that could outweigh their advantages.

Could they be of any benefit against Russia in context of Ukraine conflict?

The answer is maybe. The USS Iowa class battleships could offer some benefits in terms of naval firepower, deterrence, and symbolism, but they would also encounter significant risks and limitations that could outweigh their advantages.

Russia and Ukraine have been in a state of tension and conflict since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. A full-scale war rages as of February 2022. The US and its NATO allies have condemned Russia’s actions and imposed sanctions, while also providing military and economic assistance to Ukraine.

In a this scenario of the military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, the US could face a decision of whether and how to support Ukraine. If the US hypothetically decided to deploy the USS Iowa class battleships to the region, they could potentially offer some benefits, such as:

• Showing US solidarity and backing for Ukraine and deterring Russia.
• Delivering naval gunfire support and missile strikes to assist Ukrainian forces and target Russian assets on the mainland and in the air and sea.
• Acting as a symbol of US naval power and prestige, and enhancing the morale of US and Ukrainian allies.

However, the USS Iowa class battleships would also encounter significant risks and limitations, such as:

• Being vulnerable to Russian anti-ship missiles, submarines, and aircraft, which could overwhelm the ships’ defenses and inflict severe damage or destruction.
• Being restricted by the narrow and shallow waters of the Black Sea, which could limit their maneuverability and firepower.
• Being isolated from the main US and NATO naval forces in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, which could reduce their operational relevance and coordination.

Therefore, the USS Iowa class battleships could have some benefit against Russia in context of Ukraine conflict, but they would also face considerable challenges and dangers that could outweigh their advantages.

Would they need an upgrade?

The answer is yes. The USS Iowa class battleships were last modernized in the 1980s, when they received new weapons, sensors, and electronics to enhance their capabilities and survivability. However, these systems are now outdated and obsolete, and would not be able to cope with the threats and challenges of the modern naval environment.

To upgrade the USS Iowa class battleships, the US Navy would have to replace or upgrade their existing systems, such as:

• Installing new radar, sonar, and electronic warfare systems to improve their situational awareness and countermeasures.
• Installing new missile defense systems, such as the Aegis Combat System and the Standard Missile-3, to protect them from incoming anti-ship missiles and ballistic missiles.
• Installing new offensive weapons, such as the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile and the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle, to increase their range and lethality against surface and land targets.
• Installing new propulsion systems, such as nuclear reactors or gas turbines, to increase their speed and endurance.

These upgrades would require extensive and costly modifications to the ships’ hulls, structures, and systems, and would take several years to complete.

Therefore, the USS Iowa class battleships would need an upgrade to be able to perform effectively and efficiently in the modern naval environment.

What costs would be involved? How is cost vs benefit vs risk?

The costs involved in reactivating and upgrading the USS Iowa class battleships would be very high, and would depend on the scope and duration of the work. According to some estimates, the cost of reactivating and modernizing one USS Iowa class battleship could range from $500 million to $1.5 billion, depending on the extent and duration of the work.

The benefits of reactivating and upgrading the USS Iowa class battleships would be uncertain, and would depend on the strategic and operational objectives and scenarios. The USS Iowa class battleships could provide some benefits in terms of naval firepower, deterrence, and symbolism, but they would also face significant limitations in terms of mobility, flexibility, and survivability.

The risks of reactivating and upgrading the USS Iowa class battleships would be high, and would depend on the threats and challenges in the naval environment. The USS Iowa class battleships would be exposed to various threats, such as anti-ship missiles, submarines, and aircraft, which could inflict severe damage or destruction. They would also be constrained by various factors, such as geography, logistics, and politics, which could limit their effectiveness and efficiency.

Therefore, the cost vs benefit vs risk analysis of reactivating and upgrading the USS Iowa class battleships would be unfavorable, and would not justify the investment and effort required.

Conclusion

The USS Iowa class battleships are a remarkable achievement of naval engineering and design, and a proud legacy of US naval history. They have served the US and its allies in several wars and conflicts, and have earned the respect and admiration of many.

However, reactivating the USS Iowa class battleships is not a realistic or sensible option for the US Navy in the 21st century. They would require a huge amount of resources and time to refurbish and modernize, and they would not be able to compete with the modern threats and challenges in the naval environment. They would also pose significant risks and limitations that could:

• Compromise the US Navy’s strategic and operational goals and priorities, which are focused on enhancing the capabilities and readiness of the existing and future naval forces.
• Undermine the US Navy’s credibility and reputation, which are based on maintaining the technological edge and innovation over its potential adversaries.
• Provoke unnecessary and unwanted escalation and confrontation with China and Russia, which could lead to a larger and more dangerous conflict that could endanger the US and its allies.

Therefore, the USS Iowa class battleships are better off as museum ships, where they can be appreciated and respected for their historical and cultural significance, rather than as active warships, where they could be ineffective and counterproductive for the US Navy in the 21st century.

Text: Microsoft (Bing) Copilot with ChatGPT4

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