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Quiz about Iowa Class Americas Last Battleships

Iowa Class - America's Last Battleships Quiz

The Iowa Class battleships were the last of the great battleships in the U.S. Navy. Conceived as the ultimate naval weapon system, their actual use differed significantly from that original concept and morphed into a 21st century combat platform.

A multiple-choice quiz by MicjealS. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
MicjealS

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
350,764

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
354

Last 3 plays: Guest 120 (8/10), Guest 75 (4/10), Guest 131 (3/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. After World War I the battleship was still thought of as a super weapon. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 was established to limit the size and power of these vessels. What were two of the major constrains? Hint

Total displacement no more than 25,000 tons and guns no larger than 12 inches

Total displacement no more than 30,000 tons and guns no larger than 14 inches

Total displacement no more than 35,000 tons and guns no larger than 16 inches

Total displacement no more than 40,000 tons and guns no larger than 16 inches

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Question 2 of 10

2. Why did the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 fail to limit the size of battleships in the Second World War? Hint

It was discovered that Germany was cheating and building a vast navy despite the rules

The Soviet Union started a massive ship building program which encouraged other nations to compete

Britain jealous of its former naval superiority broke out of the treaty

Japan and Italy formally withdrew from the treaty in 1936

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Question 3 of 10

3. When the Iowa Class battleships were first conceived there was a debate between speed and armament. The designers could offer a vessel with twelve 16 inch guns but the speed would be limited to 27 knots. If the armament was limited to nine 16 inch guns the speed could be extended to over 30 knots. Who finally settled the debate? Hint

The Senate Armed Services Committee

Advice from Great Britain

Heavy lobbying from ship builders

President Franklin Roosevelt

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Question 4 of 10

4. During the Second World War the industrial might of the United State produced a vast and powerful array of military equipment on an amazing schedule. How long did it take to build an Iowa Class battleship, from keel laid to operation?
Hint

24 to 28 months

37 to 43 months

20 to 24 months

15 to 18 months

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Iowa was the first of the class to put to sea. After a brief span escorting North Atlantic conveys she served a vital mission carrying President Roosevelt to the war planning conferences at Cairo and Tehran. What occurred during this voyage to put the President in peril? Hint

A US destroyer practicing torpedo runs on the Iowa accidentally fired a live torpedo at the Iowa

An unexpected late Atlantic hurricane nearly sank the great craft

German spies learnt of the mission and a wolf pack of German submarines dogged the Iowa across the Atlantic. Only fierce work by the escorting destroyers got her through

There was a fire on board. It was contained just minutes before it would have reached the main powder magazine

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Question 6 of 10

6. The sixteen inch guns on the Iowa Class battleships were not the largest cannons ever built but very impressive all the same. What was the range of these mighty guns?
Hint

42,345 yards

37,300 yards

25,000 yard

18,000 yards

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Iowa Class battleships were conceived as the match to the great warships of other maritime powers, especially Japan. What was the result of the ultimate match up of great battleship to battleship conflicts? Hint

In the battle of the Philippine Sea the Missouri and Wisconsin engaged the Kirishama and sunk her with little damage to themselves

The Iowa and New Jersey engaged the Yamato and two escorting cruisers in December 1944. The Yamato was seriously damaged, one Japanese cruiser was sunk, the other escaped with minor damage. Both US battleships took serious damage but managed to stay in

The Iowa Class never directly engaged any Japanese battleship

The Iowa and Wisconsin engaged the Yamato and Musashi in the battle of Leyte Gulf. The Musashi and Wisconsin were sunk, the Iowa and Yamato took serious damage

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Question 8 of 10

8. After the Second World War the Iowa Class battleships were recalled to duty several times, including Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, and the 1991 Gulf War. During all their service what was the greatest damage any of the class took? Hint

North Korean mini-submarines seriously damaged the New Jersey

The Wisconsin collided with a US destroyer

A kamikaze raid nearly sank the Missouri near the end of the Second World War

Syrian suicide bombers attacked the Iowa during the Lebanon crises and only heroic action by damage control crews prevented the ship from sinking

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Question 9 of 10

9. Originally conceived as a super weapon the Iowa Class battleships could not hold that place in the post Second World War nuclear age. What nuclear role was given to these great vessels? Hint

They were fitted with nuclear armed depth charges for anti-submarine warfare

There never was an nuclear role

For a span some of the vessels were outfitted with nuclear weapon shells for their 16 inch guns

The first generation sea launched ballistic nuclear missiles, the Poseidon, were fitted for launch from Iowa Class ships

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Question 10 of 10

10. A serious concern for modern naval engagements is the development and deployment of advanced anti-ship missiles. During the Falklands war the British HMS Sheffield was sunk by a single French Exocet missile fired by an Argentinian aircraft. During the first Gulf war the Iraqi defenses included the much feared Chinese Silkworm anti-ship missiles. What was the result of their use against our Iowa Class battleships? Hint

Two Silkworms were fired against the Missouri. One was shot down, one crashed harmlessly into the sea

While the Silkworms were capable weapons the Iraqi forces were unskilled in their operation and could not get them to fire

A barrage of Silkworms were fired against the Missouri. Many were shot down but two got through causing great damage and lost of life

Air strikes took out the Silkworm batteries before they could fireA second Silkworm battery was spotted and the Missouri put fifty 16 inch shells into it. The Wisconsin joined the Missouri in firing on Iraqi shore positions. The Wisconsin launched a dro

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Total displacement no more than 35,000 tons and guns no larger than 16 inches

The idea was that if all naval powers agreed to common limits there would not be an arms race with the winner capable of controlling the seas.

2. Why did the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 fail to limit the size of battleships in the Second World War?

Answer: Japan and Italy formally withdrew from the treaty in 1936

Japan and Italy were the first out. Other nations followed quickly. The Germans did invest in large naval combatants but these played a relatively minor role in the War. More significant was their submarine fleet. While under heavy post World War One restrictions the Germans continued a robust development and construction program under the guise of sales to other nations. Once the Nazi remilitarization was unleashed submarine production was sent into high gear.

Answer: President Franklin Roosevelt

FDR felt speed would be the key, especially in the vast Pacific theater where growing Japanese naval strength was a matter of significant concern. The final speed of the Iowa class vessels was 33 knots. While compared to automobile speeds this might seem slow, for a huge naval vessel this was very impressive, requiring 230,000 horsepower of propulsive force.

Answer: 37 to 43 months

Tens of thousands of aircraft were built during this period along with over a hundred small escort aircraft carriers. Four Iowa Class battleships were built in times ranging from 37 to 43 months. It this context, over three years might seem a long time.

However, the ships were launched about two years after the keels were laid with the remaining time use to bring the huge vessels into full fighting capability. I think the time required speaks to the complexity and scope of these monsters of the sea.

Answer: A US destroyer practicing torpedo runs on the Iowa accidentally fired a live torpedo at the Iowa

The USS William D. Porter was taking part in a training exercise on torpedo attacks with the massive Iowa a great practice target. Somehow a live torpedo was fired but quick maneuvering by the Iowa allowed the torpedo to miss. One assumes some stern corrective action was taken.

6. The sixteen inch guns on the Iowa Class battleships were not the largest cannons ever built but very impressive all the same. What was the range of these mighty guns?

Answer: 42,345 yards

42,345 yards is 24 miles. The Iowa Class battleships also had a very sophisticated radar system (for the time) and an advanced targeting computer. This treated wind, sea swell, ship speed, and target position resulting in unprecedented accuracy.

Answer: The Iowa Class never directly engaged any Japanese battleship

There were several circumstances where the great battleships might have met. But by various fortunes of fate these never came to be. The primary function of the Iowa Class battleships was to provide artillery support for the invasion of Japanese held islands and anti-aircraft coverage for the aircraft carrier groups.

Answer: The Wisconsin collided with a US destroyer

On May 6, 1956 the Wisconsin collided with the US destroyer Eaton off Virginia, severely buckling her bow. Fortunately the incomplete Iowa Class battleship Kentucky had not been scraped and a 68 foot section was taken from her to repair the Wisconsin returning her to duty on June 26, 1956.

9. Originally conceived as a super weapon the Iowa Class battleships could not hold that place in the post Second World War nuclear age. What nuclear role was given to these great vessels?

Answer: For a span some of the vessels were outfitted with nuclear weapon shells for their 16 inch guns

Three of the Iowa Class ships, the Iowa, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were rigged to carry and fire Mark 23 16 inch nuclear artillery rounds. The original work was done in 1956 but removed by 1962. Later the Iowa Class vessels were fitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While there was a nuclear armed version of the Tomahawk those on the Iowa Class vessels appeared to be conventionally armed.

Answer: Two Silkworms were fired against the Missouri. One was shot down, one crashed harmlessly into the sea

A second Silkworm battery was spotted and the Missouri put fifty 16 inch shells into it. The Wisconsin joined the Missouri in firing on Iraqi shore positions. The Wisconsin launched a drone aircraft to assisting in target spotting. When the drone passed low over a group of Iraqi troops they signaled their surrender to the drone rather than take another shelling.

Source: Author MicjealS

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