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The Iowa (BB-61)-class battleship is imposing. Yet she presents an unparalleled opportunity for conning a surface warship whose size is exceeded only by that of aircraft carriers. There will be only four battleships when the last of the class, Wisconsin (BB-64), is recommissioned. But the ships’ relatively large wardrooms (70 officers each), comprised of many junior officers, ensure that many will qualify as surface warfare officers (SWOs) in an Iowa, and that some others also will have the opportunity to drive these magnificent ships.
Now that the battleship is back, it is time to review how these ships handle. This discussion of shiphandling the battleship is based on my 40 months of conning the USS New Jersey (BB-62).
Before considering the particulars of maneuvering the battleship, some general characteristics should be considered:
► Length overall: 887.5 feet
► Extreme beam: 108.1 feet
► Full-load draft: 38 feet
► Full-load displacement: 57,000 tons
► Rudder area: 348.7 square feet
► Height of eye:
04-level bridge: 47 feet 08-level bridge: 77 feet
► Total shaft horsepower: 212,000 Eight Babcock and Wilcox M-type
boilers provide steam to four main engines. The boilers are a controlled superheat design, which requires the bridge watch to keep main control apprised of anticipated speed requirements. To go from a condition of no superheat to full superheat requires approximately 30 minutes. Usually this is a concern only during engineering drills. Without superheat the ship can do 22 knots. In the normal steaming split-plant configuration of four boilers (with superheat) and four engines, the ship can easily cruise at 27 knots. Top
speed is in excess of 30 knots.
Two large rudders, located directly behind the inboard shafts, can each move 36.5° to port or starboard and operate independently. The separate after steering spaces are manned under way. The inboard propellers are five bladed (for speed) and the outboard propellers four bladed (for power). When an ahead bell is rung, all shafts rotate outboard, as viewed from the rear. The two inboard shafts extend beyond the outboard shafts from large skegs, which enhance the rudders’ effectiveness by channeling the How of water. The skegs and deep draft prevent the ship from sliding during turns and diminish the effects of wind on the ship in the open ocean. The ship will heel noticeably only during tight turns at highest speeds. As standard practice in the New Jersey, the sum of rudder angle and ordered speed should not exceed 30.
Under way, the ship is normally conned from the 04-level bridge. Many SWOs visiting the ship are surprised at the cramped conditions in the pilothouse. Dominating the 04-level bridge is the armored conning tower, referred to as the citadel, within which the helmsman and lee helmsman stand their watch. The citadel is completely self-contained for maintaining ship control. During battle, the entire bridge watch team can seal themselves inside and maintain a perspective on the ship’s position through periscopes or narrow viewing ports. Normally, the deck officers stand their watch on a narrow (about two-yards-wide) portion of the bridge that extends slightly forward over turret two and wraps around the front of the citadel. Deck officers communicate with the helm using an internal communications circuit or by giving commands through a viewing port to the watch inside.
The view forward from the bridge to the bow (358 feet) is excellent. Extending aft from the pilothouse are bridge access platforms, but no conventional bridge wings. The view ahead from either access platform is good for that side of the ship- although another officer is required to stay forward on the bridge to maintain a visual watch. At best, views astern are limited to the rear quarters. The ship can be conned alongside during underwa) replenishment or when refueling other ships from the bridge access areas.
The cramped conditions and limits visibility around the bridge sometimes make for trying moments. For instance- routine verification of another ship’s rela tive position often requires walking around the citadel to clear your view m stead of merely glancing from your nor mal watch position. The limited vie^ astern is compounded by a radar bhn
spot just astern of the ship. . .
Another aspect of the battleship whic can make a watch difficult, if not ex^ asperating, is the requirement that bridge windows be lowered before firm? the 16-inch guns. This is because the v1^ bration and blast pressure from turret tw will shatter the glass. Thus, it the ship 1