Science & Nature • Naval Engineering

Iowa-class battleship

The Iowa-class battleships were a class of six fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1940s, of which four were completed.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Iowa-class battleships were a class of six fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1940s, of which four were completed. Designed for high speed and heavy firepower, they were intended to escort carrier task forces and engage fast enemy capital ships during World War II.

Design and purpose

The Iowa class was developed to counter fast enemy capital ships and to serve as the fast wing of the U.S. battle line. Their design emphasized speed, heavy armor, and large-caliber main guns within treaty limits.

Construction and completion

Six ships were planned in two wartime orders, but only four were completed before the end of the war. The remaining two hulls, USS Illinois and USS Kentucky, were laid down but never completed and later scrapped.

Operational history

The completed ships served in World War II and later saw additional service in Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, and the Gulf War after modernization. They became the last battleships to leave active U.S. service.

Legacy and preservation

The Iowa-class is remembered as the final generation of U.S. battleships and a symbol of the battleship era’s end. By the 21st century, the surviving ships had been preserved as museum ships.

Key facts

The Iowa class was designed around the Second London Naval Treaty’s 45,000-long-ton standard displacement limit.
The class originally comprised six planned ships, but only four were completed: USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin.
The Iowa class is widely described as the largest and fastest class of American battleships ever completed.
The ships were later modernized and returned to service in the 1980s before final decommissioning in the 1990s.
The surviving ships were preserved as museum ships after retirement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Iowa-class battleship?

It was a class of six fast battleships built for the U.S. Navy in the 1940s, with four completed and commissioned.

How many Iowa-class battleships were built?

Six were planned, four were completed, and two were canceled before completion.

What ships were in the class?

USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin were completed; USS Illinois and USS Kentucky were not finished.

Why were they designed?

They were intended to counter fast enemy capital ships and protect carrier task forces as part of the U.S. battle line.

Were they the last U.S. battleships?

They were the last battleships commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

Are any Iowa-class ships preserved today?

Yes. The surviving ships were preserved as museum ships after retirement.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa-class_battleship
Supports: Class overview, planned and completed ship count, purpose, treaty displacement limit, canceled hulls
Naval History and Heritage Command — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/battleships/iowa-bb-61.html
Supports: USS Iowa as lead ship of the class and 45,000-ton battleship class
Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa-Klasse
Supports: Four ships completed and the class as the last battleships commissioned by the U.S. Navy
History of War — https://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_iowa_class_battleships.html
Supports: Largest and fastest class of American battleships ever completed; later service history
WW2DB — https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=800
Supports: Orders, completed ships, and museum-ship status by 2012
U.S. Naval Institute — https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1998/august/us-navy-battleships-are-back
Supports: Reactivation of Iowa and Wisconsin on the Naval Vessel Register