USS IOWA (BB-61) Battleship Papercraft

I got an email from a longtime supporter of MYP, Mr. Obed Gordon Franco, and this time he shared an awesome model of the USS IOWA (BB-61) battleship papercraft with me.

The USS Iowa (BB-61) was an American battleship laid down in 1940, launched in August 1942, and officially commissioned into the U.S. Navy in February 1943. It measured 270.4 meters in length, 33 meters in width, and had a full displacement of around 58,400 tons. At top speed, it could hit 33 knots.

USS Iowa was the lead ship of the Iowa-class battleships, which were the last battleships ever built for the U.S. Navy. Originally, six ships were planned, but only four were completed. With the cancellation of the larger Montana-class, the Iowa-class became the most advanced American battleships to see service, prioritizing speed and firepower. They were specifically designed to escort aircraft carriers and were significantly faster than earlier U.S. battleships.

USS Iowa’s combat debut came in 1943 with operations in the Atlantic, primarily countering the threat of the German battleship Tirpitz. In 1944, the ship was reassigned to the Pacific, supporting campaigns in the Marshall Islands, Truk Atoll, and later participating in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It also took part in strikes against the Japanese mainland from April to June 1945.

The ship saw action again during the Korean War, mainly in coastal bombardment roles. It was decommissioned in 1958, but later brought back to service during the 1980s as part of a naval modernization push. Between 1982 and 1984, the ship received major upgrades including advanced radar, fire control systems, Tomahawk and Harpoon missile launchers, Phalanx CIWS, and the ability to operate onboard helicopters.

Battleship Scale 1:400. Thanks Mr. Franco !