Almost coincidential I learned here on navy history that BB-61 as the last of the Iowa-class and henceforth the last of the world’s large artilleryships is finally taken out of USN reserve and decomissioned for good.USS Iowa brings back great memories.In the summer of ’85 I had the pleasure of seeing her moored at the honorary south quay just below the old cannons of Akershus festning , a fortress protecting Oslo, Norway in the medieval ages.A most suitable place for her during beautiful sommer days I would say, and not since the visitation of HMS Hood of the Royal Navy almost 50 years before that has a more striking large naval vessel visited our capital.She looked more shipshape back in those days, no rust on her hull,the marine guarding the gangway appearing razor sharp in hisdrill uniform..Not long after that I had as a private in the Royal Norwegian Army the pleasureof saluting one of Iowa’s then former commanders,Vice-Admiral(Ret) Mustin of the USN.Breaking the ice I still remember his broad grin, explaining to a slightly nervous19 year old private some of the subtleties of this fine fighting vessel Big Stick has made both her country and her allied partners proud and I am sureit is not just old hands who has served onboard her who will miss her fine lines..Erik HalvorsethOslo, Norway
Edi
Posted at 04:01h, 26 AugustAlmost coincidential I learned here on navy history that BB-61 as the last of the Iowa-class and henceforth the last of the world’s large artilleryships is finally taken out of USN reserve and decomissioned for good.USS Iowa brings back great memories.In the summer of ’85 I had the pleasure of seeing her moored at the honorary south quay just below the old cannons of Akershus festning , a fortress protecting Oslo, Norway in the medieval ages.A most suitable place for her during beautiful sommer days I would say, and not since the visitation of HMS Hood of the Royal Navy almost 50 years before that has a more striking large naval vessel visited our capital.She looked more shipshape back in those days, no rust on her hull,the marine guarding the gangway appearing razor sharp in hisdrill uniform..Not long after that I had as a private in the Royal Norwegian Army the pleasureof saluting one of Iowa’s then former commanders,Vice-Admiral(Ret) Mustin of the USN.Breaking the ice I still remember his broad grin, explaining to a slightly nervous19 year old private some of the subtleties of this fine fighting vessel Big Stick has made both her country and her allied partners proud and I am sureit is not just old hands who has served onboard her who will miss her fine lines..Erik HalvorsethOslo, Norway