Commissioned into the US Navy on 16 June 1897, USS Iowa BB-4 was a pre-dreadnought battleship. She was active during the Spanish-American War, and participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July 1898. During the battle, she assisted in the destruction of three of the four Spanish cruisers present.
Decommissioned from 1914 until 1917, she served as a receiving vessel, training ship and guard ship during the First World War. She was decommissioned again in 1919, renamed Coast Battleship No. 4, IX-6 and converted into a radio-controlled target ship. She was used in bombing experiments off the Virginia Capes in 1921 before being sunk off the coast of Panama in March 1923 by the battleship USS Mississippi.
USS Iowa (BB-4)being launched at Cramp Shipbuilding in Philadelphia, 28 March 1896USS Iowa (BB-4)being launched at Cramp Shipbuilding in Philadelphia, 28 March 1896USS Iowa (BB-4) just after launching at Cramp Shipbuilding in Philadelphia, 28 March 1896USS Iowa (BB-4) just after launching at Cramp Shipbuilding in Philadelphia, 28 March 1896
Photos of USS Iowa BB-4
USS Iowa (BB-4) running trials in 1897. She is flying the flag of her builder, William Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia, PAUSS Iowa (BB-4) September 1, 1898USS Iowa (BB-4) entering drydock at Port Orchard, Naval Station Puget Sound, Washington, 28 April 1900USS Iowa (BB-4) in dry dock at Hunter’s Point, San Francisco, California, 19 July 1904USS Iowa (BB-4) during the fleet review of 1905USS Iowa (BB-4) all decked up with flags, possibly at the ceremony marking her decommissioning at Philadelphia, 23 July 1908USS Iowa (BB-4) underway, circa 1918, during her World War I serviceIn the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa early 1919USS Iowa (BB-4) in the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa early 1919USS Iowa (BB-4), Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York CityUSS Iowa (BB-4) in dry dock, Brooklyn Navy YardBow view of USS Iowa (BB-4)USS Iowa (BB-4)USS Iowa (BB-4)USS Iowa (BB-4)
Detail Photos
Main armament of USS Iowa (BB-4)USS Iowa (BB-4) February 1903 main armamentDeck of USS Iowa (BB-4), Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York CityUSS Iowa (BB-4) 4′ gun and crewCrew-members on the after starboard 8″ gun turret of USS Iowa (BB-4). Note that the inboard gun has its muzzle blown off, presumably the result of an accidentInspection & airing out of bedding aboard the Iowa (BB-4), circa 1900
As Coastal Battleship IX-6
On 30 April 1919, Iowa (BB-4) was renamed Coast Battleship No. 4, and was the first radio controlled target ship to be used in a fleet exercise.June 1921 Coastal Battleship #4 IX-6 as target shipIX-6, 29 June 1921IX-6 leaving the Pedro Miguel Lock and entering Miraflores Lake, while transiting the Panama Canal, 10 February 1923IX-6 ex-Iowa (BB-4), at anchor in Panama Bay, later sunk by gunfire while maneuvering under radio control, 23 March 1923Damaged after use as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery practice off Panama, 22 March 1923USS ex-Iowa (BB-4) under fire from Mississippi (BB-41) in the Gulf of Panama, 21 March 1923March 22, 1923 Coastal Battleship #4 IX-6 as target shipOne stack shot off, USS ex-Iowa (BB-4) showing 14 inch shell holes. Just before last run, sunk off Panama by battleship Mississippi (BB-41)
