Why Are the Iowa Class Battleships All Different Weights?

How about an in-depth talk about all the different ways a ship's weight is 'measured?' There's displacement, dead weight tonnage, gross weight, and probably that many more to explain. Thanks!

The fact they all made it to retirement indicates the design was good enough for many configurations.

As far as the ballusting of Iowa is concerned the # 1 Gun turret has received several thousand tons of 16" practice projectiles ( blue in color ) which her staff was able to obtain from the Navy. This allows her to be more in trim than her sister ships. This also explains why Iowa had to get Turret # 3 up and running so as to be able to train ( turn ) to provide access to her loading hatch's to strike down all those 16" shells. A whole lot of work. Hat's off to Iowa and her crew!

6:50 Said if they went to all RIVETED construction instead of WELDED but we know what you meant

When the ships were designed, and the threat was still other battleships, yes, that extra armor is worth it. In hindsight, knowing that by the time the IOWA's get into action, there will no longer be any capital ship to ship engagements, and the threat is bombs and torpedos, the 11" should be enough and that weight could be better used for torpedo protection, deck armor, or AA guns. It just shows you have fast naval warfare changed from the 1930's through the 1940's.

It may actually be be possible to disprove the all welded construction for Illinois, and Kentucky. Wisconsin has Kentucky's bow, so we can see how it was made, and if there's rivets that would show that at least Kentucky did have rivets.

Still amazed that all that steel can float

Fun fact: The nimitz class also all vary in weight due to different construction methods, technology ect. This means officially the largest warship of all time by displacement is the USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76, Coming in at just a hair under 105,000 tons. Name ship Nimitz is the lightest at 101,000 tons. Its unknown at this time if the Ford class is heavier, its officially at a very vague "About 100,000 tons" but a big priority in its design was more automation and simplifying of systems, so i'd go so far to say its possible and even likely that it doesnt top "Reagan". But its possible this may change in newer ships or as new systems are added. (due to the rise of drone warfare, i expect capital ships to jam as many CIWS as humanly possible into every available space)

for the 1/4-1/2knt difference, id take the armor all day every day.

Ryan you truly make some of the best content on YouTube. I have yet to visit you guys. Just with your enthusiasm I think your tours would be amazing. I'll see you for a private tour one day.

Every ship class will vary in weights. It could be based upon construction shipyard, which modifications were added or subtracted. I was CHENG on an FFG which the Navy indicated was the "heaviest" ship of the whole Perry class. That was determined during an inclining.

Ryan is a nerd the way i am nerd. nerd approved

When even your model is on keel blocks, in drydock...

There's nothing more bad-ass than an Iowa class battleship fully loaded down for deployment. The lower these ships sit in the water, the more sleek and menacing they look. Though I understand it would be impractical to have them loaded down while serving as museums, it's still a pity to have them sticking out of the water so much.

Thanks Ryan❣️ I was one of the commenters asking about differences of the Iowas. I’m sure there’s plenty more so hope to hear more in future videos.

Very interesting. I visited the Iowa last Friday and enjoyed it. It looked in pretty good shape to me.

Congrats on a brilliantly successful dry docking! Regarding was the additional transverse citadel armor bulkhead worth it or not... no. As it worked out, no 16 or 18 inch shells hit her bows from ahead, or from astern. If they had, the extra armor may have saved a magazine detonation, but with the oblique angles that are most likely for such a hit, the extra inches would be unneeded. The risk was low enough to take.

Details like this are great!

In the history of warfare since armour was invented, I can guarantee you that no one has ever uttered the phrase “I wish we had less armour.”

Until you take a shoulder hit on that front bulkhead of the citadel, you probably want the extra speed. But, like Ryan said, the navy tends to "spend" those weight savings on something else. With 20/20 hindsight, I'd want more protection against kamikazes....