The USS Iowa was the lead ship of the class in the Iowa-class battleships. Commissioned in 1943, having been laid down in 1939, the Iowa served in World War II as a very formidable capital ship for the US Navy. Notably, she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt and operated in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, providing crucial bombardment support for troop landings. She survived the war, went on to participate in the Korean War, and during her service life, she was several times decommissioned and recommissioned. The USS Iowa now floats as a museum ship, preserved by dedicated American citizens.
In the naval warfare gaming scene, the USS Iowa is portrayed as a fast, accurate sniper. Unlike her sister ship, the New Jersey, the Iowa capitalizes on gun accuracy, making her the most precise heavyweight battleship in the game. This accuracy will let her nail tight groups of shells even at high speed, turning her into a high-speed sniper, capable of delivering successive hits while dodging enemy fire. However, her anti-air capabilities, while improved over the New Jersey, remain modest.
Tactically, this will be where Iowa excels at range and will be able to outmaneuver or outgun most opponents with her speed and accuracy. This high speed will let her lead destroyers and cruisers into damaging positions without ever being within the effective range of larger battleships like the Yamato and Montana. The best strategy will be using her speed to camp at the edge of enemy range, where their shell dispersion is greatest, and use her accuracy to dish out the maximum damage possible. Patience and positioning are key here. For when in the perfect position, it can be devastating if she holds her fire until then.
When operating in a company with an Iowa, anti-air support is vital. Because of her somewhat moderate AA defenses, she’ll want cruisers and destroyers for the company to provide additional AA cover and close-range firepower. If the Iowa assumes a sniping role, carriers can provide excellent support by attacking approaching battleships and enemy carriers.
It means getting around Iowa requires a different game plan. Bigger battleships, such as Montana and Yamato, do hold an edge in firepower and broadsiding that can counter the agile sniper. Closing the distance using islands for cover may help negate the accuracy edge of Iowa and create an effective engagement. Aircraft can also be used because the Iowa only has poor AA defenses and secondary armament.
Among the benefits of USS Iowa are the following: high speed, above-average turning radius, good accuracy, and average damage from the main guns. She is certainly not too healthy in terms of HP and may be having a harder time against more powerfully armed battleships such as the Yamato, Montana, Alsace, or H41.
The USS Iowa symbolizes naval might, and her legacy serves as a testament to the lasting heritage left by American battleships. Having had such a proud history and being present today as a museum ship, there is no doubt that her legacy will be remembered for generations to come.