The non-skid on New Jersey’s fantail wraps around Turret Three, with an irregular area of teak decking around the Turret connecting the deck vents. Compare the previous photo to this similar shot of USS New Jersey (BB 62). The area covered by the non-skid on the fantail for helicopter operations is unique to each of the sisters, on Iowa it extends forward to a line just short of the Turret Three barbette. Iowa carried non-skid bands atop Turrets Two and Three. The flag was painted in June 1984, which dates this picture as being early in her service or a precommissioning trial. What is confusing to many is the Iowa carried a very prominent American flag painted on the top of Turret One for most of her service in the 1980’s. This is in fact the USS Iowa (BB 61), taken early in her re-activation process. This photograph is likely the most confusing to observers, and has been identified as all four of the Iowa class in various corners of the internet, if it is identified at all. In this post I will point out a few of the more easily identifiable differences which will allow battleship fans to make a proper identification.
However, the similarities between the ships have resulted in many of these photographs being mis-identified both on the internet and even by authors who should know better. The Navy obliged and made them available for access by the media which resulted in a large number of pictures available today. When the Iowa-class battleships were recommissioned during the 1980s they generated a considerable amount of public interest and were very popular subjects with photographers.
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