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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 96027:  Ex-USS Iowa under fire by battleship guns, 22 March 1923

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

Coast Battleship No. 4 (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4) -- As a Target Ship, 1921-1923

In mid-1919 the laid-up USS Coast Battleship No. 4 (which had been named Iowa until April of that year) was selected to become the Navy's first radio-controlled target ship. Conversion work, done by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, was completed in August 1920 and involved removal of all the ship's guns, installation of remote control equipment, fitting her after boilers to burn oil fuel, sealing of many compartments and installation of automatic pumps to control water that might be admitted when she was struck by gunfire or aircraft bombs.

In her new guise Coast Battleship No. 4 ran trials off Chesapeake Bay in October 1920, with the old battleship Ohio serving as control ship. Once the ship was gotten underway by a human crew and taken to the operations area, her people left in boats and the radio gear was used to control her steaming and maneuvers. Several months later, at the end of June 1921, Coast Battleship No. 4 was again laid up at Philadelphia while plans were made to employ her in fleet exercises. After being placed back in active service, in April 1922 she went to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to take part in gunfire exercises, this time with the minelayer Shawmut as control ship. However, nothing came of these plans and Coast Battleship No. 4 remained in port.

Early in 1923 the target ship finally went to sea and in February transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific, where she was to serve as a target for the battleship Mississippi's guns. With control from Shawmut and the minesweeper Quail standing by to perform necessary salvage and repair work, Coast Battleship No. 4 first was bombarded by five-inch secondary batteries, at ranges of some 8000 yards. Two further exercises, at longer range, placed her on the receiving end of more than three hundred fourteen-inch shells. The old ship sank in the Gulf of Panama after being hit by nearly three-dozen of these three-quarter ton projectiles.

This page features views concerning the former USS Iowa during her service as a radio-controlled target ship.

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4), 1897-1923. Later renamed Coast Battleship # 4.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 69161

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Steaming off the Virginia Capes, under radio control from USS Ohio (BB-10) five miles away, as bombing planes made attacks on her to determine their effectiveness, 29 June 1921.

    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 164KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83685

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Underway following conversion to a radio-controlled target ship, circa June 1921.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Captain John Lansing Callan, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93549

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Photographed from a U.S. Army Air Service plane on 25 June 1921, following conversion to a radio-controlled target ship.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77309

    USS Quail (AM-15)


    Alongside the radio-controlled target ship Coast Battleship No. 4 (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4), probably in Panama waters, circa February-March 1923.
    Quail provided salvage support during exercises with the target ship.

    Courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973. From the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73815

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Entering Miraflores Lock, Panama Canal, on 10 February 1923.
    She was in the Panama area to serve as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery exercises.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 142KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83700

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4), at left

    In the Pedro Miguel Lock, while transiting the Panama Canal on 10 February 1923. USS Contocook (AT-36) is in the lock behind her, and SS Bethore is at right.
    Coast Battleship No. 4 was then in the Panama area to serve as a radio-controlled target ship for Fleet gunnery exercises.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73816

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Leaving the Pedro Miguel Lock and entering Miraflores Lake, while transiting the Panama Canal, 10 February 1923.
    She was in the Panama area to serve as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery exercises.
    Note the lock caisson at right.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 100447

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Maneuvering under fire by battleship guns, while in use as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery practice off Panama, circa 22 March 1923.
    Note projectiles hitting the water on either side of the target.
    The ship was sunk as a result of damage received in this exercise.

    Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64517

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Under fire by the main battery of USS Mississippi, while in use as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery practice off Panama, 22 March 1923.
    Note 14" inch projectile hitting very close to the target, as others impact further away.
    The target ship was sunk as a result of damage received in this exercise.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96027

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Under fire by battleship guns, while in use as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery practice off Panama, 22 March 1923.
    Note projectiles hitting the water on either side of the target, and the ship's collapsed forward smokestack.
    Photographed by A.E. Wells.
    The ship was sunk as a result of damage received in this exercise.

    Collection of Commodore Norman C. Gillette, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64518

    Coast Battleship No. 4
    (ex-USS Iowa, Battleship # 4)

    Damaged after use as a radio-controlled target during Fleet gunnery practice off Panama, 22 March 1923.
    Note shell holes in the ship's hull side, in line with the main mast, collapsed forward smokestack, and other damage to her superstructure. Also note numbers painted around her lower foretop, probably to indicate bearings, and F5L flying boat taxiing in the left background.
    The target ship was sunk as a result of damage received in this exercise.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4), 1897-1923. Later renamed Coast Battleship # 4.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 13 April 2003