IOWA BB-4 

From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, James L. 
Mooney, ed., Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 
Washington, DC., 1968

displacement. 11,346 
length 360'
beam. 72'2"
draft. 24'
speed. 17 k.
complement. 727
armament. 4 12", 8 8", 6 4", 20 6-pdrs., 4 1-pdrs., 4 14 " tt. 

The second IOWA (BB-4) was laid down by William Cramp & Sons, 
Philadelphia, 5 August 1893; launched 28 March 1896; sponsored 
by Miss M. L. Drake, daughter of the governor of Iowa; and 
commissioned 16 June 1897, Captain W. T. Sampson in command.

After shakedown off the Atlantic Coast, IOWA was assigned to the 
Atlantic Fleet and was ordered to blockade duty, 28 May 1898, 
off Santiago de Cuba. On 3 July 1898, she was the first to sight 
the Spanish ships  approaching and fired the first shot in the 
Battle of Santiago de Cuba. In a 20-minute battle with Spanish 
cruisers MARIA TERESA (flagship) and OQUENDO, her effective fire 
set both ships aflame and drove them on the beach. IOWA

continuing the battle in company with converted yacht 
GLOUCESTER, sank the Spanish destroyer PLUTON and so  damaged 
destroyer FUROR that she ran upon the rocks.  IOWA then turned 
her attention to the Spanish cruiser VISCAYA which she pursued 
until VISCAYA ran aground. Upon the conclusion of the battle, 
IOWA received on board  Spanish Admiral Cervera and the officers 
and crews of the VISCAYA, FUROR and PLUTON. 

After the Battle of Santiago, IOWA left Cuban waters for New 
York, arriving 20 August 1898. On 12 October 1898, she departed 
for duty in the Pacific, sailed around Cape Horn, and arrived 
San Francisco 7 February 1899. The battleship then steamed to 
Bremerton, Wash., where she entered drydock 11 June 1899. After 
refit, IOWA served in the Pacific Squadron for 2 1/2 years, 
conducting training cruises, drills, and target practice. IOWA 
left the Pacific early in February 1902 to become flagship of 
the South Atlantic Squadron. She sailed for New York 12 February 
1903 where she decommissioned 30 June 1903.

IOWA recommissioned 23 December 1903 and joined the North 
Atlantic Squadron. She participated in the John Paul Jones 
Commemoration ceremonies, 30 June 1905. IOWA remained In the 
North Atlantic until she was placed in reserve 6 July 1907. She 
decommissioned at  Philadelphia 23 July 1908.

IOWA recommissioned 2 May 1910 and served as an at sea training 
ship and as a component of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. During 
the next 4 years she made a  number of training cruises to 
Northern Europe and  participated in the Naval Review at 
Philadelphia, 10 to 15 October 1912. She decommissioned at 
Philadelphia Navy Yard 27 May 1914. At the outbreak of the first 
World War, IOWA was placed in limited commission 28 April 1917. 
After serving as Receiving Ship at Philadelphia for 6 months, 
she was sent to Hampton Roads, Va., and  remained there for the 
duration of the war, training men for other ships of the Fleet, 
and doing guard duty at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. She 
decommissioned for the final time 31 March 1919.

On 30 April 1919, IOWA was renamed COAST BATTLESHIP NO. 4, and 
was the first radio controlled target ship to be used in a fleet 
exercise. She was sunk 23 March 1923 in Panama Bag by a salvo of 
14-inch shells.

Transcribed and edited by"
Larry W. Jewell
jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu