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Could US Iowa-class battleships really return to service after Trump’s surprise remarks?.
1 Oct, 2025 - 8:49
Naval News Navy 2025
On September 30, 2025, President Donald Trump told more than 800 generals, admirals, and senior officials at Marine Corps Base Quantico that his administration is actively considering bringing back battleships. He cited $31 billion in tariff revenue as a possible funding source and highlighted the Iowa-class for their six-inch (15 cm) armor, arguing they were tougher than modern aluminum-built warships. Trump also repeated his view that battleship shells are cheaper than missiles and recalled World War II-era fleets of armored giants, declaring that “nothing could stop them.”
Could US Iowa-class battleships really return to service after Trump’s surprise remarks?
Trump’s surprise remarks at Quantico revived debate on Iowa-class battleships, citing $31B tariffs, armor strength, and shells cheaper than missiles.www.armyrecognition.com
Thoughts on this?
No one makes the powder they used. No one makes the shells. Their machinery is totally clapped out - when last used it was in a state what would have made any other ship in the USN tied up to the dock pending scrapping.
They have no ability to defend against modern PGM's and their topdeck armour (although decent vs. WW2 era bombs) wouldn't stop any kind of modern SRBM or equivalent strike.
They need crew equivalent to no less than 9 Arleigh Burkes which have vastly superior range and depth of firepower.
In short, totally unsuited for any kind of modern warfare.
