saw Flags of Our Fathers movie yesterday which I enjoyed somewhat but it felt a bit disjointed to me as it jumped back and forth in time. I saw a scene that I disagree with and this in itself led to another question. The scene was from a Japanese shore gun up on Surabachi shooting at an Iowa class BB and smacking it dead on in the Fo'castle and it appered the fo'castle broke off. I know that didn't happen, though it is possible that one of Iowas might have been hit. OK, now for the question. I know Kenny and Tom have super references so I figure I'll get a great answer. I would like to know all the battleships that participated at Iwo, and how long they remained.

Hi Steve,
Found this site on IWO JIMA...lots of info on the different participants.

Hope this helps,
Later,

Joe

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/PTO/Iwo/UScmd.html

According to the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships (DANFS), these battleships provided direct fire support at Iwo Jima. The other BB's were either being repaired/refit or escorting the carriers:

Arkansas
New York
Texas
Nevada
Idaho
Tennessee
West Virginia
North Carolina
Washington
South Dakota
Missouri

Not all ships were off the beaches all the time. For example, the DANFS entry for SoDak notes that she only participated for two days.

Steve, according to the US Navy, here is a list of ships sunk or badly damaged off of Iwo Jima.

US Navy Ships Sunk or Badly Damaged By Enemy Action at Iwo Jima

17 Feb
LCI(G)-438
LCI(G)-441
LCI(G)-449
LCI(G)-450
LCI(G)-457
LCI(G)-466
LCI(G)-469
LCI(G)-473
LCI(G)-474

18 Feb
Blessman (DE-69)
Gamble (DD-123)

20 Feb
LSM-216

21 Feb
Bismarck Sea (CVE-95)
Saratoga (CV-3)
Napa (APA-157)

25 Feb LCI(M)-760

28 Feb
Terry (DD-513)
Whitley (AKA-91)

Gator

I can't remember reading anything in any of the references that I have on the Missouri that indicates she was ever hit by surface gunfire, although she was struck by a kamikaze on the starboard side.

Based on a comparison of Martin's note and the task organization in the link that Joe provided, it appears that Task Force 58 (The Fast Carriers) detached a couple of their escorting Battleships to augment the older BBs which were a part of Task Force 54, which was the Gunfire and Covering Force.

Since the only Iowa class in Martin's list is Missouri, it seems pretty doubtful (i.e. typical Hollywood) that it happened as depicted in the movie.
I suppose that it is possible that one of the fire support ships was hit from shore, but if so, I'd suspect it would be one of the smaller ones like a destroyer or cruiser. They'd be more likely to be within range of any shore mounted guns. I would think that even the older ships like the Texas and New York with their smaller caliber guns would still have been out of range from anything on shore.

Anybody know for sure whether any of the Fire Support ships were hit?

Tom

I remember reading at one time of either a DD or a cruiser taking some hits as it closed in, but I too was suspect as most of the time the BB's were well out of range of shore based batteries. I thought it might be possible at Iwo based on the extra range afforded by the height of Surabachi. It is also incredible to see 11 battleships participating in shelling an area of around 15 square miles..and what's worse...having little or no effect. If you haven't seen Flags of our fathers, it may be worth a look-see. A bit disjointed, and of course the focus of the movie is on the flag raisers themselves, but it gives you a better perspective than anything else ever done about IWO. Looking forward to seeing the Black Sand Red Sun that is comig out which is Iwo based on the Japaese perspective. Hopefully that will be a little more "Pvt Ryan" like with plenty of action for the younger generation of never been in's