Posts:307 Joined: July 29th, 2010, 2:47 am
Location: South Carolina
Contact:Website
Perhaps the design of the Iowa hull precluded it? It does seem unusual since the design is post-Essex. The Alaska conversion plan lacks a deck-edge elevator as well. Having only the two centerline elevators would certainly be a liability on a ship her size.
Posts:2936 Joined: July 26th, 2010, 11:38 pm
Location: Midwest US
I suspect this is due to a lack of freeboard. In discussing the proposed Alaska conversions, Friedman notes that the heavy armor of Alaska resulted in a hull that sat rather low (and low in the water), with three full decks rather than the four of Essex, and eleven feet less freeboard. I don't know offhand exactly how Iowa's freeboard compares, but I suspect it is not particularly favorable.