Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club tours the USS Iowa (BB-61)
The Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club in Simi Valley, California toured the USS Iowa, worked some DX, and got some great lessons about shipboard life. What an interesting history lesson in this video taken by club president Rick Galbraith, W6DQE!
USS Iowa, lead ship of a class of 45,000-ton battleships, was built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Commissioned in February 1943, she spent her initial service in the Atlantic and carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to and from Casablanca, Morocco, in November 1943. USS Iowa is presently part of the Reserve Fleet.
Matt- thanks for including the Simi Settlers in your write ups. I really like your website!
Oh that’s a great video. When I toured the USS Missouri (KH6BB) I mentioned to the tour guide that I’d worked the station. He was thrilled and, while not a ham, gave me a special tour deep inside the ship, including the radio room. When visiting a museum ship it doesn’t hurt to bring up our hobby!
It is good to see such keen interest in the Iowa, and other battleships like her. It is surprising to know she is a part of the reserve fleet. Would this mean that she could be recalled to duty?
Museum ships weekend is not all that far away, will there be operations on 20 meters from the Iowa?
Great seeing the video aboard the USS IOWA BB-61, I spent 3 1/2 yrs on the USS- HUNT DD-674 1951/1955. I volunteered on the SS Queen Mary W6RO & the SS Lane San Pedro W6LV back in 1998.
Enthusiastic qsl!
Glad SSARC had a good visit. Anyone else looking to visit IOWA and BIARA’a NI6BB may contact me at [email protected]. Also check http://www.biara.org for news as we evolve.
73 – Doug – W6HB
BIARA – President & Co-Founder
Matt thanks for including Simi Settlers on your webpage. It is an excellent website. I’m VP of the SSARC who put this tour as a club outing. Again thank you.
73-Frank- KI6OQ
VP-SSARC