The hilarious thing is, technically speaking, the Iowa was actually too large to fit through the Panama Canal. By 3 to 6 inches.
Every time an Iowa-class Battleship would pass through the Panama, they would break something. Usually, if they were lucky (and they usually were), it was the bilge keels and drain pipes on the ships themselves. But if they were unlucky, they did damage to the canals.
The Panamax is 106ft wide. The Iowa is 109ft 3-6in (depending on era and including all protrusions, 108ft 2in just the hull). (The physical width of the Panama canal is 109ft exact).
The Panamax is 106ft wide. The Iowa is 109ft 3-6in (depending on era and including all protrusions, 108ft 2in just the hull). (The physical width of the Panama canal is 110ft exact).
The hilarious thing is, technically speaking, the Iowa was actually too large to fit through the Panama Canal. By 3 to 6 inches.
Every time an Iowa-class Battleship would pass through the Panama, they would break something. Usually, if they were lucky (and they usually were), it was the bilge keels and drain pipes on the ships themselves. But if they were unlucky, they did damage to the canals.
The Panamax is 106ft wide. The Iowa is 109ft 3-6in (depending on era and including all protrusions, 108ft 2in just the hull). (The physical width of the Panama canal is 109ft exact).
You can see the issues.
Iowa doesn't break things transiting the Panama Canal, since no parts of her extend over waterline beam, but the Essex class carriers break a bunch of stuff transiting with their 40m+ flight deck. While their waterline beam means they fit, Essex knocked over every single lamp post on the starboard side and wrecked a gun tub when she transited.
Iowa doesn't break things transiting the Panama Canal, since no parts of her extend over waterline beam,
Wrong. The Iowa's Bilge Keels extend past the Listed 108ft 2in beam on the waterline, and extending farther than that are the drainage pipes. The thing about Waterline Beam is that it only measures the ship's beam at the waterline. It does not figure protrusions. Have you ever seen the bilge keels on the Iowas (or even photographs of them)? All of that damage came from transiting the Panama Canal.
They had less than 6" of leeway when squeezing through the canal, and pretty much everyone admits this. Mishaps happen. A lot.
Getting through is easy-peasy.I'm stuck... stuck...Oh, the view's pretty goodYamato, if we go through this hole, we can play in EuropeReally?Your panties are showingCan I go through? Let me try. (When no one's watching)Yamato, hurry up!HAHAHAHAStop laughing! Hurry up and help me!Panama holeYou....Ship beam 32.97 metersShip beam 38.9 metersShip beam limit 33.5 meters