National Defense Reserve Fleet, still has the Iowa in mothballs. I wonder what it would ever be used for. My understanding is no ammo for her 16 inch guns have been made since the 1950s. Those big naval rifes is what she's got, but if they can't be used why keep her around? Other than ya just never know what my happen down the road, or does someone have a better idea?
Here is a very passionate thread discussing battleships. I think anything you would ever wish to know about the possible reactivation of them is contained within. I would not even hazard a guess how many of us were either sent to the cooler or recieved punitive warnings as a result of the passionate discourse. Welcome Aboard!!! http://www.ww2f.com/weapons-wwii/31419-what-made-battleships-obsolete.html
I believe when the two ships were placed back on the register that the intended purpose of the ships would be to provide gunfire support for amphibious operations. Last I knew she was waiting for donations to become a museum ship.
That may be but there's still plenty of rounds around from what I understand. It might be adviseable to refill them if they were to be used but that's not a a very difficult operation.