Visiting Dignitary: "Sir, I'd like to visit the powder room." Sailor: Well sir, on the Iowa class we only have three, but they can fit nearly a hundred men each! Be careful, though: they're crowded, hot, and dangerous, filled with sailors struggling to move their heavy loads, and in such conditions any spark can set off an explosion!" Dignitary: :-o
he's said before (recently I think) that there's a lot of duplicate spaces because the ship needed to to carry something like 2000 men and he's not explored literally every bunk and living section
@@AsbestosMuffins it’s like owning 100 acre of prime forest. Your never gonna become familiar with every tree and minute geographic feature in it. I own a mere two acres that I let to back acre grow wild and I just recently found a raspberry patch and rhubarb patch I was completely unaware of
First I thought, “If this was a German WWII Battleship the records of exactly when the rooms were converted would be available. And there would be a record of every woman who visited the ship, the dates and times of their visits, what they ate and their genealogy.” Then I thought “If this was a German WWII Battleship Ryan would be very wet”
The ladies retiring room on the main deck was still there when the ship entered Long Beach Shipyard in 1981. The room had a leather couch and a connected head. One commode IIRC. It was converted into a decon station prior to recommissioning in 1982. The armory was designed to be manned 24/7 and since an enlisted man was not to use the officer’s head, there was a head for the armorer. Since we didn’t man the armory 24/7 (at least when I was onboard from 1981 to 1984) it was easy enough to use that head for female guests and more convenient. Back to the retiring room. An educated guess is that is original to the ship. Back in the early 1900’s through the 1940’s and beyond, retiring rooms for ladies were common. This was in keeping with women being the “weaker sex” and needing a place to rest if feeling weak. The fact that it had a couch lends credence to this retiring room being original to the ship. Googling ladies retiring room brings forth a whole bunch of stories that are by today’s standards laughable.
The “weaker sex prejudice” argument certainly has validity, HOWEVER consider the two most common OFFICIAL situations where a woman might have found herself on a battleship, visiting dignitaries and rescued damsels, in both situations you made find yourself with someone overwhelmed by the current or just previous environmental conditions and need a private place to recover.
So that's the room that would be used (along with a couple others apparently) in case of a chemical or biological attack? Like that's where they'd decontaminate crew?
@@alec4672 late to give a comment, but no. The retiring room features (couch) were *removed*, and the decontamination equippment put there instead. It was changed.
Can confirm this. Source: Skated in one of these decon stations while underway on an LHD. Great place to get a cell signal when you’re close to land too.
reminds me of something on the USS Salem when I visited, the ships hospital has medial stirrups, why would you need those on an all male ship, turns out they were added from a Greek hospital during the Ionian earthquake when the ship was providing aid and they actually delivered babies on the ship since they were one of the only undamaged medical facilities around.
The square thing that folds down from the bulkhead is a laundry bag holder. SOP is you take off all your clothing and put in a bag for either separate decon or disposal. We had a similar setup on the fire dept, not for chemical warfare but for hazmat incidents. Depending on the chemical exposure the clothing is either cleaned or disposed of with the rest of the hazmat materials. Yes, even $2,000 bunker gear and multi thousand dollar SCBA sets will be disposed of if the chemical exposure is bad enough.
Why does Battleship New Jersey have a ladies powder room? Because she's a Lady of course! Honestly though, once again my reaction is "these battleships have EVERYTHING!"
I hope you do a video about at-sea rescues. I'd be interested to know if New Jersey ever brought aboard survivors. Do fit-for-duty survivors get absorbed in the ships' complement or are they dispersed throughout the needs of the Navy?
In 1936, USS Oklahoma (BB37) was dispatched to Spain to evacuate US and other nationals from fighting during the Spanish Civil War. They picked up several hundred evacuees, including one woman who went into labor and gave birth while onboard. Might be the only case of a baby being born on a battleship.
That's exactly what it is. When you enter the compartment from a contaminated area you first strip, skivvies and all, only keeping your gas mask or breathing device in place. Then you get scrubbed down and when clean enter the clean side of the compartment or clean room next door where you are able to dress again. Your contaminated clothing and gear is itself either decontaminated or disposed of as HazMat. At some point during the decontamination scrubbing you are able to remove your breathing gear or gas mask.
@@robertf3479 Been MANY years, but IIRC, they started scrubbing at the top of your head and worked down. You could take off your mask just about in time to swear clearly as parts were scrubbed that ought not be scrubbed with a bristle brush... For drill purposes we stripped down to skivvies. Still not fun. I'm afraid that I cannot recommend a personal hygiene regime that involves cold water, harsh detergent, and a relatively stiff brush wielded by others. Again, there are certain areas which just shouldn't be scrubbed with a brush...especially one that somebody else is holding.
As a high-school student I worked for a summer in a university lab that had a DoD grant to work on developing an enzyme that would neutralize a particular, nasty chemical weapon. There are animals that produce enzymes that have some effectiveness against this compound, but it isn't stable at room temperature outside of those animals, so they were working to create a synthetic version that was more potent, could be stored in tanks and could be used for exactly this sort of 'wash down' situation. One of the researchers explained that while this agent is commonly called "a gas", it is very much a liquid at room temperature, so it could be sprayed onto a tank, ship deck, etc. and not only sicken/kill the crew, but severely impair the functioning of the asset, which makes it valuable in an "asymmetrical" situation. From my limited understanding, if a ship got sprayed with this stuff and there were crew exposed, they wouldn't make it to these "scrub down rooms" or if they did, it would only serve to make the sailor's remains less dangerous to care for. I'm very glad to know that this nasty stuff has only seen limited use, and it is quite a good thing that it was banned globally. Those entities who have used it can be safely classified as evil, and should be tried for crimes against humanity and dealt with appropriately. Saddam Hussein was one example, but there are several "leaders" around today who should be charged and sentenced based on the facts.
While banned, many nations still have these weapons or can easily make them. A determined chemist/terrorist can make them. I was trained in NBC warfare in both the Air Force and MI Army National Guard. It is nasty stuff at best! The ships that were the targets of the Bikini Atoll nuclear test became radioactive. Even bedding deep inside battleships was contaminated and unusable. The Navy tried to decontaminate them by washing them down. The problem was the water was now radioactive. So that didn't work. The Navy ended up several years later using the ships for target practice to sink them. It is unknown if immediate washing would stop the radioactive contamination in a modern warship. My guess is not. The problem would be from the blast of gamma radiation. That hits the ship as the bomb detonates and no amount of water during the blast would stop it. Chemicals and biologics would be dealt with by washing. Then some would scream about the Navy polluting the sea with what was washed off. Can't win! If sailors/marines would outside in chemical gear during a chemical or biological attack, these decontamination stations would be where they would report to get out of their gear without contaminating the rest of the ship. If not in protective gear, they would still need to be taken to decontamination before going to sickbay. Not everything is immediately fatal. All are not nice!
My first ship, a fleet oiler that I served aboard in the early '70's, had a ladies room. It was, as I recall usually locked when the ship was underway (no women crew back then). It was unlocked during hours when visitors were allowed on board.
USS Kansas City (AOR-3) had a ladies room AND a men's room aft of the mess decks. As with yours, they were both locked underway. The intention was that civilian visitors would use these facilities, as visitors of either gender were discouraged from entering the enlisted berthing areas. You could get away with a quick "Daddy sleeps here", but that was about it.
I was aboard USS Virginia CGN38 when we got a draft of midshipwomen, I think it was in 1992, maybe 1993, doing their middie cruises with us. In part because we had smaller crew compartments that could be made segregated for their use. Crew Complex #17 on the starboard side was reconfigured as midshipmwomen's quarters and then most of the divisions aboard ship got assigned a middie for their cruise duties. Made for an interesting change in our routines for that cruise.
@@TheEvertw I know, Was amazing. it's why I want to see Ryan go at it. Or even Ryan in the ward room with a few of the Iowa class vets would be a great longer runtime video.
When I first went to sea there were no women assigned to combatant ships like my destroyer. On occasion female officers would sail with us for short periods and they would be berthed in the Captain's Inport Cabin, right off the midships Quarterdeck area just forward of the Wardroom. They would take their meals in the Wardroom but the only sleeping and Head facilities they could use was in the Inport Cabin. The Skipper would have the Sea Cabin right off the Bridge, about the size of a broom closet.
@@raygiordano1045 Part of the reason the Navy was so gung-ho for the Zumwalt was because it had the lowest crew-to-tonnage ratio of any warship ever. They literally sat down and determined that every dollar they spent on automation was a dollar they didn't have to spend on crew spaces, feeding and entertainment for the next generation of obese, politically-woke, low-motivation, low-ASVAB sailors. Send a computer instead. Unfortunately that was a terrible idea because while you needed less dummies, you needed *more* specialist officers and petty officers to maintain the expensive gear, and those were even less likely to stick around in the Navy.
@@harveywallbanger3123 I suppose it goes to show that no matter how clever planners are, they still can't avoid overlooking something critical. I thought the USN went with the Zumwalts because they just wanted to sail the ugliest ships in the world.
@@harveywallbanger3123 It doesn't help that you are probably a 3rd class PO by the time you reach the same pay rate as the employees at the base McDonald's... During my service years (late 80's), a 3rd class with a wife and child, living in free Navy housing, was STILL eligible for food stamps and cash benefits from the State of California.
This is why, whenever I go the junkyard for some car part, I spend hours just looking through the cars, each one a moment in time frozen when it came to the yard. Being able to poke around an entire battleship, and one of the largest ever made, at that, must be amazing! So many stories there, echoes of days gone past.
Amazing how things hide from you on ships. I only recently discovered a large void space when installing bilge pumps on our steam crane. Not lost to all, the old guys all nodded sagely and said it was used for bunkering coal on her delivery voyage. Something as large and complex as a battleship harbours many secrets no doubt.
that square thing de-con station is a bag holder it's meant to hold a bag open so you can put contaminated stuff in it faster and easier without contaminating the outside of the bag!
the square bracket was for bags where the sailor would throw all his contaminated clothing quickly before he got into the shower. you’d then be able to close the bags and sequester/destroy the contaminated articles
When I saw the title I assumed that it was close to the wardroom. Not only for the ship only functions, but also for the visitors when the ship is showing the flag in foreign ports. Certainly the dignitaries would bring their wives along sometimes and once in a while there might even be a female dignitary. It's very amusing that the one female officer on board was berthed in the isolation area.
Stale. Usually dry. There is often an odor as some plastics and such off gas. In fact as I read the sentence it is almost as if I'm right there. Old government buildings are famous for having rooms that haven't been opened in decades. Sometimes small buildings that haven't been opened in decades. Sometimes you'll find dried out long dead rodents as well. If you manage to work in an old government building, look around. There might be an old utility closet, back office or storage area you can get into and find out for yourself. Most of the buildings I was in that I was able to get into old rooms don't exist anymore.
@@olsurferguy1 To make at home, liberally sprinkle your dirty socks and underwear with some diesel, then add a dash of Pine Oil and some floor wax...Voila! Memories of Engineering berthing on an oiler...
When I was stationed on USS CUSHING (DD 985) my division (CE) was responsible for the Ladies Powder Room. It was mostly used by the CIC watch standers.
This show should be referred over to Abandoned and Forgotten Places run by Gly Coolness, Mr. M and Randy. Going inside this ship has been like examining one of the old mines in Arizona, Nevada and California.
Large Naval vessels can be very confusing to find you way to various compartments. When I first went aboard the USS Randolph (CVS-15) as part of the Air Group, I had never before been aboard an active duty Navy ship. My escort made sure I could find my way between 3 areas I needed to know. 1. The VS-24 J. O. Bunkroom (my berthing area, which had only VS-24 JO's. The VS-27 J.O. Bunkroom was on the starboard side). 2. The Wardroom and 3. The ready room (where all the briefings were held). To go from the J.O. Bunkroom to either the Wardroom or the ready room one had to go though the hanger bays, so that was not a separate knowledge point and the escalator to the flight deck was just outside the door of the ready rooms, so easily found.
I was surprised to learn about the stations in the turret electrical decks as well as the cots in the turrets and under them. Are there any interviews with people who worked in those cramped and secluded locations?
What was the job of the female Officer you mentioned, when she was serving aboard? Was she a doctor, a public affairs officer, or some other job, such as serving on the Admiral's Staff?
Female facilities has to top the list, at least for most of her career. Ryan, huge thanks for sharing your knowledge and especially your exploration of the ships spaces, to me that would be completely fascinating, and I envy you!
I believe the square frame that you pointed out in the ladies retiring room which was swear and falling down onto the wall was a laundry bag holder just a guess
True! They just never expected to have any senior officers on board in the 80s, thus removing the admirals cabin. And then hastily making one when Reason came...
Do not forget Dependents cruise. Six hour cruise where the crew, even the enlisted, shows family and dependents what Dad does. Ladies facilities would be needed for that.
Retiring room hints that there was a least a reclining chair or small bunk plus the other accommodations mentioned. I worked private security in country clubs during renovations and retiring rooms were so outfitted.
There’s a ‘Ladies Retiring Room’ in the 1941 general plans for USS Lexington CV2, right off the main deck and next to the port aft 5” handling room and adjacent a crew reception room.
just go to any gun store right now if you want to see a bunch of empty long gun racks and shelves!! it's absolutely disgusting the state of the gun business right now and all thanks to the wing wang flu scare!!
@@keithmoore5306 Even MORE disgusting is what they did to the prices. Never thought I would see the day where I would happily pay $28 EACH for 2 boxes of 9X19 FMJ range ammo for the wife. No idea what .45ACP for me would cost...nobody locally has seen a box on the shelf for months. At today's prices, my "reserve" ammo shelf is worth more than the car I am driving.
@@kevincrosby1760 last i saw on American eagle 45 was $36.95 and that was last year!! the local store here the last 9mm they had was reloads and they wanted $19.99 for 50 they've been out since March before last!!
@@keithmoore5306 I was going to go with "Plan B" and take up an old hobby or two. Also empty at the store are the shelves which once housed a wonderful collection of dies, cases, primers, bullets, powder, etc. Ditto for caps, Pyrodex, .50 Mini, .50 Ball, the full line of "F" powders, and ball/bullet molds. I guess that "Plan C" would be to start looking for a handgun chambered in .50AE. Everybody around here seems to still have .50AE and .32 ACP on the shelves. Gee. Wonder why. Scary thing is that even FMJ flies off of the shelves, yet there are always empty lanes at the range. Only thing FMJ is good for is a day at the range OR resolving a situation where no friendlies are downrange so overpenetration isn't an issue.
I think That square metal hoop is for holding a trash bag, or whatever they put contaminated materials in. Holds it open so you don't have to fight with it.
What spaces did I think wouldn't exist? This one! I did not watch the head video. I mean, how interesting could that be?? This was a surprise though that this space exists at all. Thanks for sharing!
My great grandfather was a torpedoesmate and I told my grandfather(his son) about their being a soda shop and he was surprised. He was also army though in the Vietnam war, he didn’t have too much to do with the navy if anything.
The one I've found most interesting was the enlisted lounge in the superstructure that was formed from the visual air search room I think it was. I'd be interested in what other lounges or carve-outs were created.
when our ship, a 70/80 era cruiser, did not have female facilities. When coming back from the Gulf, we did three stops in Australia: Perth, Hobart and Brisbane. At each port, we hosted a party for locals. Presumably, some local officials were given a set number invitations to give out. Many went to government officials and important business men. There were a several single ladies who managed to get invitations. They quickly managed to find single & (soon to be) divorced officers, and later gave tours of their city. On return to the US, a few came to visit, and later married said officer. A couple of enlisted men married Aussie girls they met, but these were not from the onboard party. A battleship would be an important instrument of diplomacy, a significant part of which is hosting parties for local officials in foreign ports.
What a cool old ship, growing up in Iowa in the 70’s and 80’s are State Capital had a huge model of the battleship IOWA. Total guess but it was at least 30ft long maybe bigger and had ever gun turret and flag pole. Seeing this ship brings back some fun memories of the museums I went to as a kid. Being able to see the insides of the New Jersey is so fascinating. I would love to backpack it, explore from one end to the other never sleeping in the same spot. Hahahahaha do it POSH...port out, starboard home. PoSh 🔥me☝️🇺🇸
Could you contact the other Iowa-class ships to see if they have a similar space? In the same place? Would be interesting to see the similarities and differences there.
Never thought about the ladies room on the ship until this video. But the first thing I thought of was nurses. Did the ship ever have nurses stationed on board @battleshipnewjersey ?
@@xRepoUKx ROFL. Seriously, inviting a female "friend" on board a US Navy ship is quite common. Sign her in with the Quarterdeck watch and all is good. Finding a private place to take her AFTER she is on board is an art form. One could theoretically take a female to their shop, walk out, shut and padlock the hatch, walk through the Emergency Diesel Generator compartment next door, then come back into the shop through the hatch from the shared escape trunk, said hatch being conveniently unlocked. Of course this is all theoretical, and bears absolutely no resemblance to any activities which might have taken place in or near the IC/Gyro shop during the 1989 Portland Rose Festival. For the less fortunate, fan rooms, gear lockers (janitor closets), electrical rooms, and division storerooms are traditional.
Ryan - how many versions of the ship's blue prints exist? Is there a place where they are displayed? Have you made a video of comparing them, showing the changes, how the Navy tracked them, etc.? I have not been to the ship for several years. I hope to get back someday and see all the great work you and your team have been doing.
I recall my father (on the Washington), while tied up I think near Boston, said he invited my mother to dinner on the ship (when they were first dating near end of WW2). Although he was a lowly Ensign, if you had a date, you got to eat at the Captain's table, using the fine silver placings. I do not recall my mother saying much about it other than getting alot of attention. Alas it never occurred to me to ask my mom if there was a woman's bathroom nearby.
Hello Ryan, The Squarish metal bracket on the wall inside the door appears to be a bracket to hold a contamination liner (trash bag) for the decontamination room. Let me know what you think.
Because women visited sometimes, the ship was so freaking huge they could afford the space, and ladies hated be told to "use the head". Now to watch the video and be proven right.
All this talk about female heads got me curious. Were the Iowa's designed with "colored" restrooms? I worked on an old ferry that came out of the yard with them.
By the 80s, that wasn't done anymore so thay doesn't exist on board today. However, during WWII there was segregated berthing on board which you can see in this video over here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pXvPHGzdhH0.html
@@keeshahdarkfurr8328 They served on ships as well, generally in the laundry, as stewards, or in the galley. They were definitely considered inferior to the white sailors.
So, if your ship is contaminated on the outside and you wash it off on the outside with sprinklers, that contaminated stuff goes into the ocean and contaminates the ocean in that area. I can't help but wonder what the Lord God thinks about that one?
