EPISODE · Feb 13, 2026 · 51 MIN
From Civil War Ironclads to the USS Iowa | Naval History in Mills County
from Mills County Routes · host Carlene Hall
In this episode of Mills County Routes, we attend the first in a new monthly speaker series designed to reconnect the community through free educational events.This month’s presentation features Eric Van Fleet, Marine Corps veteran and electrical engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, who shares the powerful history of the USS Iowa (BB-61) — known as:The Big StickThe Great GhostThe Battleship of PresidentsEric walks us through:⚓ The evolution of battleships from the Civil War’s USS Monitor⚓ The rise of naval armor and turret warfare⚓ The sinking of the Bismarck⚓ Why aircraft carriers ultimately replaced battleships⚓ The size, speed, firepower, and armor of the USS Iowa⚓ Naval ship classifications (BB, DDG, CG, SSBN) explainedAt 57,000 tons and three football fields long, the USS Iowa was one of the most powerful battleships ever built. But history shows how technology — and warfare — changed faster than anyone expected.This speaker series takes place every second Sunday of the month, offering free educational programming and opportunities for community involvement.If you love military history, Iowa connections, or naval engineering, this one is packed with insight.Subscribe to Mills County Routes for more local stories, events, and educational conversatio
What this episode covers
In this episode of Mills County Routes, we attend the first in a new monthly speaker series designed to reconnect the community through free educational events.This month’s presentation features Eric Van Fleet, Marine Corps veteran and electrical engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, who shares the powerful history of the USS Iowa (BB-61) — known as:The Big StickThe Great GhostThe Battleship of PresidentsEric walks us through:⚓ The evolution of battleships from the Civil War’s USS Monitor⚓ The rise of naval armor and turret warfare⚓ The sinking of the Bismarck⚓ Why aircraft carriers ultimately replaced battleships⚓ The size, speed, firepower, and armor of the USS Iowa⚓ Naval ship classifications (BB, DDG, CG, SSBN) explainedAt 57,000 tons and three football fields long, the USS Iowa was one of the most powerful battleships ever built. But history shows how technology — and warfare — changed faster than anyone expected.This speaker series takes place every second Sunday of the month, offering free educational programming and opportunities for community involvement.If you love military history, Iowa connections, or naval engineering, this one is packed with insight.Subscribe to Mills County Routes for more local stories, events, and educational conversatio
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From Civil War Ironclads to the USS Iowa | Naval History in Mills County
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