Battleships: Issues Arising From the Explosion Aboard the U.S.S. Iowa
NSIAD-91-4
Published: Jan 29, 1991. Publicly Released: Jan 29, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined issues concerning the April 1989 explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa and the overall battleship program, focusing on: (1) the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratory's independent review of the Navy's technical analysis of the explosion; (2) the serviceability, supportability, and safety of ammunition and equipment; (3) personnel manning levels and training; and (4) battleship employment plans and missions.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to reevaluate the battleships' usefulness in the light of known constraints and limitations and, unless current Middle East operations convincingly demonstrate their unique utility in support of an amphibious assault, to decommission the U.S.S. Missouri and the U.S.S. Wisconsin. |
The U.S.S. Wisconsin was deactivated on September 30, 1991. The U.S.S. Missouri was deactivated on April 1, 1992.
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AccidentsEmployee trainingExplosivesFirearmsInvestigations by federal agenciesMilitary vesselsMunitionsNaval personnelSafety standardsStaff utilizationBattleships