LIVING HISTORY: I Served Aboard 57,500-Ton Iowa-Class Battleship USS Wisconsin And She Is A Floating History Lesson For The US Navy In 2026. “It reminds us that the industrial aspect of maintenance, repair, and overhaul is colossal—especially for older ships. Back then, the U.S. Navy fleet was getting younger and younger amid the frantic buildup to an (almost) 600-ship Navy. Today the fleet is aging, compounding the challenges, time, and cost of upkeep. You can run a classic car forever—if you’re willing to pay the cost, and don’t run it too hard. And spare parts for the classics become scarce. Hence our need to rummage for parts at the nearby Alabama museum ship.”