Category Archives: US Battleships

USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for and by the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state’s recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of “super-dreadnought” battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside during World War I.Continue reading “USS Arizona”

USS New Jersey New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships, and was the only US battleship providing gunfire support during the Vietnam War. During World War II, New Jersey shelled targets on Guam and Okinawa, and screened aircraft carriers conducting raids in the Marshall Islands. DuringContinue reading “USS New Jersey (BB-62) (“Big J” or “Black Dragon”[2]) is an Iowa-class battleship, and was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after the US state of New Jersey.”

USS South Dakota (BB-57) was the lead vessel of the four South Dakota-class fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1930s. The first American battleships designed after the Washington treaty system began to break down in the mid-1930s, they took advantage of an escalator clause that allowed increasing the main battery toContinue reading “Battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) Port Quarter View, Philadelphia. Navy Yard 4 June 1942.”

USS Massachusetts (BB-59) is the third of four South Dakota-class fast battleships built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s. The first American battleships designed after the Washington treaty system began to break down in the mid-1930s, they took advantage of an escalator clause that allowed increasing the main battery to 16-inch (406Continue reading “USS Massachusetts in her final active appearance, photo taken on 22 January 1946”