World War 2 In Review: battleship photo

USS Missouri is shown firing her forward 16-inch main batteries during World War II. Note the six 16-inch shells in the air. (She was the last American fast battleship to be commissioned, and the last American battleship to be completed.)

The United States battleships Indiana (BB-58), Massachusetts (BB-59) and Alabama (BB-60) form a line ahead during target practice as seen from the South Dakota (BB-57), 1945. U.S. Navy photo.

South Dakota (BB-57) underway with Alabama (BB-60) as viewed from H.M.S. King George V. In July 1943 Alabama participated in Operation Governor, a diversion aimed toward southern Norway, to draw German attention away from the real Allied thrust, toward Sicily. It had also been devised to attempt to lure out the German battleship Tirpitz, the sister ship of the famed, but short-lived, Bismarck, but the Germans did not rise to the challenge, and the enemy battleship remained in her Norwegian lair. U.S. Navy photo.

View of the U.S. Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington (USA), in 1945. Identifiable ships include (left to right): the battleship USS California (BB-44) in drydock No. 5. She arrived at the yard on 15 February after a kamikaze hit; the battleship USS Alabama (BB-60). She entered drydock on 18 January 1945, and she remained there until 25 February. Shipyard work continued until 17 March 1945; the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26). She arrived in January 1945 for an overhaul; an Essex-class carrier in the drydock, probably USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), which was under repair at the yard from 15 February to 20 April 1945 following a kamikaze hit; the escort carrier USS Commencement Bay (CVE-105) is visible on the right. She arrived at Bremerton on 1 February 1945 for duty as a training ship in Puget Sound until 2 October 1945. U.S. National Archives 6036989.

Always Work To Be Done: If it is not scrubbing the deck down in the summer, it's cleaning off the snow in the winter, so there are few idle moments aboard a battleship. Frozen salt spray on the turrets glistens in the morning light as the men attack the snow and ice with vigor. U.S. Navy photo GS-I-6-40461.

Forty Winks – U.S. sailors aboard a U.S. Battleship grab 40 winks of sleep during their off watch below. Note the bucket helmets and "mae west" hanging on the bed ready for instant use should General Quarters sound. U.S. Navy GS-BD-14-40459.

Getting the Range: The captain of a gun crew on a U.S. battleship looks through the periscope to get a true bearing on the target. U.S. Navy photo GE-GC-15-40466.

Looking Into The Breech: This gunner on a U.S. battleship looks through the breech-block of one of the big 16-inch guns. His left elbow rests on the "mushroom" of the gun, which he keeps clean by rubbing it with the towel wrapped around his arm. U.S. Navy photo GE-GC-17-40468.

Air Defense Officer: On the top-most platform of a battleship, known as the Sky Lookout, a U.S. Navy Officer, Lieutenant Commander, directs the fire of the 40mm & 20mm anti-aircraft guns. He must coordinate the defense fire against attacking enemy planes coming in from several directions simultaneously. U.S. Navy photo T-COM-4-40460.

Steering: A second class seamen takes his turn at the steering wheel of a U.S. Battleship while a first class seamen and chief petty officer watch their gauges. U.S. Navy photo GS-BS-25-40462.

Cold Watch: Blobs of snow falling from a leaden sky have distorted the superstructure of this new U.S. battleship and crusted the barrels of its giant 16-inch rifles. It's a cold watch for the sailor at right. U.S. Navy photo GS-I-7-40465.

Lethal Load: This clip of 40mm shells, carried by the gun crew chief on a U.S. battleship, is ready to be loaded into a Bofors anti-aircraft gun. U.S. Navy photo GE-GC-16-40467.

Call to Battle Stations: A bosun's mate on a U.S. battleship pipes the crew to attention over the loudspeaker system, just before General Quarters is sounded. U.S. Navy photo NA-COM-2-40474.

Seagoing Typewriter Strategists: Quartered in the Admiral's cabin aboard a new U.S. battleship, these four representatives of the nation's great news agencies had a first-hand opportunity to cover the Navy in its own element. Left to right; Sandor S. Klein, United Press; William Pickens, Transradio Press Service; Hamilton Faron, Associated Press, and Joseph Bors, International News Service. These Washington correspondents, assigned to cover the Navy Department, spent several weeks afloat during battle maneuvers to observe the effectiveness of modern "floating fortresses." U.S. Navy photo NA-HIS-10-40475.

A Mighty Ship on a Mighty Ocean: Partially shrouded by fighting spray, a new U.S. battleship steams steadily ahead through cold, heavy seas. Sixteen-inch rifles jut out from the two forward turrets while dual-purposes batteries point skyward from amidships. Date 14 February 1943. U.S. Navy photo GS-RS-52-40464.

Man Overboard: Plunged into icy water when he tumbled off the deck of a U.S. battleship, this sailor was saved by a line and life preserver quickly thrown to him. He's holding on for dear life as his mates work swiftly to get him back aboard. U.S. Navy photo NA-RES-24-40463.

The battleships South Dakota (BB-57), Alabama (BB-60) and North Carolina (BB-55) as seen from the Essex class carrier Intrepid (CV-11) on 25 January, 1944. U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Navy ships at Seattle, Washington (USA), on 9 January 1947. Three aircraft carriers are at Pier 91, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and USS Essex (CV-9). USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) is at Pier 92. The battleships USS Indiana (BB-58) and USS Alabama (BB-60) are moored opposite of the Ticonderoga. U.S. Navy 80-G-373247.

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1D intended for the battleship Massachusetts (BB-59), circa 1943. This camouflage design was not actually used on Massachusetts or any other ship of her class. U.S. Navy photo; U.S. National Archives 80-G-157914.

Wyoming Class Battleship USS Arkansas pictured under refit at Boston Navy Yard in October 1944.

USS Nevada bombarding Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945. A North Carolina class battleship (probably USS Washington, BB-56) is in the left distance.

The U.S. Navy battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59) seen from the after deck of USS Alabama (BB-60), in Casco Bay, Maine, January 1943. The muzzles of Alabama´s after 40.6 cm/45 guns are in the foreground.

Soundings: Despite all the modern scientific inventions, sailors still use a hand lead on a new U.S. Battleship to measure the depth of the water as the big floating fortress heads cautiously into port. Fathoms are called out to the man with the headset who in turn relays the measurement to the bridge over the intercommunication system. U.S. Navy photo GS-DS-41-40441.

"E"for Excellent: While members of the gun crew cluster around, a sailor paints a big "E"on one of the forward turrets of a U.S. battleship. The coveted "E"denotes an excellent performance. U.S. Navy photo NA-INS-68-40446.

Battle Practice: Dual purpose 5"/38 emit a dense cloud of white smoke which hangs momentarily over the muzzles during practice firing on a U.S. Battleship. These fast-firing cannon send their shells high in the air to explode and scatter fragments over a large area. U.S. Navy photo GE-GF-25-40442.

Symbols of Right: The only pennant to fly above Old Glory is the Church pennant which is two-blocked over the National Ensign during Church services aboard ship. Here the two ripple lazily in the breeze high above the deck of a U.S. battleship. U.S. Navy photo NA-FP-33-40444.

The USS Kentucky was considered for a number of conversions including an anti-aircraft battleship and a guided missile battleship. She was finally declared surplus and struck from the Navy List on 9 June 1958. She is docking here at Norfolk Navy Yard on 16 July 1958 for removal of her engines prior to scrapping. The upper portion of her bow is forward of No. 1 barbette and the undamaged portion of the Wisconsin's (BB-64) bow is just aft. Note the gunhouses for her entire secondary battery stored on her deck.

New Mexico class battleship USS Idaho, 1943: she was fortunate in not being at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, but as a result was not as extensively modernized as those ships requiring significant repair. She served throughout the Pacific campaign, mainly in shore bombardment roles.

A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-16 flies an antisubmarine patrol low over the battleship USS Washington (BB-56) en route to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, 12 November 1943. The ship in the background is USS Lexington (CV-16), the aircraft's home carrier. Note the depth charge below the SBD.

Aerial view of Battleship Row, Pearl Harbor, during the Japanese attack, December 7, 1941.

Both U.S. Navy servicemen and projectiles line the deck of the battleship USS New Mexico just prior to the invasion of Guam in July 1944.

The U.S. Navy battleship USS Washington (BB-56) and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) transiting the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic, early in October 1945. They were then en route to New York to participate in Navy Day celebrations. Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-6568 from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.

Aerial view of the U.S. Navy Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts. In the left foreground is the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61), which had entered dry dock after a grounding on 16 July 1943. In the right foreground is the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, either USS Baltimore (CA-68) or USS Boston (CA-69). Five Benson/Gleaves-class destroyers are visible (one in the floating dry dock), a single Fletcher-class destroyer (dark camouflage) and the Free French destroyer Le Fantasque. On the opposite side of the pier with the floating dry dock at the top of the picture is the troop transport USS Wakefield (AP-21).

Smoke pouring from the sinking battleship California and the capsized Oklahoma in right background, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941.

The scene aboard the battleship Missouri as the Japanese surrender documents were signed in Tokyo Bay, on September 2, 1945. Here, General Yoshijiro Umezu signs the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Armed Forces of Japan, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu (behind him, in top hat) had earlier signed on behalf of the government. Both men were later tried and convicted of war crimes. Umezu died while in prison, Shigemitsu was paroled in 1950, and served in the Japanese government until his death in 1957.

The battered remains of the battleship Arizona lies in the mud of Pearl Harbor, December 1941.

“The Third Fleet at sea is scarcely ever visible in its entirety to a single observer, either on the surface or in the air. What one sees is the aspect of some of the other ships in one’s own task group. Occasionally, the whole fleet will rendezvous at a prearranged site and then one can see lines of ships disappearing over the horizon in all directions. However, while steaming back and forth some 300 miles southeast of Honshu during the twelve days between 15 August 1945 and the 27th (when the fleet entered Japanese waters) the most impressive sight to this observer was the confident form of the battleship Iowa (BB-61).” Destination Tokyo Bay by Standish Backus, #1 Watercolor on paper, 1945.

In a flooded dry dock in Pearl Harbor, the destroyer Cassin lies partly submerged and leaning against the destroyer Downes. The battleship Pennsylvania in the background remained relatively undamaged after the Japanese attack, December 1941.

Okinawa Invasion April 1945. A wave of LVTs moves past the bombardment line, bound for the beach, 1 April 1945. An Idaho class battleship is firing in the background.

The Iowa (BB-61) and Indiana (BB-58) (background) underway, possibly during the Marshall Islands Campaign. This 1944 photo shows Iowa in her anti-submarine camouflage measure, applied in December or in early January 1944 with Navy Blue (5-N) and Light Grey (5-L) and Deck Blue (20-B) horizontal surfaces. Highly visible in this view are the fine forward hull lines for a higher speed than the preceding South Dakota-class battleships. Consequently her #1 turret had little depth for torpedo protection. Note the 20mm gallery atop #2 turret.

Six US Navy battleships firing broadsides during an exercise. The battle line consists of the battleships West Virginia (BB-48), Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46), Tennessee (BB-43), California BB-44) and New Mexico (BB-40).

USS Maryland in the 1930s, recognizable by the rangefinder placed atop heavy gun B turret. She was the first U.S. battleship to be armed with 16-inch guns.

Broadside view of Tennessee after her total reconstruction. Note that her appearance has completely changed. Her superstructure resembles the ships of the new South Dakota (II) class. Her lower speed excepted, the Tennessee could be classified as a modern battleship. Note the SK radar antenna on her foremast and the four Mk 37 fire control equipments carried for her 5-inch battery.

South Dakota Class (I): Artist’s impression of the battleships of the South Dakota (I) class (BB-49 through BB-54). Note the 6-inch L/53 casemate guns partly mounted on two deck levels. The artist was Rose Stokes.

Iowa Class: Camouflage Measure 32, Design 7A. Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for battleships of the BB-61 (Iowa) class. No ship is known to have worn this scheme.

Aerial photograph from 2500 feet altitude, looking southward, showing the U.S. Fleet moored in the harbor on 3 May 1940. This was soon after the conclusion of Fleet Problem XXI and four days before word was received that the Fleet was to be retained in Hawaiian waters. There are eight battleships and the carrier Yorktown (CV-5) tied up by Ford Island, in the center of the harbor. Two more battleships and many cruisers, destroyers and other Navy ships also present, most of them moored in groups in East Loch, in the foreground. A few of the destroyers are wearing experimental dark camouflage paint. In the distance, center, is Hickam Army Air Field. The Pearl Harbor entrance channel is in the right distance.

Camouflage Measure 32v11, Design 18D. Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for the battleship North Carolina (BB-55), circa 1943. This plan shows the ship’s port side, superstructure ends, and exposed decks. This design was not used on any ship of this class, though it has some (rather slight) similarities to those of the design applied to North Carolina in 1943.

On 29 January 1944, the battleship USS Missouri's sponsor, Margaret Truman, wielded a bottle of Missouri sparkling wine for the ship's christening, while her maid of honor, Jane Lingo (left), and her father, then-U.S. Senator Harry S. Truman, enjoyed the festivities.

Camouflage Measure 32v6, Design 10D. Drawing prepared circa 1943 by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for battleships of the BB-55 (North Carolina) class. This plan shows the ship’s starboard side, bow, stern, superstructure ends and exposed decks. This design was not used on any ship of this class.

USS North Carolina at sea in 1941 after her 9 April commissioning. (The first American fast battleship.)

The battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ship sank with more than 80 percent of its 1,500-man crew.

North Carolina photographed during her shakedown cruise, May 1941. The battleship is framed by an escorting destroyer's deck, 5-inch/38 gun barrel and a crewman. North Carolina photographed during her shakedown cruise, May 1941. The battleship is framed by an escorting destroyer's deck, 5-inch/38 gun barrel and a crewman.

The U.S. Navy’s first post World War I design battleship, North Carolina fitting out at New York Navy Yard in early 1941. The stern of the new destroyer Edison (DD-439) appears to the left and the old destroyer Reuben James (DD-245) appears on the right foreground. Note: Reuben James is in Measure 2 camouflage. The photo does not do much to show the true nature of the camouflage.

Battleship Row after Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor, 1941.

Iowa class battleship refueling from tanker.

Battleship USS Mississippi BB-41.

One of our Navy’s mighty Iowa-class battleships, the Missouri, is shown as her sixteen-inch guns fire in salvo from the forward turret. At the upper right six projectiles are shown in flight.

Pictured here is the New Mexico (BB-40) in the van with other battleships of the Pacific Fleet and a carrier air group, led by the Air Group Commander in a Curtiss SBC Helldiver, during exercises at sea, 1938 / 1939. The aircraft following are: A torpedo squadron of 18 Douglas TBD-1s; A bombing squadron of 18 Northrop BT-1s; A scouting squadron of 18 Curtiss SBCs; A fighting squadron of 18 Grumman F2F-1s or F3F-3s from either the Yorktown (CV-5) or F3F-2s from the Enterprise (CV-6), plus possibly nine additional aircraft. The Yorktown and Enterprise were the only two carriers whose bombing squadrons were equipped with the Northrop BT-1.

American battleships South Dakota and Alabama, and British battleship HMS Anson at sea, North Atlantic, 1943.

A Kingfisher aboard the portside catapult on the fantail of the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) during her work-ups in the Atlantic, August 1944. The crew appears to be conducting an abandon ship drill. Note the main float of the OS2U is painted Intermediate Blue while the wingtip floats are in Sea Blue.

Fo’c’sle of the Battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) in 1943 showing three chain stoppers on each of her anchor chains. The smaller chain to starboard is for rigging paravanes for minesweeping.

The U.S. Navy battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) leading USS Colorado (BB-45) and the cruisers USS Louisville (CA-28), USS Portland (CA-33), and USS Columbia (CL-56) into Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, in January 1945.

Olaf Mandt Hustvedt was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 23 June 1886 to Norwegian immigrant parents. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1909. His first tour of duty was aboard the armored cruiser West Virginia (ACR-5), in which he cruised from the United States West Coast to many ports in East Asia. He then attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., from which he received a Master of Science degree in 1914. In 1914, Hustvedt reported for duty aboard the battleship Utah (BB-31). In 1916, he became a member of the staff of Commander, Battleship Division 6. During World War I, Hustvedt served aboard the battleship New York (BB-34) before transferring in 1918 to the battleship Oklahoma (BB-37) as Oklahoma's gunnery officer. Both battleships saw service in European waters during the war, with New York operating with other American battleships of Battleship Division 9 as the 6th Battle Squadron of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and with Oklahoma seeing service escorting Allied convoys. Hustvedt was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1921, when he became commanding officer of the light minelayer Burns (DM-11). He was assigned to the battleship Colorado (BB-45) in 1927, and then transferred in 1928 to the battleship California (BB-44) as the gunnery officer of a battleship division of the Battle Fleet. In 1933, Hustvedt was promoted to commander and became executive officer of the heavy cruiser Louisville (CA-28). In 1938 he was promoted to captain and took command of the light cruiser Detroit (CL-8). In 1939 he joined the staff of the Commander, Battle Force, United States Fleet, Admiral James O. Richardson, serving aboard Richardson's flagship, the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38), as Richardson's operations officer before reporting to the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, to oversee the fitting out of the new battleship North Carolina (BB-55). He became North Carolina's first commanding officer upon her commissioning on 9 April 1941. On 23 October 1941, Hustvedt became chief of staff for the Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, Admiral Ernest J. King. (US Navy photo)

Captain Wilder Dupuy Baker was the commanding officer of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) from 5 December 1942 to 27 May 1943. Early in the Second World War he helped create the Antisubmarine Warfare Operational Research Group (ASWORG). He commanded cruiser-destroyer forces in the Aleutians and amphibious forces in the invasion of Saipan. He later was chief of staff of Task Force 38 under McCain. Together with Captain "Jimmy" Thach, McCain's operations officer, they devised tactics for using picket destroyers with combat air patrols to defend against kamikaze attacks. (US Navy photo)

West Virginia (BB-48) prepares to leave Pearl Harbor on 30 April 1943, en route to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, for reconstruction. The Pearl Harbor Navy Yard had just finished temporary repair of the damage she had received in the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. The battleship in the left background is North Carolina (BB-55). (Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-K-572, now in the collections of the National Archives)

North Carolina: A Kingfisher float plane prepares for launch to port after the battleship has steadied on a course after a right turn. Photographed during her military trials 22-31 August, 1941. Note the escorting destroyer acting as a plane guard. (US Navy photo)

Four Battleships of Task Group 58.7 in the fleet anchorage at Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands. It was taken on the 7/8/44. TG 58.7 had returned to Majuro on 27 June 1944, after taking part in operations in the Philippine Sea and bombarding Saipan and Tinian. The four Battleships are identifiable by their paint schemes: New Jersey (BB-62) and Iowa (BB-61) in the foreground, and Washington (BB-56) and North Carolina (BB-55) further back, surrounded by destroyers and other ships. The resolution of the photo is not that great, but the photo is of interest due to the number of Battleships in one frame. (US Navy photo)

Captain Frank George Fahrion was the commanding officer of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) from 6 September 1944 to 26 January 1945. (Photo from the Naval Historical Foundation)

Battleship New Mexico (BB-40) being brought into Boston Navy Yard on 17 October 1945. The North Carolina (BB-55) anchored there also, and after overhaul at New York exercised in New England waters and carried Naval Academy midshipmen for a summer training cruise in the Caribbean. (Photo 08_06_022495 courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

USN destroyer carrying Japanese envoys pulled up alongside the battleship USS Missouri for the official signing of the unconditional surrender of Japan held in Tokyo Bay, Japan on September 2, 1945.

Rush plans for new U.S. Battleships. Washington, D.C., 23 June 1937. Scene in Construction and Repair Division of the U.S. Navy Department where plans for the two new 35,000 ton battleships are being rushed to completion. Work on the ships will get underway in four to six months, Charles Edison, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, announced. One will be built at the New York Navy Yard and the other at Philadelphia.

New battleship design board. Washington, D.C., 8 October 1937. A special advisory board on battleship plans, which was recently named by Secretary of the Navy Swanson, held their initial meeting at the Navy Department today. The board will be charged with obtaining for the Navy Department the advice of outstanding experts in the principal fields of Naval construction to use in completing the designs of the two new battleships of the North Carolina class (BB-55 / 56) In the photograph, left to right, (sitting): W.F. Gibbs, President of Gibbs and Cox, Inc.; Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison; and Admiral Joseph Strauss, U.S.N. Standing, left to right: John F. Metton, President, N.Y. Shipbuilding Corp.; Joseph W. Powell, United Shipyards Inc.; and Professor William Hovgaard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Aboard the mighty battleship North Carolina (BB-55) at sea, signalmen are seen hoisting and stowing signal flags in the "Flag Bag". One of the giant searchlights is also shown in the photograph. Photo possibly taken during her military trials 22 - 31 August 1941. (USN photo)

North Carolina: Changing times with more of a bang. During World War I a few U.S. battleships were initially equipped with four anti-aircraft guns! February 1942 at New York.

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32v11, Design 18D intended for the battleship North Carolina (BB-55), circa 1943. This plan shows the ship's port side, superstructure ends, and exposed decks. (Official USN photo 80-G-157057, now in the collections of the National Archives)

Our mightiest ship has trough going at sea. This is how North Carolina (BB-55) appeared to the photographer who made this photograph while he was being transferred from a destroyer to the battleship. Photograph received 1950. (Official USN photograph 80-G-456506 now in the collections of the National Archives, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy)

Dated 11 October 1945 "North Carolina (BB-55) Task Force 11 transiting the Panama Canal on return from Pacific combat operations." The tight fit of the Canal's locks are evident here and this width limited the beam of United States battleships on 'all' classes, except the proposed, but never built, Montana class (BB-67 / 71) of 1940. Note the shadow of the PBY that probably took this photo. (USN photo CS 16899)

September 2, 1945: F4U and F6F fighter planes are flying in formation over the USS Missouri, while the surrender ceremonies to end World War II take place aboard the U.S. Navy battleship.

Opening the Attack. Painting, Watercolor on Paper; by Dwight C. Shepler; 1944. D-Day morning broke over the Normandy coast to find the elderly battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33), conscientiously banging away at the beachhead with her main battery guns. To seaward the French Cruisers “George Leygues” and “Montcalm”, flying extremely large battle flags, sent explosive shells to their captive homeland. Assault waves of landing craft streamed toward the beaches while attack transports filled the horizon. This was the way the “Arkie" was seen through binoculars from the bridge of the USS Emmons (DD-457) at a bombardment station farther inshore. Naval History & Heritage Command 88-199-EW.

A guest studies a painting depicting the history of battleships. The artwork was painted by George Skybeck and presented to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association during their annual banquet at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 8 December 1991. (USN photo DN-SC-92-05391, by PHC Carolyn Harris, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil)

Post-war view of USS New Jersey while anchored in Tokyo Bay. The Japanese battleship Nagato can be seen in the right background in this image, 30 December 1945.

18 April 1941: British ambassador inspects new battleship, North Carolina. (AP Wire photo)

North Carolina: View looking aft from the battleship's bow, showing her forward superstructure and 16"/45 guns. Photographed during her military trials 22-31 August 1941. Note Measure 12 camouflage paint, CXAM-1 radar antenna, anchor chains and deck planking. (Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-13971)

Navy opens bids for battle wagons. Washington, D.C., 2 November 1938. The Navy opened bids today on construction of three 35,000 ton battleships today, all bids specified that the dreadnaughts be completed within 52 months. The guns, armor plate, and other accessories to be furnished by the Government cost an estimated 15,000,000 dollars per ship. The ships are the first of that size to be built in 15 years. Seated, left, Admiral William Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations, and Sec. of the Navy Claude Swanson, right. Standing, left, Rear Admiral William G. Du Bose, Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair and, right, Rear Admiral Charles Conard, Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.

Battleships of the US Pacific Fleet following Ticonderoga (CV-14) [out of photo ahead of the Washington (BB-56)] entering Ulithi Atoll on 12 December 1944. Washington, North Carolina (BB-55), and South Dakota (BB-57) are in line ahead formation. Note that three camouflage schemes are shown; Measure 22 (Washington ), Measure 32/18d (North Carolina ) and Measure 21 (South Dakota ). None of these can be 12 December. These ships (TG 38.3) departed Ulithi on 11 December. This TG entered Ulithi together on 2 and 24 December. These are likely 24 December 1944 when they're conducting numerous maneuvers and firing exercises while entering Ulithi. Slight chance 2 December but if Oakland (CL-95) is in the picture, she didn't enter with the others on 2 December. One thing for certain, these are not the 11th like the caption on Naval History & Heritage Command states. Many open discussions on forums discussing the merits of both dates. (Naval Historical Photo 80-G-301950)

A port quarter view of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) on 9 October 1988. (USN photo DN-ST-89-00322, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil)

A port bow view of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55) on 9 October 1988. (USN photo DN-ST-89-00321, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil)

Battleship Design Study, BB-65 - Scheme 3. Preliminary design plan prepared for the General Board as part of the process leading to the Montana class (BB-67 / 71) battleship design. This plan, dated 6 February 1940, is for a ship of 52,500 tons standard displacement and 64,500 ton trial displacement, with a main battery of twelve 16"/50 guns, a secondary battery of twenty 5"/38 guns and a 130,000 horsepower powerplant for a speed of 28 knots. Ship's dimensions are: waterline length 860'; waterline beam 114'; draft 36'. Scale of the original drawing is 1/32" = 1'. Port side 5" gun arrangement is labeled "previous secondary battery arrangement". Starboard side has a "proposed secondary battery arrangement."

Montana class (BB-67/71) model. Large official model of this abortive class of battleship, photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 7 October 1944. Construction of the five ships of the class had been cancelled in July 1943.

An artist's impression of the Montana class battleships (BB-67 thru BB-71) showing their likely appearance had they been completed before the end of the war. These ships were cancelled on 21 July 1943.

Battleship Design Study, BB-65 - Scheme 4. Preliminary design plan prepared for the General Board as part of the process leading to the Montana class (BB-67 / 71) battleship design. This plan, dated 14 February 1940, is for a ship of 54,500 tons standard displacement and 64,500 tons trial displacement, with a main battery of twelve 16"/50 guns, a secondary battery of twenty 5"/54 guns and a 150,000 horsepower powerplant for a speed of 28 knots. Ship's dimensions are: waterline length 870'; waterline beam 114'; draft 36'. Scale of the original drawing is 1/32" = 1'. Port side 5" gun arrangement is labeled "previous secondary battery arrangement". Starboard side has a "proposed secondary battery arrangement.

Montana class (BB-67/71) battleship model photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. It represents the ship with details somewhat changed from the preliminary design. Note rough finish of this model.

Battleship Study, BB 65 - Scheme 1 and BB 61-64 (Inclusive). Preliminary design plan prepared for the General Board comparing the outboard profile (including superstructure) of the Iowa class (BB-61 / 66) battleships with the hull profile of the Montana class (BB-67 / 71). This plan is dated 9 July 1940 and shows the Iowa class (BB-61 / 66) outboard profile in solid lines and the hull of the in Montana class (BB-67 / 71) dashed lines. At the time, the Montana class (BB-67 / 71) was planned to begin with hull number BB-65, rather than BB-67 as it became after two more Iowa's were ordered as BB-65 and BB-66. Scale of the original drawings is 1/32" = 1'.

Battleship Design Study, BB-65 - Scheme 8. Preliminary design plan prepared for the General Board as part of the process leading to the Montana class (BB-67 / 71) battleship design. This plan, dated 15 March 1940, is for a ship of 70,000 tons standard displacement and 82,000 ton trial displacement, with a main battery of twelve 16"/50 guns, a secondary battery of twenty 5"/54 guns and a 320,000 horsepower powerplant for a speed of 33 knots. Ship's dimensions are: waterline length 1050'; waterline beam 120'; draft 35'. Scale of the original drawing is 1/32" = 1'. Port side 5" gun arrangement is labeled "previous secondary battery arrangement". Starboard side has a "proposed secondary battery arrangement."

Montana class battleship.

South Dakota class battleship (BB 49-54). This class was a victim of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, by F. Muller.

Diagram of U.S. battleship 16-inch gun turret.

USS Oklahoma.

USS Idaho (BB-42) (foreground) and USS Texas (BB-35) steaming at the rear of the battle line, during Battle Fleet practice off the California coast, circa 1930

Colorado-class battleship USS West Virginia, 1944.

USS New Mexico (BB-40) was a battleship in service with the United States Navy from 1918 to 1946.

USS Mississippi in the Mississippi River, 16 Oct 1945. (Photo SC 215864)

USS Arizona (BB-39), 1940.

USS Tennessee after reconstruction, 1943.

USS Tennessee firing on Japanese fortifications at Okinawa, April 1945.

USS Washington, departing Philadelphia Navy Yard for shakedown, May 29, 1941.

USS West Virginia, BB-48, July 1944.

Pre-war appearance of West Virginia, August 1935. Note the open-mounted 5-inch L/51 gun and the minesweeping gear abreast her B turret, also the awning stanchions and stretchers, and the bow anchor.

West Virginia after her total reconstruction. She was the only ship of this class reconstructed to the design of the earlier Tennessee class. Her camouflage painting is in accordance with Measure 32. She is equipped with a SK antenna.

USS West Virginia, October 1944, as rebuilt, rejoining the fleet off the Philippines.

Wisconsin in her two-color paint scheme towards the end of the war. The ship's name on the stern transom has been painted over. Note the two 40mm anti-aircraft mounts on the sponsons on either side of the aircraft handling crane. The SK radar antenna is carried on her foremast, the SC-2 and SG antennas are installed on her aft pole mast.

Wisconsin, September 1944.

20mm gun crew, Wisconsin, 1945.

Wisconsin entering the Golden Gate, San Francisco, California, September 1945 after the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on 2 September. Note the World War II homeward-bound pennant.

USS Wisconsin off Okinawa, 1945.

Wisconsin alongside the hulk of the Oklahoma (BB-37) at Pearl Harbor, 11 November 1944.

South Dakota under construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 1 April 1940. This view, taken looking forward from Frame #115, shows the ship's interior amidships, including six major watertight transverse bulkheads and anti-torpedo longitudinal bulkheads along the sides. Note the inward slope of the side bulkheads, corresponding to the slope of the battleship's side armor.

Hull test model for the BB-57 (South Dakota) class battleships. Hull model number 3536, photographed at the Experimental Model Basin, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., in 1938. Note the widely spaced skegs, supporting the outboard propeller shafts, that were a unique feature of this battleship class.

South Dakota underway in the Atlantic during her shakedown period, July 1942.

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942: South Dakota firing her anti-aircraft guns at attacking Japanese planes during the action, 26 October 1942. A Japanese Type 97 Shipboard Attack Aircraft ("Kate") is at right, apparently leaving the area after having dropped its torpedo.

Guadalcanal Campaign, 1942-43: South Dakota and two destroyers alongside Prometheus (AR-3) for repairs, probably at Noumea, New Caledonia, in November 1942. The inboard destroyer, with the distorted bow, is probably Mahan (DD-364), which was damaged in a collision with South Dakota at the close of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 27 October 1942. South Dakota received damage in both that battle and in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 15 November 1942. The other destroyer may be Lamson (DD-367).

The memorial service, 18 November 1942, on the fantail of South Dakota honoring the 40 crewmen killed during the 14-15 November Battle of Savo Island off Guadalcanal.

South Dakota anchored in the Hvalfjordur area, Iceland, 24 June 1943.

South Dakota escorted by a destroyer, 9 August 1943. The 40mm anti-aircraft guns in quadruple mounts have replaced the missing 5-inch L/38 anti-aircraft guns in twin mounts on either side. Note the SRa antennas atop her citadel and the Mk 38 rangefinder as well as the SC-2 radar screen on her foremast and the SG aft mast. The quadruple mounted 40mm anti-aircraft guns are covered. Note the arrangement of the three forward 40mm anti-aircraft gun stations which is characteristic of this ship only. She is painted in accordance with Measure 21.

South Dakota off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 20 August 1943.

South Dakota, circa 1944 painted in navy blue. Her SRa antennas had been removed and a SK antenna was installed on her foremast instead.

Bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, 14 July 1945: South Dakota fires her forward 16-inch/45 guns at Kamaishi targets during the bombardment.

Crewmen haul down the National Ensign as the South Dakota is decommissioned, at the Philadelphia Naval Base, Pennsylvania, 31 January 1947.

Huntington (CL-107), Dayton (CL-105) and South Dakota (listed from left to right). Laid up in reserve at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, 24 August 1961.

South Dakota after being stricken, is towed away from the Philadelphia Navy Yard to the breakers in November 1962.

South Dakota being scrapped, possibly in 1963, after being stricken from the naval list on 1 June 1962.

USS South Dakota in Puget Sound, Washington, United States, 21 August 1944.

USS North Carolina, BB-55.

USS New York at Pearl Harbor.

USS New Jersey, December 30, 1945.

A model of the Montana class showing general appearance only. Note the unique and rather strange shape of the radar antenna, the four 16-inch gun turrets, and the single catapult to starboard. The midships section resembles that of the Iowa class.

New Hampshire, starboard broadside view of the ship model photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. Ships planned for construction to this design were: Montana (BB-67), Ohio (BB-68), Maine (BB-69), New Hampshire (BB-70), Louisiana (BB-71).

USS Missouri, BB-63, Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945.

Missouri in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, resplendent in a spectacular camouflage system.

Missouri riding high at anchor off New York Naval Shipyard one month after her commissioning, July 1944. She is already camouflaged according to Measure 12. When commissioned she was equipped with the SK-2 radar antenna seen on her foremast. Note the aircraft handling crane in its lowered position.

Missouri, 28 September 1944.

A model of the Missouri. This instructive photograph allows a comparison with the New Jersey's detailed view showing the latter's forward funnel/bridge section. The Missouri carries the SK-2 antenna on her mast. The Mk 38 rangefinder is still linked with the older Mk 8 fire control radar whereas the Mk 37 control gear is equipped with a Mk 22/12 fire control radar. There are visual target finders for the 40mm anti-aircraft guns, the 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft gun stations, and a ladder attached to the funnel.

Missouri, right, transferring men to Iowa while en route to the landings in Japan, August 1945.

Missouri with all hands on deck celebrating the fourth anniversary of Japan's surrender, which was signed aboard this ship. Note the wide base of her citadel and the 40mm anti-aircraft gun station atop B turret. Four life rafts are attached to either side of the turret. Each of the 16-inch gun turrets is equipped with its own rangefinder.

Missouri mothballed at Bremerton, Washington. Note the large-sized pennant number and the funnel caps painted gray. The dome-shaped coverings of the 40mm anti-aircraft gun stations show that the guns have been mothballed too. All of her electronics equipment, however, was removed beforehand. The bridge windows are closed by blinds. Of all the battleships of this class the Missouri was paid off only once.

Missouri anchored in port during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. A K-type blimp is overhead.

Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, American servicemen watch high-ranking Japanese and American officials sign the former's instrument of surrender, which finally brought the hostilities of World War II to an end.

USS Missouri in the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 13 October 1945.

USS Missouri (left) and USS Iowa (right) off Japan, 20 August 1945.

USS Mississippi, BB-41, Puget Sound Navy Yard, March 8, 1940.

USS Massachusetts, BB-59.

USS Maryland, BB-46.

USS Maryland, BB-46, during construction.

USS Maryland at Pearl Harbor, July 10, 1944, after being struck by a Japanese aerial torpedo at Saipan.

USS Maryland at Puget Sound, August 5, 1945.

Iowa two months after her commissioning anchoring off the New York Naval Shipyard, April 1943. She already carries an SK radar antenna on her foremast. The 40mm anti-aircraft guns are covered.

Iowa, 12 April 1943, as completed.

Iowa with all her anti-aircraft gun barrels elevated, November 1943. Her camouflage paint follows Measure 22. Her raised fantail deck does not run parallel to the water line and is therefore painted haze gray instead of navy blue.