USS Massachusetts BB 59

American battleship built in 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, MA. Her dimensions are 207,57x32,96x8,92(d) m [681'0x108'15x29'25(d)] and displacement 35000 tons.
Designed Complement: Officers: 115; Enlisted men: 1678
Armament:
   Main:          9 × 16"/45
   Secondary:     20 × 5"/38
                  35 × 20 mm
                  6 × quad 40 mm.
   Torpedo Tubes: None
Catapults: 2 aft
Armour: Max. thickness: 18"
Designed Speed: 27
Designed Shaft Horsepower: 130.000
Engines: Manufacturer: General Electric
         Type: Turbine
Boilers: Manufacturer: BW 
         No.: 8
Fuel (oil): Tons: 6950 
Drive: TRD
1934 March 27
Authorized.
1939 July 20
Keel laid.
1942 May 12
Commissioned with Capt. F. E. M. Whiting commanding.
1942 November 8
Participated in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.
1943 November
Participated in the Invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
1944 September
Participated in the Invasion of Palau.
1962
Struck from the Navy Register.
1967
Transferred to USS Massachusetts Memorial Commission and presently serves as a museum ship at Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA.
See also the brief history from the Big Mamie WWW-server.

Select Bibliography:

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IV. US Navy Dept., 1969.

Updated 1995-10-08 by Lars Bruzelius


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Copyright © 1996 Lars Bruzelius.