USS Arizona (BB-39)

The USS Arizona was in service as early as 1914 and saw action alongside British friendlies in World War 1. The battleship was one of the most powerful of its type when launched in 1915 and, along with her sister ship USS Pennsylvania, formed the core of American battleship prowess in the Pacific and the Atlantic. The USS Arizona is oft-remembered as the battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor by Japanese Navy aircraft, to which the lives of over 1,100 crew were lost.

The Arizona provided a hefty offensive punch during her time with 12 x 14" main guns positioned in four turrets - three guns to a turret. Two turrets were positioned forward and another two aft. Additionally, 12 x 5" anti-aircraft guns were positioned about the ship along with 8 x 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns for close-in anti-aircraft defense. Two characteristic masts adorned her amidships and power was derived from 4 x shaft geared turbines delivering some 33,500shp and capable of 21 knots. A complement of 2,290 men operated her many systems and weapons.

After action in World War 1, the Arizona saw inter-war activity between the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, assisting in transporting American troops from Europe back to the United States. By the late 1920's, the vessel was modernized at Norfolk, Virginia and brought up to standards. From there, the Arizona was enlisted back into the Pacific Fleet which would end up becoming her operational assignment. On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Arizona was part of "Battleship Row" along with her sister ship. Imperial Japanese Navy forces made there way to the island in a surprise attack and took the Arizona out of the fight with than eight bombs and a torpedo. The most serious of these hits ignited the forward magazine which in turn exacerbated the fire and flooding already ongoing.

The Arizona lay in her moorings as damage teams tried to assist. Despite these valiant attempts the system was beyond help and the remaining crew still trapped aboard all perished in their mighty ship. Two of the Arizona's turrets were recovered, however, and put in place as coastal defense batteries allowing the Arizona a chance to still fight on at least in spirit.

The USS Arizona was later honored as a memorial to the entire Pearl Harbor attack and left to lay in her December 7th position. A distinct concrete installation was erected over her amidships where one of her turret rings can still be seen protruding from the water. As a stark remembrance to the event, a slow trickle of oil can still be seen escaping from her fuel tanks to this day. The ship can still be seen through the crystal waters of Hawaii and visitors are ferried aboard the memorial in what may well be one of the quietest places on earth. In any case, the USS Arizona became the symbol of the surprise attack on America, an attack that forged a nation into action to revenge the act in turn. The mighty USS Arizona will forever be remembered as the ship that died on December 7th, 1941 - yet one cannot forget the mighty battleship that represented the power of the United States Navy on the high seas for decades.

The US Arizona was ordered in 1913, laid down in 1914, launched in 1915 and officially commissioned in 1917 with a displacement of 32,567 at full load. She underwent modernization in 1929 at the Norfolk Navy Yard with work completed in February of 1931, now fielded with a displacement of 37,654 under a full load. She was then recommissioned in 1931. She was decommissioned in 1941 and her name was officially struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1942. Her memorial was authorized on May 16th, 1958.

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Last Updated: 10/29/2008 • Special Thanks to Jerry P.