USS Massachusetts (BB-59)

The Massachusetts (BB-59) ( eng. USS Massachusetts (BB-59) ) is the third US battleship of the South Dakota type .

"Massachusetts"
USS Massachusetts (BB-59)
Battleship Massachusetts 1944
Service
USA
Named after
Ship class and type	Battleships like South Dakota or South Dakota
Organization	US Navy
Manufacturer	Bethlehem Shipbuilding ( Fore River Shipyard )
Construction started	July 20, 1939
Launched	September 23, 1941
Commissioned	May 12, 1942
Status	put into reserve on March 2, 1947, decommissioned June 1, 1962 , floating museum
Main characteristics
Displacement	35,760 tons dry 37,970 tons standard 39,284 t normal 44 500 t full
Length	207.36 m
Width	32.95 m
Draft	11.07 m at full displacement
Booking	main belt: 310 mm traverses: 287 mm deck: 38 + 127 + 8 mm GK towers: 184–457 mm barbet towers GK: 234-439 mm military cabin: 102-406 mm
Engines	8 water tube boilers 4 turbines of General Electric system
Power	135,000 hp
Mover	4 screws
Travel speed	27.8 knots maximum
Navigation range	17,000 miles at 15 knots
Crew	850 people
Armament
Artillery	3 × 3 406 mm / 45 Mk.VI
Flak	10 × 2 127 mm / 38 on different ships: 0—18 × 4 40 mm Mk.1 / 2 0—7 × 4 28 mm Mk.2 16—77 × 20 mm Mk.2 / 3/4 0—8 × 12.7 mm M2 BMG
Aviation Group	2-3 OS2U seaplanes

The Massachusetts, known as the “Big Memi,” was a battleship built during World War II. "Massachusetts" - the seventh ship of the US Navy, named after the sixth state and one of the two battleships of the South Dakota class , turned into a ship - a museum. Massachusetts is known for having fired the last 16 shots with 406 mm projectiles during World War II. During the Second World War, Massachusetts originally entered the Atlantic Fleet, participated in Operation Torch, during which it exchanged shots with the French battleship Jean Bar . Turning to the Pacific Fleet in 1943, Massachusetts participated in the campaign in the Solomon Islands and in the Philippines, took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In 1945, Massachusetts, among several battleships, fired targets on the island of Honshu . After the end of World War II, returning to the United States, Massachusetts participated in exercises near the American coast and was re-transferred to the Atlantic fleet . The battleship Massachusetts was launched in reserve in 1947, and was stored in Norfolk , Va. , Until it was finally removed from the Register of Warships in 1962 .

To save the battleship from disposal, the citizens of Massachusetts raised funds to transfer the battleship to the Massachusetts Memorial Committee, and in 1965 the navy handed the battleship to the committee. “Massachusetts” was towed to the Bay of Battleship, in the city of Fall River , Massachusetts . On August 14, 1965, the battleship was opened to the public as a ship-museum.

Battleship Massachusetts (BB-59) December 5, 1942 in Boston Bay