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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