USS Arizona

The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a powerful battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. It was named after the 48th state and was one of the last battleships of its kind. After being launched in 1916, the ship stayed in the United States during World War I but later escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Arizona took part in many training exercises and helped after a big earthquake near Long Beach, California. It even appeared in a movie starring James Cagney called Here Comes the Navy. By 1940, the ship's home port moved to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

On 7 December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The Arizona was hit by several bombs, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship and took the lives of many crew members. The ship was never repaired and remains at the bottom of the harbor. Today, the USS Arizona Memorial stands above the wreck to honor all who died during that attack.

Description

The Pennsylvania-class ships were larger than earlier ships. Arizona was 608 feet long and had a wide beam of 97 feet. She could hold many crew members.

Arizona had powerful steam engines and could travel fast. She carried big guns for fighting and smaller guns to defend against fast boats. Her armor was thick to protect important parts of the ship.

Construction and trials

The keel of the battleship BB-39 was laid on March 16, 1914, with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Delano Roosevelt present. The ship was launched on June 19, 1915, about fifteen months after the keel was laid. It was named after the newest state in the union by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.

The launch was attended by around 75,000 people, including the mayor of New York City, the governor of Arizona, and many high-ranking military officials. Esther Ross, the daughter of W. W. Ross of Prescott, Arizona, officially launched the ship by breaking two bottles — one with sparkling wine and the other with water from the Roosevelt Dam — over its bow. After the launch, Arizona was taken to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for final preparations.

Arizona was officially put into service on October 17, 1916, with Captain John McDonald in command. The ship left New York on November 10, 1916, after cleaning and testing. During a test cruise near Guantanamo Bay, a problem with a turbine forced the ship to return to New York for repairs. The crew tested the ship's guns in Chesapeake Bay before the repairs were completed.

World War I

Arizona left the shipyard on April 3, 1917, just three days after the United States joined the war against Germany. She was used mainly for training sailors who were on merchant ships crossing the Atlantic in groups called convoys. During this time, some of her guns were taken off to help protect those merchant ships.

Because of the danger from enemy submarines called U-boats, Arizona stayed close to home most of the time. She only went out to sea with other battleships and escort ships for safety. After the war ended on November 11, 1918, Arizona traveled to France. There, she helped escort President Woodrow Wilson on his way to the Paris Peace Conference. After the conference, Arizona returned to New York, where she was greeted with parades and celebrations. She even fired guns in honor of a navy leader, Secretary Daniels, and was open for people to visit for several weeks.

Post-war and the 1920s

The Arizona sailed from New York to Guantanamo Bay for training and fleet exercises. In April, the crew won a rowing competition for the second year in a row. The ship later escorted President Wilson back to the United States from France. During this time, it also helped protect American citizens during a tense situation in Smyrna, Turkey.

After the crisis, the Arizona went to Constantinople and then returned home for an overhaul. In 1921, it sailed through the Panama Canal to meet the Pacific Fleet and practiced battle maneuvers near Peru. For the rest of the 1920s, the Arizona focused on regular training exercises and fleet problems, which were practice battles to prepare the navy for real situations. These exercises took place in different areas, including the Caribbean, Central America, the West Indies, and Hawaii. In 1923, the ship joined a naval review for President Warren G. Harding in Seattle.

Modernization

After Fleet Problem IX in January 1929, the USS Arizona was updated at the Norfolk Navy Yard. It got new masts and taller positions for its guns, plus more anti-aircraft guns for safety. The ship’s crew grew larger during this time. Changes also included better protection against attacks and new engines for more power. These updates helped the Arizona stay strong and ready for future voyages.

1930s

On March 19, 1931, the USS Arizona welcomed President Herbert Hoover for a short trip to the Caribbean. The President visited Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. After returning on March 29, the Arizona tested her sea abilities at Rockland, Maine and later moved to the West Coast in August with her sister ship, the Pennsylvania. In February 1932, she took part in a big naval exercise where airplanes from a carrier successfully struck Pearl Harbor on February 7.

In early 1934, the Arizona was filmed for a movie called Here Comes the Navy starring James Cagney. In July of that year, the ship bumped into a fishing trawler, the Umatilla, near Cape Flattery. Sadly, two people on the trawler did not survive. An investigation followed, and the ship's captain faced consequences.

The Arizona continued to take part in naval exercises and visits to places like Balboa in 1936. She spent much of her time in port to save fuel due to budget limits. By 1937, new leaders took command of the ship and its division. In 1940, the United States Pacific Fleet, including the Arizona, stayed in Hawaiian waters based at Pearl Harbor. The ship underwent updates at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington from October 1940 to January 1941, getting new equipment like a foundation for a search radar.

Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh became the ship's leader in February 1941. In October 1941, during a foggy exercise, the Arizona was struck in the bow by the Oklahoma. This damage kept her in Hawaii for repairs instead of heading to Bremerton Navy Yard as planned. Her last activity before December 1941 was a night-firing exercise on December 4, after which she moored at quays along Ford Island. On December 6, the repair ship Vestal joined to help with small repairs.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Main article: Attack on Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, Japanese airplanes attacked ships at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The USS Arizona was one of the ships hit during this surprise attack. Bombs struck the ship, causing fires and damage.

One of the bombs hit near the ship's storage areas for explosives. This led to a huge explosion that broke the ship apart. The blast caused many fires that burned for days. Sadly, many crew members were lost in the attack. Some sailors were honored for their bravery during the difficult moments after the bombing.

Salvage and memorial

The USS Arizona was badly damaged and could not be used again. Parts of the ship were taken away, and some guns were moved to protect a nearby bay.

Today, the wreck of the Arizona serves as a memorial for those who were lost. A special building stands above the ship, listing the names of the crew members who were lost. The ship is cared for very carefully, and oil that still comes from the ship is monitored to protect the environment. Artifacts from the ship, like a bell and a gun, are displayed in places such as the University of Arizona and in Phoenix, Arizona.