USS Pennsylvania BB-38

(BB-38: dp. 31,400; l. 608'; b. 97'1"; dr. 28'10"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 915; a. 12 14", 14 5", 4 3", 4 3-pdrs., 2 21" tt.; cl. Pennsylvania)

The second Pennsylvania (BB-38) was laid down on October 27, 1913, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia; launched on March 16, 1915, sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Kolb; and commissioned on June 12, 1916, with Captain H. B. Wilson in command.

Pennsylvania was attached to the Atlantic Fleet. On October 12, 1916, she became the flagship of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, when Admiral Henry T. Mayo shifted his flag from Wyoming to Pennsylvania. In January 1917, Pennsylvania steamed for fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean and returned to her base at Yorktown, Virginia, on April 6, 1917, the day of the declaration of war against Germany. She did not sail to join the British Grand Fleet since she burned fuel oil, and tankers could not be spared to carry additional fuel to the British Isles. Based at Yorktown, she maintained battle readiness with fleet maneuvers and tactics in the Chesapeake Bay area, interspersed with overhauls at Norfolk and New York, and brief maneuvers in Long Island Sound.

While at Yorktown on August 11, 1917, Pennsylvania manned the rail and rendered honors as Mayflower, with President Wilson aboard, anchored. At 12:15 p.m., President Wilson returned the call of Commander, Battle Force, aboard Pennsylvania and was given full honors.

On December 2, 1918, Pennsylvania steamed to an anchorage off Tompkinsville, New York. On December 4, she got underway for Brest, France. At 11:00 a.m., transport George Washington, flying the flag of the President of the United States, set out with an escort of ten destroyers. Pennsylvania manned the rail and fired a 21-gun salute. She took position ahead of George Washington as the guide for the President's escort. Arriving in Brest on December 13, the crew manned the rail and cheered as George Washington passed and proceeded to her anchorage. On December 14, Pennsylvania departed for New York, arriving on December 25.

In February 1919, Pennsylvania steamed for fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea and returned to New York in late spring. While in New York on June 30, 1919, Admiral Mayo was relieved as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, by Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson.

At Tompkinsville, New York, on July 8, 1919, Pennsylvania embarked Vice President Marshall, Cabinet Secretaries Daniels, Glass, Wilson, Baker, Lane, and Senator Champ Clark, and then put to sea. At 10:00 a.m., Oklahoma was sighted with George Washington, flying the President's flag, and accompanied by her ocean escort. Pennsylvania fired a presidential salute, then took position ahead of Oklahoma and steamed to New York, stopping en route to disembark her distinguished guests before proceeding to her berth.

On January 7, 1920, she departed New York for fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea, returning to New York on April 26, 1920. She resumed a schedule of local training operations until January 17, 1921, when she departed New York for the Panama Canal, arriving at Balboa on January 20. There, she joined units of the Pacific Fleet and became the flagship of the combined fleets, with the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, assuming command of the U.S. Battle Fleet. On January 21, 1921, the fleet sailed from Balboa to Callao, Peru, arriving on January 31. Departing on February 2, Pennsylvania returned to Balboa on February 14, then conducted brief exercises while based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Upon returning to Hampton Roads on April 28, 1921, she rendered a 21-gun salute as she passed Mayflower. The Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Assistant Secretary of the Navy came aboard for a reception for President Harding. At 11:40 a.m., President Harding came aboard and his flag was broken at the main.

On August 22, 1922, Pennsylvania departed Hampton Roads to join the Pacific Fleet. Arriving in San Pedro, California, on September 26, 1922, her principal area of operations until 1929 was along the coast of California, Washington, and Oregon, with periodic maneuvers and tactics off the Panama Canal, in the Caribbean Sea, and Hawaiian operating areas. She departed with the fleet from San Francisco on April 15, 1925, and, after war games in the Hawaiian area, departed Honolulu on July 1 en route to Melbourne, Australia. After visiting Wellington, New Zealand, she returned to San Pedro on September 26, 1925.

In January 1929, Pennsylvania cruised to Panama, and after training maneuvers based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, steamed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, arriving on June 1, 1929, for an overhaul and modernization. She remained in the yard for nearly two years. On May 8, 1931, she departed for a refresher training cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then returned. On August 6, 1931, she again sailed for Guantanamo and later continued to San Pedro, where she rejoined the Battle Fleet.

From August 1931 to 1941, Pennsylvania engaged in fleet tactics and battle practice along the west coast and participated in fleet problems and maneuvers held periodically in the Hawaiian area and the Caribbean Sea. After an overhaul in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on January 7, 1941, she sailed for Hawaii, where she carried out scheduled operations with units of Task Forces 1 and 5 throughout the year, making one brief voyage to the west coast with Task Force 18.

At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Pennsylvania was in dry dock in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. She was one of the first ships in the harbor to open fire as enemy dive bombers and torpedo planes appeared. Despite repeated attempts, they did not succeed in torpedoing the caisson of the dry dock, but Pennsylvania and the surrounding dock areas were severely strafed. The crew of one 5-inch gun mount was wiped out when a bomb struck the starboard side of her boat deck and exploded inside casemate 9. Destroyers Cassin and Downes, just forward of Pennsylvania in dry dock, were seriously damaged by bomb hits. Pennsylvania was pockmarked by flying fragments. A part of a torpedo tube from destroyer Downes, weighing about 1000 pounds, was blown onto the forecastle of Pennsylvania. She suffered 15 men killed, 14 missing in action, and 38 men wounded.

On December 20, 1941, Pennsylvania sailed for San Francisco, arriving on December 29. She underwent repairs until March 30, 1942. From April 14 to August 1, 1942, Pennsylvania conducted extensive training operations and patrols along the coast of California, interspersed with an overhaul in San Francisco. During this duty, on June 4, 1942, Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet, held brief ceremonies aboard Pennsylvania to present the Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for exceptionally meritorious service as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet since December 31, 1941.

On August 1, 1942, Pennsylvania departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor, arriving on August 14. She conducted gunnery exercises and took part in carrier task force guard tactics in the Hawaiian area. On October 4, Pennsylvania returned to San Francisco for an overhaul completed by February 5, 1943. She then conducted refresher training and air defense patrol off the coast of California. On April 23, Pennsylvania sailed for Alaska to take part in the Aleutian Campaign.

On April 30, Pennsylvania arrived at Cold Bay, Alaska. On May 11-12, she engaged in shore bombardment of Holtz Bay and Chicago Harbor, Attu, in support of the landings. As she retired from Attu on May 12, a patrol plane warned of a torpedo heading towards Pennsylvania. She maneuvered at full speed as the torpedo passed safely astern. Destroyers Edwards and Farragut hunted down the attacker. After ten hours of relentless depth charge attacks, submarine I-81 was forced to the surface and shelled by gunfire from Edwards. Severely damaged, the enemy survived until June 13, then being sunk by destroyer Frazier. Torpedo wakes were again sighted on the morning of May 14, but the destroyers' search for the enemy was fruitless. That same morning, Pennsylvania's seaplanes were launched to operate from seaplane tender Casco in making strafing attacks on enemy positions on Attu.

 

The afternoon of 14 May, Pennsylvania conducted her third bombardment mission, this time in support of the infantry attack on the west arm of Holtz Bay. She then operated to the north and east of Attu until 19 May when she steamed for Adak. She departed Adak 21 May and arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., 28 May. She returned to Adak, 7 August, and departed 13 August as flagship of Admiral Rockwell, commanding the Kiska Attack Force. On 15 August assault troops landed without opposition on the western beaches of Kiska. By the evening of 16 August it became apparent the Japanese had evacuated under cover of fog prior to the landing. She patrolled off Kiska for a time then returned to Adak, 23 August.

On 25 August Pennsylvania steamed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 September. Here she took aboard 790 passengers and departed 19 September for San Francisco where she arrived 25 September. She returned to Pearl Harbor, 6 October, and after debarking passengers, took part in rehearsal and bombardment exercises in the Hawaiian areas. She became flagship of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, Commander Fifth Amphibious Force, and formed part of the Northern Attack Force, departing Pearl Harbor, 10 November, for the assault on Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands.

The Task Force, comprising four battleships, four cruisers, three escort carriers, transports and destroyers, approached Makin Atoll from the southeast on the morning of 20 November. Pennsylvania opened fire on Butaritari Island with her main battery at the initial range of 14,200 yards and then opened with her secondary battery.

Just before general quarters on the morning of 24 November a tremendous explosion took place off the starboard bow as Pennsylvania was returning to a screening sector off Makin. At almost the same instant a screening destroyer reported sound contact and disposition immediately executed a course change. For several minutes after the explosion, a large fire lighted up the entire area. Word soon came that escort carrier Liscome Bay had been torpedoed. She sank with tremendous loss of life. Determined night air attacks were made by enemy torpedo planes on the nights of 25 and 26 November but were repelled without damage to ships of the Task Force.

On 31 January 1944, Pennsylvania commenced bombardment of Kawjalein Island which was continued throughout the day. Landings were made 1 February, with Pennsylvania joining in bombardment support before and after the landing operations. On the evening of 3 February, she anchored in the lagoon near Kwajalein Island. The success of the Kwajalein operation was ensured and Pennsylvania retired to Majuro Atoll to replenish ammunition.

On 12 February Pennsylvania got underway for operations against Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. On 17 February, Pennsylvania steamed boldly through the deep entrance into Eniwetok Lagoon with her batteries blazing away. She steamed up a swept channel in the lagoon to a position off Engebi Island and commenced bombardment of enemy installations. On the morning of 18 February, Pennsylvania bombarded Engebi before and during the approach of the assault waves to the beach. When Engebi had been secured, Pennsylvania steamed southward through the lagoon to the vicinity of Parry Island, where she took part in bombardment 20-21 February, preparatory to the landing assaults. At the commencement of bombardment the island had been covered with a dense growth of palm trees extending to the waters edge. At conclusion of bombardment, not a single tree remained standing. On the morning of 22 February, she gave bombardment support prior to the landing on Parry Island.

Pennsylvania retired to Majuro, 1 March, then steamed south to Havannah Harbor, Efate, New Hebrides Islands. She remained at Efate until late April. On 29 April, Pennsylvania arrived in Sydney, Australia. She returned to Efate, 11 May, then sailed to Port Purvis, Florida Islands, from which she operated to conduct bombardment and amphibious assault exercises. She returned to Efate 27 March, and after replenishment of ammunition, departed, 2 June, arriving at Roi, 3 June.

On 10 June, Pennsylvania formed with a force of battleships, cruisers, escort carriers, and destroyers en route for the assault and occupation of the Marianas Islands. That night a destroyer in the screen reported sound contact and emergency turn left 90 degrees was ordered. As a result of this maneuver, Pennsylvania collided with high speed transport Talbot and sustained minor damage. Talbot put into Eniwetok for emergency repairs.

On 14 June, Pennsylvania took part in the bombardment of Saipan preparatory to the assault landings made the next day while she cruised off the northeastern shore of Tinian conducting heavy bombardment of that island to neutralize any enemy batteries which might have opened fire on the landing beaches of Saipan. On 16 June she conducted bombardment of targets on Orote Point, Guam, then retired to cover the Saipan area. Pennsylvania departed the Marianas, 25 June, and after a brief stay at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, departed 9 July to resume support of the Marianas Campaign.

From 12 through 14 July, Pennsylvania conducted bombardment of Guam in preparation for the assault and landings on that island. On completion of firing the evening of 14 July she returned to Saipan to replenish ammunition. She returned to Guam, 17 July, and delivered protective fire support to demolition parties. At the same time she continued deliberate destructive fire on designated targets through 20 July.

On the early morning of 21 July, Pennsylvania took a position between Agat Beach and Orote Peninsula, and commenced bombardment of beach areas in immediate preparation for the assault while troops and equipment were loaded into landing craft and landing waves were being formed. Upon establishment of the beachhead she stood by for fire support missions as might be called for by shore fire control parties, continuing this duty until 3 August. She then steamed to Eniwetok, thence to the New Hebrides Islands, and after rehearsal of landing assaults on Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, arrived at Port Purvis, Florida Island. She departed 6 September as part of the Palau Bombardment and Fire Support Group. From 12 through 14 September, Pennsylvania took part in intensive bombardment of targets on the island of Peleliu. On 15 September, she also furnished gunfire support for the landings on that island. She then delivered a devastating fire on enemy gun emplacements among the rocks and cliffs flanking Red Beach on Angaur Island.

On 25 September Pennsylvania steamed for emergency repairs at Manus Admiralty Island, entering floating drydock, 1 October 1944. She departed 12 October, one of six battleships in Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's Bombardment and Fire Support Group which formed a part of the Central Philippine Attack Force under command of Vice Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid, en route to the Philippine Islands.

Pennsylvania reached fire support station on the eastern coast of Leyte, 18 October, and commenced covering bombardment for beach reconnaissance, underwater demolition teams and minesweeping units operating in Leyte Gulf and San Pedro Harbor. She conducted bombardment missions the next day and supported the landings on Leyte, 20 October. Gunfire support missions continued through 22 October, including harrassing and night illumination fire.

On 24 October, all available United States vessels prepared for action as units of the Japanese Fleet closed the Philippines preliminary to the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Pennsylvania and five other battleships, with cruisers and destroyers of Rear Admiral Oldendorf's Force, steamed south and by nightfall were steaming slowly baek and forth across the northern entranee of Surigao Strait, awaiting the approach of the enemy. That night, American motor torpedo boats stationed well down in Surigao Strait made the first encounter with torpedo attacks. Destroyers of the Force, on either flank of the enemy's line of approach, followed with torpedo and gun attacks. At 0353, 25 October, West Virginia opened fire, joined shortly thereafter by other battleships and cruisers. The Japanese had run head on into a perfect trap. Rear Admiral Oldendorf had executed the dream of every naval taetieian by crossing the enemy's "T". The Japanese lost two battleships and three destroyers in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Cruiser Mogami in company with a destroyer, all that remained of the enemy force, managed to escape. Rear Admiral Oldendorf's Force did not suffer the loss of a single vessel. Moyami was sunk the next day by carrier planes.

On 25 October 1944 ten enemy planes made a simultaneous run on a destroyer close aboard Pennsylvania which assisted in splashing four of the others. On the night of 28 October, she shot down a bomber as it attempted a torpedo run.

 

Remaining on patrol in Leyte Gulf until November 25, the Pennsylvania then steamed to Manus, Admiralty Islands, and subsequently to Kossol Passage to load ammunition. On January 1, 1945, it departed with Vice Admiral Oldendorf's Lingayen Bombardment and Fire Support Group, heading for Lingayen Gulf. The Group encountered heavy air attacks on January 4-5, and the escort carrier Ommaney Bay was hit by a kamikaze plane and destroyed by the resulting fire. Many other ships were damaged.

On the morning of January 6, the Pennsylvania began bombarding target areas on Santiago Island at the mouth of Lingayen Gulf. That afternoon, it entered the Gulf to conduct counter-battery fire in support of minesweeping forces, retreating at night. At daybreak on January 7, the entire bombardment force entered Lingayen Gulf to deliver supporting and destructive fire. Preliminary assault bombardment continued the next day. On January 9, the Pennsylvania provided gunfire support to protect the landing troops. Enemy aircraft attacked the force in Lingayen Gulf on January 10. Four bombs landed nearby, but the Pennsylvania was not hit. That afternoon, she executed her last call fire mission of the operation, firing twelve rounds to destroy a concentration of enemy tanks located inland by a shore fire control party.

From January 10 to 17, the Pennsylvania patrolled the South China Sea off Lingayen Gulf with other ships of the task group. On January 17, she anchored in Lingayen Gulf, remaining there until February 10, when she sailed for temporary repairs at Manus, Admiralty Islands. Departing on February 22, she steamed via the Marshall Islands and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, arriving on March 13. She underwent a thorough overhaul at the Hunter's Point Shipyard. Her main battery turrets and secondary battery mounts were regunned. Additional close-range weapons, improved radar, and fire control equipment were installed.

Upon completion of the overhaul, the Pennsylvania conducted trial runs out of San Francisco, followed by refresher training while based in San Diego, California. She departed San Francisco on July 12 for Pearl Harbor, arriving on July 18. She sailed for Okinawa on July 24. En route, she participated in the bombardment of Wake Island on August 1, and after loading ammunition at Saipan the next day, resumed her voyage. She anchored in Buckner Bay alongside Tennessee. On August 12, a Japanese torpedo plane evaded detection and launched a torpedo at the anchored Pennsylvania, causing extensive damage. The attack killed twenty men and injured ten. Many compartments were flooded, causing the ship to settle heavily by the stern. The flooding was controlled by the Pennsylvania's repair parties and the prompt assistance of two salvage tugs. The next day, she was towed to shallower waters for continued salvage operations.

On August 18, the Pennsylvania departed Buckner Bay, Okinawa, under the tow of two tugs. She arrived at Apra Harbor, Guam, on September 6, and entered drydock where a large steel patch was welded over the torpedo hole, and repairs were made to enable her return to the United States under her own power. On October 4, she sailed for the Puget Sound Navy Yard, accompanied by the destroyer Walke and cruiser Atlanta. On October 17, the number 3 shaft broke inside the stern tube and slipped aft. Divers had to cut through the shaft, allowing it and the propeller to drop into the sea. With only one functioning screw and taking on water, the Pennsylvania limped into the Puget Sound Navy Yard on October 24.

Repairs enabled the Pennsylvania to steam to the Marshall Islands, where she was used as a target ship in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946. Afterwards, she was towed to Kwajalein Lagoon, where she was decommissioned on August 29, 1946. She remained in Kwajalein Lagoon for radiological and structural studies until February 10, 1948, when she was sunk off Kwajalein. She was struck from the Navy List on February 19, 1948.

The Pennsylvania received eight battle stars for her service in World War II.