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. 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. 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 and sank, taking 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.

Description

The Pennsylvania-class ships were bigger than earlier ships. Arizona was 608 feet long and 97 feet wide. She could hold many crew members.

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

Construction and trials

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

The launch had around 75,000 people, including the mayor of New York City, the governor of Arizona, and many important military leaders. Esther Ross, the daughter of W. W. Ross of Prescott, Arizona, launched the ship by breaking two bottles — one with sparkling wine and the other with water from the Roosevelt Dam — over its front part. After the launch, Arizona went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for final work.

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

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. In April, the crew won a rowing competition for the second year. 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 this, the Arizona went to Constantinople and then returned home for repairs. 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 practice battles to prepare the navy. 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 spots for its guns. It also got more anti-aircraft guns for safety. The ship’s crew grew bigger. Changes also included better protection and new engines for more power. These updates helped the Arizona stay strong and ready for future trips.

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 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.

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. Bombs struck the ship, causing fires and damage.

One bomb hit near the ship's storage areas. This caused a big explosion that broke the ship apart. The blast started many fires that burned for days. Sadly, many crew members were lost in the attack. Some sailors were honored for their bravery after the bombing.

Salvage and memorial

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

Today, the wreck of the Arizona is a memorial for those who were lost. A special building stands above the ship and lists the names of the crew members who were lost. The ship is cared for carefully, and oil from the ship is watched to protect the environment. Items from the ship, like a bell and a gun, are shown at places such as the University of Arizona and in Phoenix, Arizona.