- USS Arkansas (BB-33)
USS "Arkansas" (BB-33), a Sclass|Wyoming|battleship was the third ship of the
United States Navy named in honor of the 25th state.Her keel was laid down on
25 January 1910 atCamden, New Jersey , by theNew York Shipbuilding Corporation . She was launched on14 January 1911 sponsored by Miss Nancy Louise Macon, and commissioned at thePhiladelphia Navy Yard on17 September 1912 with Captain Roy C. Smith in command.The new battleship took part in a fleet review by
President of the United States William H. Taft in theHudson River offNew York City on14 October , and received a visit from the Chief Executive that day. She then transported President Taft to thePanama Canal Zone for an inspection of the unfinished isthmian waterway. After putting the inspection party ashore, "Arkansas" sailed to Cuban waters for shakedown training. She then returned to the Canal Zone on26 December to carry President Taft toKey West, Florida .First overseas cruise
Following this assignment, "Arkansas" joined the Atlantic Fleet for maneuvers along the east coast. The battleship began her first overseas cruise in late October 1913, and visited several ports in the
Mediterranean Sea . AtNaples, Italy , on11 November 1913 , the ship celebrated the birthday of KingVittorio Emanuele III of Italy .Earlier, in October 1913, a coup in
Mexico had brought to power a dictator,Victoriano Huerta .President of the United States Woodrow Wilson disapproved of the way in which Huerta had come to power, and insisted on a representative government, rather than a dictatorial one, south of the American-Mexican border. Mexico had been in turmoil for several years, and the United States Navy maintained a force of ships in those waters ready to protect American lives.In a situation where tension exists between two powers, incidents are bound to occur. One such occurred at
Tampico in the spring of 1914, and although the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up locally, the prevailing state of tension produced an explosive situation. Learning that a shipment of arms for Huerta was due to arrive at Veracruz, President Wilson ordered the Navy to prevent the landing of the guns by seizing the customs house at that port.While a naval force under Rear Admiral
Henry T. Mayo was already present in Mexican waters, the President directed that theU.S. Atlantic Fleet , under Rear AdmiralCharles J. Badger , proceed to Veracruz. "Arkansas" participated in the landings at Veracruz, contributing a battalion of four companies of bluejackets, a total of 17 officers and 313 enlisted men under the command of Lieutenant Comdr.Arthur B. Keating . Among the junior officers was Lieutenant (junior grade) Jonas H. Ingram, who would be awarded theMedal of Honor for heroism at Veracruz, as would Lieutenant John Grady, who commanded the artillery of the Second Seaman Regiment.Landing on
22 April , "Arkansas"' s men took part in the slow, methodical street fighting that eventually secured the city. Two "Arkansas" sailors, Ordinary Seamen Louis O. Fried and William L. Watson, died of their wounds on22 April . "Arkansas"'s battalion returned to the ship on30 April , and the ship remained in Mexican waters through the summer before setting course on30 September to return to the east coast. During her stay at Veracruz, she received calls from CaptainFranz von Papen , the German military attaché to the United States and Mexico, and Rear AdmiralChristopher Cradock , on10 May and30 May 1914 , respectively.The battleship reached
Hampton Roads ,Virginia , on7 October , and after a week of exercises, "Arkansas" sailed to theNew York Navy Yard , for repairs and alterations. She then returned to theVirginia Capes area for maneuvers on the Southern Drill Grounds. On12 December , "Arkansas" returned to the New York Navy Yard for further repairs.She was underway again on
16 January 1915 , and returned to the Southern Drill Grounds for exercises there from19 January to21 January . Upon completion of these, "Arkansas" sailed to Guantanamo Bay,Cuba , for fleet exercises. Returning to Hampton Roads on7 April , the battleship began another training period in the Southern Drill Grounds. On23 April , she headed to the New York Navy Yard for a two-month repair period. "Arkansas" then leftNew York City on25 June bound forNewport, Rhode Island . She conducted torpedo practice and tactical maneuvers inNarragansett Bay through late August.Returning to Hampton Roads on
27 August , the battleship engaged in maneuvers in the Norfolk area through4 October , then sailed once again to Newport. There, "Arkansas" carried out strategic exercises from5 October to14 October . On15 October , the battleship arrived at theNew York Navy Yard for drydocking. Underway on8 November , she returned to Hampton Roads. After a period of routine operations, "Arkansas" went back toBrooklyn for repairs on19 October . The ship sailed on5 January 1916 for Hampton Roads. Pausing there only briefly, "Arkansas" pushed on to theCaribbean Sea for winter maneuvers.She visited the
West Indies and Guantanamo Bay before returning to theUnited States on12 March fortorpedo practice offMobile Bay . The battleship then steamed back to Guantanamo Bay on20 March and remained there until mid-April. On15 April , the battleship was once again at the New York Navy Yard for overhaul.World War I
On
6 April 1917 , the United States enteredWorld War I on the side of the Allied and Associated Powers. The declaration of war found "Arkansas" attached to Battleship Division 7 and patrolling the York River inVirginia . For the next 14 months, "Arkansas" carried out patrol duty along the east coast and trained gun crews for duty on armed merchantmen.In July 1918, "Arkansas" received orders to proceed to
Rosyth, Scotland to relieve "Delaware" (Battleship No. 28). "Arkansas" sailed on14 July . On the eve of her arrival inScotland , the battleship opened fire on what was believed to be the periscope wake of a GermanU-boat . Her escortingdestroyer s droppeddepth charge s, but scored no hits. "Arkansas" then proceeded without incident and dropped anchor at Rosyth on28 July .Throughout the remaining three and one-half months of war, "Arkansas" and the other American battleships in Rosyth operated as part of the British Grand Fleet as the 6th Battle Squadron.
The armistice ending World War I became effective on
11 November . The 6th Battle Squadron and other Royal Navy units sailed to a point some 40 miles east ofMay Island at the entrance of theFirth of Forth . "Arkansas" was present at the internment of the German High Seas Fleet in the Firth of Forth on21 November 1918 .Inter-war years
The American battleships were detached from the
British Grand Fleet on1 December . From the Firth of Forth, "Arkansas" sailed to theIsle of Portland ,England , then out to sea to meet the transportSS "George Washington", with President Wilson on board. "Arkansas", along with other American battleships, escorted the President's ship intoBrest, France , on13 December 1918 . From that French port, "Arkansas" sailed toNew York City , where she arrived on26 December to a tumultuous welcome.Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels reviewed the assembled battleship fleet from the yacht SS "Mayflower".Following an overhaul the
Norfolk Navy Yard , "Arkansas" joined the fleet in Cuban waters for winter maneuvers. Soon thereafter, the battleship got underway to cross the Atlantic. On12 May 1919 , she reachedPlymouth ; thence she headed back out in the Atlantic to take weather observations on19 May and act as a reference vessel for the flight of the Navy CurtissNC flying boat s fromTrepassey Bay, Newfoundland , to Europe.Her role in that venture competed, "Arkansas" proceeded thence to Brest, where she embarked Admiral
William S. Benson , theChief of Naval Operations , and his wife, on10 June , upon the admiral's return from the Peace Conference in Paris, before departing for New York. She arrived on20 June 1919 ."Arkansas" sailed from Hampton Roads on
19 July 1919 , assigned to the Pacific Fleet. Proceeding via thePanama Canal , the battleship steamed toSan Francisco, California , where, on6 September 1919 , she embarked Secretary and Mrs. Josephus Daniels. Disembarking the Secretary and his wife atBlakely Harbor, Washington , on12 September , "Arkansas" was reviewed by President Wilson on13 September , the Chief Executive having embarked in the famed "Oregon" (Battleship No. 3). On19 September 1919 , "Arkansas" entered thePuget Sound Navy Yard for a general overhaul. Resuming her operations with the fleet in May 1920, "Arkansas" operated off the California coast. On17 July 1920 , "Arkansas" received the designation BB-33 as the ships of the fleet received alphanumerichull classification symbol s. That September, she cruised toHawaii for the first time. Early in 1921, the battleship visitedValparaíso ,Chile ,manning the rail in honor ofPresident of Chile Arturo Alessandri Palma ."Arkansas"'s peacetime routine consisted of an annual cycle of training interspersed with periods of upkeep or overhaul. The battleship's schedule also included competitions in gunnery and engineering and an annual fleet problem. Becoming flagship for the Commander, Battleship Force,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet , in the summer of 1921, "Arkansas" began operations off the east coast that August.For a number of years, "Arkansas" was detailed to take midshipmen from the
United States Naval Academy on their summer cruises. In 1923, the battleship steamed to Europe, visitingCopenhagen, Denmark (where she was visited by KingChristian X of Denmark on2 July 1923 );Lisbon, Portugal ; andGibraltar . "Arkansas" conducted another midshipman training cruise to European waters the following year, 1924. In 1925, the cruise was to the west coast of the United States. During this time, on30 June 1925 , "Arkansas" arrived atSanta Barbara, California in the wake of an earthquake. The battleship, along with "McCawley" (DD-276) andEagle class patrol craft PE-34 landed a patrol of bluejackets for policing Santa Barbara, and established a temporary radio station ashore for the transmission of messages.Upon completion of the 1925 midshipman cruise, "Arkansas" entered the
Philadelphia Navy Yard for modernization. Her coal-burning boilers were replaced with oil-fired ones. Additional deck armor was installed, a single stack was substituted for the original pair, and the after cage mast was replaced by a low tripod. "Arkansas" left the yard in November 1926 and, after a shakedown cruise along the eastern seaboard and to Cuban waters, returned to Philadelphia to run acceptance trials. Resuming her duty with the fleet soon thereafter, she operated fromMaine to theCaribbean Sea ; on5 September 1927 , she was present at ceremonies unveiling a memorial tablet honoring the French soldiers and sailors who died during the campaign atYorktown, Virginia , in 1781.In May 1928, "Arkansas" again embarked midshipmen for their practice cruise along the eastern seaboard and down into Cuban waters. During the first part of 1929, she operated near the Canal Zone and in the Caribbean, returning in May 1929 to the
New York Navy Yard for overhaul. After embarking midshipmen atAnnapolis, Maryland , "Arkansas" carried out her 1929 practice cruise to Mediterranean and English waters, returning in August to operate with theScouting Fleet off the east coast.In 1930 and 1931, "Arkansas" was again detailed to carry out midshipmen's practice cruises; in the former year she visited
Cherbourg, France ;Kiel, Germany ;Oslo, Norway ; andEdinburgh, Scotland ; in the latter her itinerary includedCopenhagen, Denmark ;Greenock, Scotland ; andCadiz, Spain , as well asGibraltar . In September 1931, the ship visited Halifax,Nova Scotia . In October "Arkansas" participated in the Yorktown Sesquicentennial celebrations, embarking PresidentHerbert Hoover and his party on17 October and taking them to the exposition. She later transported the Chief Executive and his party back to Annapolis on19 October and20 October . Upon her return, the battleship entered thePhiladelphia Navy Yard , where she remained untilJanuary 1932.Upon leaving the navy yard, "Arkansas" sailed for the west coast, calling at
New Orleans, Louisiana , en route, to participate in theNew Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. Assigned duty as flagship of the Training Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, "Arkansas" operated continuously on the west coast of the United States into the spring of 1934, at which time she returned to the east coast.In the summer of 1934, the battleship conducted a midshipman practice cruise to
Plymouth ;Nice, France ;Naples, Italy , and toGibraltar , returning to Annapolis in August; proceeding thence toNewport, Rhode Island , where shemanned the rail for President Franklin D. Roosevelt as he passed on board the yacht "Nourmalhal", and was present for the International Yacht Race. "Arkansas"' cutter defeated the cutter from the British lightcruiser HMS "Dragon" for theBattenberg Cup , and theCity of Newport Cup .In January 1935, "Arkansas" transported the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, to
Culebra for a fleet landing exercise, and in June conducted a midshipman practice cruise toEurope , visitingEdinburgh ,Oslo (whereKing Haakon VII of Norway visited the ship),Copenhagen ,Gibraltar andFunchal on the island ofMadeira . After disembarkingUnited States Naval Academy midshipmen at Annapolis in August 1935, "Arkansas" proceeded toNew York City . There, she embarked reservists from the New York area and conducted a Naval Reserve cruise to Halifax,Nova Scotia in September. Upon completion of that duty, she under went repairs and alterations at the New York Navy Yard that October.In January 1936, "Arkansas" participated in Fleet Landing Exercise No. 2 at Culebra, and then visited New Orleans for the Mardi Gras festivities before she returned to Norfolk for a navy yard overhaul which lasted through the spring of 1936. That summer she carried out a midshipman training cruise to
Portsmouth, England ;Goteborg, Sweden ; andCherbourg , before she returned to Annapolis that August. Steaming thence to Boston, the battleship conducted a Naval Reserve training cruise before putting into theNorfolk Navy Yard for an overhaul that October.The following year, 1937, saw "Arkansas" make a midshipman practice cruise to European waters, visiting ports in Germany and England, before she returned to the east coast of the United States for local operations out of Norfolk. During the latter part of the year, the ship also ranged from Philadelphia and Boston to St. Thomas,
U.S. Virgin Islands , and Cuban waters. During 1938 and 1939, the pattern of operations largely remained as it had been in previous years, her duties in the Training Squadron largely confining her to the waters of the eastern seaboard.World War II
The outbreak of war in Europe in September 1939 found "Arkansas" at
Hampton Roads , preparing for a Naval Reserve cruise. She soon got underway and transported seaplane mooring and aviation equipment from the naval air station at Norfolk toNarragansett Bay for the seaplane base that was to be established there. While at Newport, "Arkansas" took on board ordnance material for destroyers and brought it back to Hampton Roads."Arkansas" departed from Norfolk on
11 January 1940 , in company with "Texas" (BB-35) and "New York" (BB-34), and proceeded thence to Guantanamo Bay for fleet exercises. She then participated in landing exercises at Culebra that February, returning via St. Thomas and Culebra to Norfolk. Following an overhaul at the Norfolk Navy Yard (18 March to24 May ), "Arkansas" shifted to the Naval Operating Base (NOB), Norfolk, where she remained until30 May . Sailing on that day for Annapolis, the battleship, along with "Texas" and "New York", conducted a midshipman training cruise toPanama andVenezuela that summer. Before the year was out, "Arkansas" would conduct three V-7 Naval Reserve training cruises, these voyages taking her to Guantanamo Bay, the Canal Zone, andChesapeake Bay .Over the months that followed, the United States gradually edged toward war in the Atlantic; early the following summer, after the decision to occupy
Iceland had been reached, "Arkansas" accompanied the initial contingent of marines to that place. That battleship, along with "New York", and the lightcruiser "Brooklyn" (CL-40) provided the heavy escort for the convoy. Following this assignment, "Arkansas" sailed to NS Argentia, Newfoundland for theAtlantic Charter conference between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime MinisterWinston Churchill , which took place on board the Royal Navy battleship HMS "Prince of Wales". During the conference, "Arkansas" provided accommodations for the Under Secretary of State, Sumner Welles, and Mr. Averell Harriman from8 August to14 August 1941 .The outbreak of war with the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor found "Arkansas" at anchor in Casco Bay, Maine. One week later, on14 December , she sailed toHvalfjordur, Iceland . Returning to Boston via NS Argentia on24 January 1942 , "Arkansas" spent the month of February carrying out exercises in Casco Bay in preparation for her role as an escort for troop and cargo transports. On6 March , she arrived at Norfolk to begin overhaul. The secondary battery was reduced to six5"/51 caliber gun s. Underway on2 July , "Arkansas" conducted shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, then proceeded to New York City, where she arrived on27 July .The battleship sailed from New York on
6 August , as flagship of Task Force #38, a troopship convoy of twelve transports, with fourteen destroyers, bound forGreenock, Scotland . Two days later, the ships paused at Halifax, Nova Scotia, then continued on through the stormy North Atlantic. The convoy reached Greenock on17 August , and "Arkansas" returned to New York on4 September . She escorted another Greenock-bound convoy across the Atlantic, then arrived back at New York on20 October . With the Allied invasion of North Africa, American convoys were routed toCasablanca to support the operations. Departing from New York on3 November , "Arkansas" covered a troop convoy toMorocco , and returned to New York on11 December for overhaul.On
2 January 1943 , "Arkansas" sailed toChesapeake Bay for gunnery drills. She returned to New York on30 January and began loading supplies for yet another transatlantic trip. The battleship made two runs between Casablanca and New York City from February through April. In early May, "Arkansas" was dry-docked at theNew York Navy Yard , emerging from that period of yard work to proceed to Norfolk on26 May ."Arkansas" assumed her new duty as a training ship for midshipmen, based at Norfolk. After four months of operations in Chesapeake Bay, the battleship returned to New York to resume her role as a convoy escort. On
8 October , the ship sailed forBangor, Northern Ireland . She was in that port throughout November, and got underway to return to New York on1 December . "Arkansas" then began a period of repairs on12 December . Clearing New York for Norfolk two days afterChristmas of 1943, "Arkansas" closed the year in that port.The battleship sailed on
19 January 1944 with a convoy bound forNorthern Ireland . After seeing the convoy safely to its destination, the ship reversed her course across the Atlantic and reached New York on13 February . "Arkansas" went to Casco Bay on28 March for gunnery exercises, before she proceeded to Boston on11 April for repairs.On
18 April , "Arkansas" sailed once more for Bangor, Northern Ireland. Upon her arrival, the battleship began a training period to prepare for her new role as a shore bombardment ship. On3 June , "Arkansas" sailed for the French coast to support the Alliedinvasion of Normandy . The ship entered theBaie de la Seine on6 June , and took up a position 4,000 yards off "Omaha" beach. At 0552, "Arkansas"'s guns opened fire. During the day, the venerable battleship underwent shore battery fire and air attacks; over ensuing days, she continued her fire support. On13 June , "Arkansas" shifted to a position offGrandcamp les Bains . VCS-7, a U.S Navy Spotter Squadron flyingSupermarine Spitfire VBs and Seafire IIIs, was one of the units which provided targeting coordinates and fire control. [ [http://spitfiresite.com/history/articles/2008/01/spitfires-in-us-navy.htm VCS-7] ]On
25 June 1944 , "Arkansas" dueled with German shore batteries off Cherbourg, the enemy repeatedly straddling the battleship but never hitting her. Her big guns helped support the Allied attack on that key port, and led to the capture of it the following day. Retiring toWeymouth ,England , and arriving there at 2220, the battleship shifted to Bangor, on30 June ."Arkansas" stood out to sea on
4 July , bound for theMediterranean Sea . She passed through theStrait of Gibraltar and anchored atOran, Algeria , on10 July . On18 July , she got underway, and reachedTaranto ,Italy , on21 July . The battleship remained there until6 August , then shifted toPalermo, Sicily , on7 August .On
14 August , Operation "Anvil," the invasion of the southern French coast betweenToulon andCannes , began. "Arkansas" provided fire support for the initial landings on15 August , and continued her bombardment through17 August . After stops at Palermo and Oran, "Arkansas" set course for the United States. On14 September , she reached Boston, and received repairs and alterations through early November. The yard period completed on7 November , "Arkansas" sailed to Casco Bay for three days of refresher training. On10 November , "Arkansas" shaped a course south for thePanama Canal Zone. After transiting the canal on22 November , "Arkansas" headed forSan Pedro, California . On29 November , the ship was again underway for exercises held offSan Diego, California . She returned on10 December to San Pedro.After three more weeks of preparations, "Arkansas" sailed for
Pearl Harbor on20 January 1945 . One day after her arrival there, she sailed forUlithi , the major fleet staging area in theCaroline Islands , and continued thence toTinian , where she arrived on12 February . For two days, the vessel held shore bombardment practice prior to her participation in the assault onIwo Jima .At 0600 on
16 February , "Arkansas" opened fire on Japanese strong points on Iwo Jima as she lay off the island's west coast. The old battlewagon bombarded the island through19 February , and remained in the fire support area to provide cover during the evening hours. During her time off the embattled island, "Arkansas" shelled numerous Japanese positions, in support of the bitter struggle by the marines to root out and destroy the stubborn enemy resistance. She cleared the waters off Iwo Jima on7 March to return to Ulithi. After arriving at that atoll on10 March , the battleship rearmed, provisioned, and fueled in preparation for her next operation, the invasion ofOkinawa .Getting underway on
21 March , "Arkansas" began her preliminary shelling of Japanese positions on Okinawa on25 March , some days ahead of the assault troops which began wading ashore on1 April . The Japanese soon began an aerial onslaught, and "Arkansas" fended off severalkamikaze s. For 46 days, "Arkansas" delivered fire support for the invasion of Okinawa. On14 May , the ship arrived atApra Harbor, Guam , to await further assignment.After a month at Apra Harbor, part of which she spent in drydock, "Arkansas" got underway on
12 June forLeyte Gulf . She anchored there on16 June , and remained in Philippine waters until the war drew to a close in August. On20 August , "Arkansas" left Leyte to return to Okinawa, and reachedBuckner Bay on23 August . After a month spent in port, "Arkansas" embarked approximately 800 troops for transport to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet to return American servicemen home as quickly as possible. Sailing on23 September , "Arkansas" paused briefly at Pearl Harbor en route, and ultimately reachedSeattle, Washington , on15 October . During the remainder of the year, the battleship made three more trips to Pearl Harbor to shuttle soldiers back to the United States.inking
During the first months of 1946, "Arkansas" lay at
San Francisco, California . In late April the ship got underway forHawaii . She reached Pearl Harbor on8 May , and stood out of Pearl Harbor on20 May , bound forBikini Atoll , earmarked for use as target foratomic bomb testing inOperation Crossroads . On1 July 1946 , the "Arkansas" was to have been sunk via atomic bomb as part of nuclear test ABLE, but survived. On25 July 1946 , the venerable battleship was sunk by the United States first underwater nuclear test BAKER at Bikini Atoll. Decommissioned on29 July 1946 , "Arkansas" was struck from theNaval Vessel Register on15 August 1946 ."Arkansas" received four
battle star s for herWorld War II service.Notes
References
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External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-a/bb33.htm US Navy Historical Center - USS Arkansas gallery]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq76-4.htm US Navy Historical Center - List of ships sunk during test Baker]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/uss_arkansas_bb33.htm Maritimequest USS Arkansas BB-33 photo gallery]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/albums/s582/s582.htm "Our European Cruise. October 25th, to December 15th, 1913"] , a contemporary album of photographs from the 1913 Mediterranean cruise of the "Arkansas", with typed commentary by a crewmember.
* [http://eeweems.com/uss_arkansas/index.html USS Arkansas BB-33] Images, text and links about the American Battleship
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/33a.htm NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive BB-33 USS ARKANSAS 1910 - 1926]
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