USS New York (BB-34)

USS New York (BB-34)
Ship image	USS New York (BB-34) off New York City, circa 1935.jpg
Ship caption	USS *New York* off New York City, c. 1935
Ship country	United States
Ship name	USS *New York*
Ship namesake	State of New York
Ship ordered	1 July 1910
Ship builder	Brooklyn Navy Yard
Ship laid down	11 September 1911
Ship launched	30 October 1912
Ship commissioned	15 April 1914
Ship decommissioned	29 August 1946
Ship struck	13 July 1948
Ship fate	Sunk as target, 8 July 1948
Ship honors	3 Battle stars
Ship class	New York-class battleship

USS New York (BB-34) was a New York-class battleship of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. Commissioned in 1914, she served through both World War I and World War II, earning three battle stars for her wartime service. The battleship was notable for being the first U.S. Navy vessel to mount 14-inch/45-caliber guns and for her extensive service across the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

Design and description

The *New York* was designed as a dreadnought battleship, a significant evolution from preceding American designs. Her primary armament consisted of ten 14-inch/45-caliber guns mounted in five twin gun turrets, a marked increase in firepower over the 12-inch guns of the preceding Wyoming-class battleship. Secondary armament included twenty-one 5-inch/51-caliber guns for defense against torpedo boats. She was protected by a belt armor system with a maximum thickness of 12 inches and powered by steam engines driving two propellers, giving her a design speed of 21 knots.

Construction and commissioning

The contract for the vessel was awarded to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on 1 July 1910. Her keel was laid down on 11 September 1911, and she was launched on 30 October 1912, sponsored by Elsie Calder, the daughter of New York Senator William M. Calder. Following fitting out, USS *New York* was commissioned into the United States Navy on 15 April 1914 under the command of Captain Thomas S. Rodgers.

Service history

After sea trials, *New York* joined the Atlantic Fleet and conducted training operations along the East Coast of the United States. In 1914, she was deployed to Veracruz during the American occupation, though she arrived after the initial fighting. She then served as a flagship for the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and participated in numerous fleet problems and goodwill visits to ports in Europe and South America throughout the pre-war years.

World War I

During World War I, *New York* served with the British Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow as part of the Battleship Division Nine. Under the command of Admiral Hugh Rodman, she operated with the Royal Navy's 6th Battle Squadron, helping to enforce the blockade of Germany. While she did not engage the German High Seas Fleet in a major surface action, her presence contributed to Allied naval dominance. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, she escorted Allied troop transports, including the *George Washington* carrying President Woodrow Wilson, to the Paris Peace Conference.

World War II

At the outbreak of World War II, *New York* was on neutrality patrol in the Atlantic Ocean. She performed convoy escort duty across the Atlantic and supported Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, providing naval gunfire support during the landings at Casablanca. After a major overhaul, she transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, where she provided formidable fire support for amphibious assaults at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. During the latter campaign, she survived a kamikaze attack with minimal damage.

Decommissioning and legacy

Following the surrender of Japan, *New York* was used to transport Army personnel home during Operation Magic Carpet. She was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor on 29 August 1946. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1948, she was used as a target ship for the Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, surviving both blasts. The heavily irradiated vessel was finally sunk as a live-fire target by the United States Navy and United States Air Force on 8 July 1948 near Pearl Harbor. Her ships bell is preserved at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.

Category:New York-class battleships Category:Ships built in New York City Category:World War I battleships of the United States Category:World War II battleships of the United States