USS Mississippi

USS Mississippi was a New Mexico-class battleship that played a significant role in the United States Navy during World War II, participating in several key battles and operations, including the Battle of Midway and the Guadalcanal Campaign. The ship was named after the earlier battleship that served in World War I and was also named after the Mississippi River and the State of Mississippi. The USS Mississippi was commissioned on December 18, 1917, and served under the command of notable officers, including Chester Nimitz and William Halsey Jr.. The ship's construction was overseen by the Newport News Shipbuilding company, with design input from the United States Navy Bureau of Ships and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

● History

The USS Mississippi was built at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia, with the keel laid on April 5, 1915, and launched on January 25, 1917. The ship was sponsored by Miss Jeanette Perkins, the daughter of United States Senator John Sharp Williams of Mississippi. The USS Mississippi was one of three New Mexico-class battleships, along with the USS New Mexico (BB-40) and the USS Idaho (BB-42), designed to counter the Imperial Japanese Navy's Kongo-class battlecruisers. The ship's design was influenced by the Dreadnought era, with input from the Royal Navy and the Kaiserliche Marine. The USS Mississippi was also equipped with BL 14 inch Mk I naval guns, designed by the Elswick Ordnance Company and manufactured by the Bethlehem Steel corporation.

● Characteristics

The USS Mississippi was 624 feet (190 m) long, with a beam of 97 feet (30 m) and a draft of 30 feet (9.1 m). The ship displaced 32,000 long tons (32,514 t) and was powered by General Electric turbo-electric transmissions, driving four screws. The ship's main armament consisted of twelve BL 14 inch Mk I naval guns, arranged in four triple turrets, designed by the Vickers-Armstrongs company. The USS Mississippi was also equipped with Mk 8 naval guns, designed by the United States Navy Bureau of Ordnance and manufactured by the Naval Gun Factory. The ship's armor was designed by the Harvey United Steel company, with input from the Carnegie Steel corporation.

● Service

The USS Mississippi served in the United States Pacific Fleet during the interwar period, participating in several fleet problems and exercises, including the Fleet Problem I and the Fleet Problem IX. The ship was also used for gunfire support during the Nicaraguan Revolution, under the command of United States Marine Corps officers, including Smedley Butler and Holland Smith. The USS Mississippi was modernized at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in the late 1920s, with new boilers and turbines designed by the Babcock & Wilcox company. The ship also received new fire control systems, designed by the Sperry Corporation and the Ford Instrument Company.

● Commanding_officers

The USS Mississippi had several notable commanding officers, including Chester Nimitz, who later became the Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet during World War II. Other notable commanding officers included William Halsey Jr., who commanded the ship during the Guadalcanal Campaign, and Raymond Spruance, who commanded the ship during the Battle of Midway. The USS Mississippi was also commanded by Robert Ghormley, who later became the Commander, United States Naval Forces South Pacific. The ship's officers were trained at the United States Naval Academy and the Naval War College, with input from the United States Army War College and the Imperial Japanese Navy's Naval War College.

● Battles_and_operations

The USS Mississippi participated in several key battles and operations during World War II, including the Battle of Midway and the Guadalcanal Campaign. The ship provided gunfire support during the Battle of Tarawa and the Battle of Makin, under the command of United States Marine Corps officers, including Julian Smith and Richmond Turner. The USS Mississippi also participated in the Marshall Islands campaign, including the Battle of Kwajalein and the Battle of Eniwetok. The ship was supported by United States Army Air Forces units, including the Seventh Air Force and the Thirteenth Air Force, with input from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

● Legacy

The USS Mississippi was decommissioned on September 17, 1956, and sold for scrap on November 28, 1956. The ship's legacy lives on, with several United States Navy ships named after the State of Mississippi, including the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) and the USS Mississippi (BB-41). The USS Mississippi is also remembered for its role in World War II, with several battle stars and awards, including the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. The ship's history is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Navy and the United States Naval Historical Center, with input from the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Library of Congress. Category:New Mexico-class battleships