USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was a New Mexico-class battleship built by the Newport News Shipbuilding company and commissioned into the United States Navy on June 12, 1916. The ship was named after the state of Pennsylvania and was the third ship to bear this name, following the USS Pennsylvania (1837) and the USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4). The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) played a significant role in the United States Navy during the early 20th century, participating in several key events, including the Mexican Revolution and World War II, alongside other notable ships like the USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Texas (BB-35).

● Design and Construction

The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was designed by the Bureau of Construction and Repair and built at the Newport News Shipbuilding company in Virginia. The ship's design was influenced by the HMS Dreadnought and featured a main armament of twelve 12-inch guns, which were designed by the Naval Gun Factory and manufactured by the Bethlehem Steel company. The ship's propulsion system was designed by the General Electric company and consisted of four Curtis turbines powered by twelve Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which were also used on other ships like the USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Mississippi (BB-41). The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was launched on March 16, 1915, and commissioned into the United States Navy on June 12, 1916, with Captain Henry Wiley as its first commanding officer, who had previously served on the USS Kansas (BB-21) and USS South Carolina (BB-26).

● Service History

The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) began its service in the United States Navy in 1916, participating in several training exercises and fleet maneuvers, including the Fleet Problem I and Fleet Problem II, alongside other ships like the USS Nevada (BB-36) and USS New York (BB-34). In 1917, the ship was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and participated in several convoy escort missions, working with ships like the USS Birmingham (CL-2) and USS Marblehead (CL-12). The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) also played a key role in the Mexican Revolution, providing support to the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army during the Veracruz occupation, alongside other ships like the USS Florida (BB-30) and USS Utah (BB-31). In the 1920s and 1930s, the ship underwent several modernization and overhaul programs, including a major refit at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1929, which was also used by other ships like the USS Maryland (BB-46) and USS West Virginia (BB-48).

● World War II

The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) played a significant role in World War II, participating in several key battles and campaigns, including the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Battle of Surigao Strait, alongside other notable ships like the USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Yorktown (CV-5), and USS South Dakota (BB-57). On December 7, 1941, the ship was moored in Pearl Harbor when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack, and the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) suffered significant damage, but was able to return to service after repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which was also used by other ships like the USS California (BB-44) and USS Tennessee (BB-43). The ship went on to participate in several other battles and campaigns, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, working with ships like the USS Iowa (BB-61) and USS New Jersey (BB-62).

● Awards and Legacy

The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) received several awards and decorations for its service, including eight Battle Stars and the American Defense Service Medal, as well as the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal, which were also awarded to other ships like the USS Massachusetts (BB-59) and USS Alabama (BB-60). The ship was also awarded the Mexican Service Medal for its service during the Veracruz occupation, alongside other ships like the USS Arkansas (BB-33) and USS New Hampshire (BB-25). After the war, the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was decommissioned and scrapped, but its legacy lives on as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the United States Navy during World War II, and its crew was recognized for their service with awards like the Navy Cross and the Silver Star, which were also awarded to crew members of other ships like the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and USS Houston (CA-30).

● Specifications

The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) had a displacement of 32,000 tons and a length of 624 feet, with a beam of 97 feet and a draft of 29 feet, which was similar to other ships like the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) and USS Nevada (BB-36). The ship's main armament consisted of twelve 12-inch guns, which were designed by the Naval Gun Factory and manufactured by the Bethlehem Steel company, and were also used on other ships like the USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Mississippi (BB-41). The ship's propulsion system consisted of four Curtis turbines powered by twelve Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which were also used on other ships like the USS Texas (BB-35) and USS New York (BB-34), and was designed by the General Electric company. The USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) had a top speed of 21 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles, making it a formidable battleship in its time, and its design influenced the development of later battleships like the USS Iowa (BB-61) and USS Missouri (BB-63). Category:New Mexico-class battleships