Changes

|-

|-

| Length:

| Length:

| 624 ft  

| 624 ft  

|-

|-

| Beam:

| Beam:

| 97 ft 3 in

| 97 ft 3 in

|-

|-

| Draft:

| Draft:

| 31 ft

| 31 ft

|-

|-

| Speed:

| Speed:

Both ships received what was probably the most extensive reconstruction given to any of the Navy's wartime major combatants, emerging with much heavier deck armor, a huge improvement in their anti-aircraft battery and modern gun directors. Standard displacement went up some 2500 tons, speed dropped slightly below 21 knots and beam increased to 114 feet, making them too wide to transit the Panama Canal. Their appearance was drastically changed, and now superficially resembled that of the brand-new [[South Dakota-class battleship|''South Dakota''-class]]. ''Tennessee'' completed her modernization in May 1943, in time to take part in the Aleutians Campaign. ''California'', which needed extensive repair of her Pearl Harbor damage, was finished in early 1944.

Both ships received what was probably the most extensive reconstruction given to any of the Navy's wartime major combatants, emerging with much heavier deck armor, a huge improvement in their anti-aircraft battery and modern gun directors. Standard displacement went up some 2500 tons, speed dropped slightly below 21 knots and beam increased to 114 feet, making them too wide to transit the Panama Canal. Their appearance was drastically changed, and now superficially resembled that of the brand-new [[South Dakota-class battleship|''South Dakota''-class]]. ''Tennessee'' completed her modernization in May 1943, in time to take part in the Aleutians Campaign. ''California'', which needed extensive repair of her Pearl Harbor damage, was finished in early 1944.

Both ships were heavily engaged in providing bombardment support for amphibious operations through the rest of the war. They were present for the world's final battleship-against-battleship engagement, the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]] on 24-25 October 1944, and stayed in action despite receiving kamikaze damage in 1945. Laid up in 1946-47, they were part of the Reserve Fleet until sold for scrapping in 1959, nearly forty years after they were first commissioned.

Both ships were heavily engaged in providing bombardment support for amphibious operations through the rest of the war. They were present for the world's final battleship-against-battleship engagement, the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]] on 24–25 October 1944, and stayed in action despite receiving kamikaze damage in 1945. Laid up in 1946-47, they were part of the Reserve Fleet until sold for scrapping in 1959, nearly forty years after they were first commissioned.

The ''Tennessee''-class numbered two ships, one each built in east coast and west coast Navy yards:

The ''Tennessee''-class numbered two ships, one each built in east coast and west coast Navy yards:

On 7 December 1941, ''Tennessee'' was one of eight battleships present when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Moored inboard of USS ''West Virginia'' (BB-48), she was hit by two bombs, which damaged two of her four gun turrets, and was scorched by burning oil from the sunken [[USS Arizona (BB-39)|USS ''Arizona'']]. In late December, after temporary repairs, ''Tennessee'' steamed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, for an overhaul. From February through August 1942, she operated off the U.S. west coast, then briefly went to Pearl Harbor before returning to Puget Sound for extensive modernization.

On 7 December 1941, ''Tennessee'' was one of eight battleships present when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Moored inboard of USS ''West Virginia'' (BB-48), she was hit by two bombs, which damaged two of her four gun turrets, and was scorched by burning oil from the sunken [[USS Arizona (BB-39)|USS ''Arizona'']]. In late December, after temporary repairs, ''Tennessee'' steamed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, for an overhaul. From February through August 1942, she operated off the U.S. west coast, then briefly went to Pearl Harbor before returning to Puget Sound for extensive modernization.

With her appearance completely changed and her weapons, combat systems and protection considerably enhanced, ''Tennessee'' emerged from the shipyard in May 1943. She almost immediately moved up to the Aleutians area, where her 14-inch guns bombarded Kiska when that island was invaded in August. During the next year, from November 1943 into September 1944, she participated in bombardments of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, New Ireland, Saipan (where she was damaged by Japanese counter-fire), Guam, Tinian, Anguar and Pelieu. In October, ''Tennessee's'' guns pounded the Leyte invasion area as U.S. forces returned to the [[Philippines]], and, on the night of 24-25 October, she helped sink the Japanese battleship ''Yamashiro'' in the Battle of Surigao Strait.

With her appearance completely changed and her weapons, combat systems and protection considerably enhanced, ''Tennessee'' emerged from the shipyard in May 1943. She almost immediately moved up to the Aleutians area, where her 14-inch guns bombarded Kiska when that island was invaded in August. During the next year, from November 1943 into September 1944, she participated in bombardments of Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, New Ireland, Saipan (where she was damaged by Japanese counter-fire), Guam, Tinian, Anguar and Pelieu. In October, ''Tennessee's'' guns pounded the Leyte invasion area as U.S. forces returned to the [[Philippines]], and, on the night of 24–25 October, she helped sink the Japanese battleship ''Yamashiro'' in the Battle of Surigao Strait.

[[Image:G326899.jpg|right|200px|thumb|USS ''Tennessee'' in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 17 July 1945.  Extensive modifications to her and sister ''California'' radically altered their appearance.]]

[[Image:G326899.jpg|right|200px|thumb|USS ''Tennessee'' in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 17 July 1945.  Extensive modifications to her and sister ''California'' radically altered their appearance.]]

After a Stateside overhaul, ''Tennessee'' supported the Iwo Jima operation in February and March 1945, firing nearly 1400 fourteen-inch and over 6000 five-inch shells at targets on the small, but fiercely defended island. Beginning in late March, she bombarded Okinawa. Hit by a suicide plane on 12 April, ''Tennessee'' remained in action until 1 May, when she went to Ulithi for repairs, then returned to Okinawa to continue her gunfire support during June. In July and August, she operated in the waters off [[China]]. Following Japan's surrender, the battleship took part in the occupation effort before returning to the United States via the [[Cape of Good Hope]], arriving at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, early December 1946. Through the next year, she underwent the "mothballing" process and was decommissioned in February 1947. USS ''Tennessee'' was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for twelve more years and was sold for scrapping in July 1959.

After a Stateside overhaul, ''Tennessee'' supported the Iwo Jima operation in February and March 1945, firing nearly 1400 fourteen-inch and over 6000 five-inch shells at targets on the small, but fiercely defended island. Beginning in late March, she bombarded Okinawa. Hit by a suicide plane on 12 April, ''Tennessee'' remained in action until 1 May, when she went to Ulithi for repairs, then returned to Okinawa to continue her gunfire support during June. In July and August, she operated in the waters off [[China]]. Following Japan's surrender, the battleship took part in the occupation effort before returning to the United States via the [[Cape of Good Hope]], arriving at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, early December 1946. Through the next year, she underwent the "mothballing" process and was decommissioned in February 1947. USS ''Tennessee'' was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for twelve more years and was sold for scrapping in July 1959.