Changes

The ''Nevadas'' were active in the Atlantic before and during the [[First World War]], deploying to the European war zone in 1918 to help protect Allied supply lines. Their service continued after the "Great War", though by the early 1920s they were the oldest of the nation's main Battle Fleet units. Both were extensively modernized in 1927-29, receiving greater elevation for their heavy guns, modern gunfire controls in new tripod masts, and two catapults for scouting and observation airplanes. Their 5"/51 anti-destroyer guns were moved to dryer locations in the superstructure and a battery of 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns was added. Protection against shellfire, bombs and torpedoes was improved, increasing their width to nearly 108 feet.

The ''Nevadas'' were active in the Atlantic before and during the [[First World War]], deploying to the European war zone in 1918 to help protect Allied supply lines. Their service continued after the "Great War", though by the early 1920s they were the oldest of the nation's main Battle Fleet units. Both were extensively modernized in 1927-29, receiving greater elevation for their heavy guns, modern gunfire controls in new tripod masts, and two catapults for scouting and observation airplanes. Their 5"/51 anti-destroyer guns were moved to dryer locations in the superstructure and a battery of 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns was added. Protection against shellfire, bombs and torpedoes was improved, increasing their width to nearly 108 feet.

Both ships were sunk in the 7 December 1941 attack on [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], with ''Nevada's'' experience proving that the watertight integrity of older warships was unlikely to be satisfactory. ''Oklahoma'' was a total loss, but ''Nevada'' was salvaged and again modernized during 1942, exchanging her old secondary battery for a new one of twin-mounted 5"/38 guns, plus many 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft machineguns. She served in both the European and Pacific theaters, providing gunfire support for amphibious operations. ''Nevada's'' final mission was as a [[Operation Crossroads|target]] for nuclear and conventional weapons in 1946-48.

Both ships were sunk in the 7 December 1941 attack on [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], with ''Nevada's'' experience proving that the watertight integrity of older warships was unlikely to be satisfactory. ''Oklahoma'' was a total loss, but ''Nevada'' was salvaged and again modernized during 1942, exchanging her old secondary battery for a new one of twin-mounted 5"/38 guns, plus many 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft machine guns. She served in both the European and Pacific theaters, providing gunfire support for amphibious operations. ''Nevada's'' final mission was as a [[Operation Crossroads|target]] for nuclear and conventional weapons in 1946-48.

The ''Nevada''-class numbered two ships, both built in east coast private shipyards:

The ''Nevada''-class numbered two ships, both built in east coast private shipyards:

''Nevada'' returned to combat during the Attu landings in May 1943. Transferred to the Atlantic in mid-1943, her 14" and 5" guns were actively employed during the [[Operation Overlord|Normandy Invasion]] in June 1944 and the Southern [[France]] operation in August and September. The battleship then returned to the Pacific, where she assisted with the invasions of [[Iwo Jima]] and [[Okinawa]] in 1945. Though damaged by a suicide plane on 27 March and by an artillery shell on 5 April, ''Nevada'' remained in action off Okinawa until June 1945. She spent the remaining months of World War II in the Western Pacific, preparing for the invasion of Japan.

''Nevada'' returned to combat during the Attu landings in May 1943. Transferred to the Atlantic in mid-1943, her 14" and 5" guns were actively employed during the [[Operation Overlord|Normandy Invasion]] in June 1944 and the Southern [[France]] operation in August and September. The battleship then returned to the Pacific, where she assisted with the invasions of [[Iwo Jima]] and [[Okinawa]] in 1945. Though damaged by a suicide plane on 27 March and by an artillery shell on 5 April, ''Nevada'' remained in action off Okinawa until June 1945. She spent the remaining months of World War II in the Western Pacific, preparing for the invasion of Japan.

With the coming of peace, ''Nevada'' steamed back to Hawaii. She was too old for retention in the post-war fleet, and was assigned to serve as a target during the July 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini, in the Marshall Islands. That experience left her damaged and radioactive, and she was formally decommissioned in August 1946. After two years of inactivity, USS ''Nevada'' was towed to sea off the Hawaiian islands and sunk by gunfire and torpedos.

With the coming of peace, ''Nevada'' steamed back to Hawaii. She was too old for retention in the post-war fleet, and was assigned to serve as a target during the July 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini, in the Marshall Islands. That experience left her damaged and radioactive, and she was formally decommissioned in August 1946. After two years of inactivity, USS ''Nevada'' was towed to sea off the Hawaiian islands and sunk by gunfire and torpedoes.

====USS ''Oklahoma'' (BB-37)====

====USS ''Oklahoma'' (BB-37)====

[[Image:G410534.jpg|right|200px|thumb|USS ''Okalahoma'' on 29 March 1943, while she was under salvage at Pearl Harbor. She had capsized and sunk after receiving massive torpedo damage during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid.  Considered a total loss, she sank while under tow to a west coast scrap yard in 1947.]]

[[Image:G410534.jpg|right|200px|thumb|USS ''Oklahoma'' on 29 March 1943, while she was under salvage at Pearl Harbor. She had capsized and sunk after receiving massive torpedo damage during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid.  Considered a total loss, she sank while under tow to a west coast scrap yard in 1947.]]

''Oklahoma'' was commissioned in May 1916 and generally operated in the Atlantic over the next five years. In mid-1918, ''Oklahoma'' went to European waters to help protect convoys. Late in that year and in June 1919 she escorted President [[Woodrow Wilson]] during his voyages to and from France. In 1921, the battleship moved to the Pacific, visiting the west coast of [[South America]] prior to joining the Pacific Fleet. During most of the rest of the decade, ''Oklahoma'' served with the Battle Fleet during its many exercises, drills and Fleet Problems. She participated in the Fleet's trans-Pacific cruise to Australia and New Zealand in mid-1925. In the summer of 1927, she transported Naval Academy Midshipmen from the east to the west coast during their annual training cruise.

''Oklahoma'' was commissioned in May 1916 and generally operated in the Atlantic over the next five years. In mid-1918, ''Oklahoma'' went to European waters to help protect convoys. Late in that year and in June 1919 she escorted President [[Woodrow Wilson]] during his voyages to and from France. In 1921, the battleship moved to the Pacific, visiting the west coast of [[South America]] prior to joining the Pacific Fleet. During most of the rest of the decade, ''Oklahoma'' served with the Battle Fleet during its many exercises, drills and Fleet Problems. She participated in the Fleet's trans-Pacific cruise to Australia and New Zealand in mid-1925. In the summer of 1927, she transported Naval Academy Midshipmen from the east to the west coast during their annual training cruise.