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====USS ''Tennessee'' (BB-43)====

====USS ''Tennessee'' (BB-43)====

''Tennessee'' was commissioned in June 1920, and operated in the Atlantic area for a year before being transferred to the U.S. Pacific coast, where she was based for nearly two decades. As a unit of the Battleship Force, she participated in regular training and fleet exercises, winning the "E" for excellence in gunnery during the mid-1920s. In 1925, ''Tennessee'' transited the Pacific to visit [[New Zealand]] and [[Australia]]. With tensions with Japan rising, her base was moved forward to Pearl Harbor in 1940.

''Tennessee'' was commissioned in June 1920, and operated in the Atlantic area for a year before being transferred to the U.S. Pacific coast, where she was based for nearly two decades. As a unit of the Battleship Force, she participated in regular training and fleet exercises, winning the "E" for excellence in gunnery during the mid-1920s. In 1925, ''Tennessee'' transited the Pacific to visit [[New Zealand]] and [[Australia]]. With tensions with Japan rising, her base was moved forward to Pearl Harbor in 1940.

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.

 

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.