Changes

{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="300" style="margin-left:5px"

{{Ship

|align="center" colspan="2"|[[Image:H97316.jpg|300px]]

| name=''Tennessee''-class

|-

| image=H97316.jpg

!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy  no-repeat scroll top left;"|''Tennessee''-class

| caption=

|-

| flag-raw=[[File:US Naval Jack 48 stars.png|40px]]

| owner=

!align ="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[Image:US Naval Jack 48 stars.png|48px|United States Navy Jack]]

| built=

|-

| authorized= Fiscal year 1916

|-

| keellaid=

| commissioned=Tennessee, California

| retired=

| status=

| type=

| Fiscal Year 1916

| displ=33,190 t

|-

| length=624 ft

| Completed and commissioned:

| beam=97 ft 3 in

| ''Tennessee'', ''California''

| draft=31 ft

|-

| speed=21 knots

! colspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy;"| General characteristics

| test=

|-

| armament=Twelve 14"/50 main guns in four triple turrets<br>Fourteen 5"/51 guns in single casemate mountings  

| Displacement:

| aircraft=

| 33,190 t

|-

| 624 ft  

}}

|-

The design of the ''Tennessee''-class was a considerable improvement over that of earlier U.S. Navy battleships. The two ships featured the same twelve 14"/50 guns and armor protection as in the preceding [[New Mexico-class battleship|''New Mexico''-class]], and had a similar hull. However, their newly developed four-layer anti-torpedo system, built into the hull sides, and the revised arrangement of boiler and engine rooms permitted by their turbo-electric machinery greatly enhanced their combat survivability. Increased elevation of the main-battery guns and improved gunfire directors atop heavier "cage" masts allowed greater battle ranges. All of the five-inch secondary battery guns were now in the superstructure, where they were less vulnerable to heavy seas.

| 97 ft 3 in

|-

| 31 ft

|-

| 21 knots

|-

| Twelve 14"/50 main guns in four triple turrets; Fourteen 5"/51 guns in single casemate mountings

|}

The design of the ''Tennessee''-class was a considerable improvement over that of earlier U.S. Navy battleships. The two ships featured the same twelve 14"/50 guns and armor protection as in the preceding [[Idaho-class battleship|''Idaho''-class]], and had a similar hull. However, their newly developed four-layer anti-torpedo system, built into the hull sides, and the revised arrangement of boiler and engine rooms permitted by their turbo-electric machinery greatly enhanced their combat survivability. Increased elevation of the main-battery guns and improved gunfire directors atop heavier "cage" masts allowed greater battle ranges. All of the five-inch secondary battery guns were now in the superstructure, where they were less vulnerable to heavy seas.

These ships were active units of the inter-war Battle Force. They received modest improvements during the 1920s-1930s, among them heavier 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns, the addition of .50 caliber anti-aircraft machineguns and improved gunfire controls. Both were at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese began the Pacific War with their 7 December 1941 surprise attack. Following that disaster, the sunken ''California'' was out of the war for over two years, but the relatively lightly-damaged ''Tennessee'' was back in service by early 1942.

These ships were active units of the inter-war Battle Force. They received modest improvements during the 1920s-1930s, among them heavier 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns, the addition of .50 caliber anti-aircraft machineguns and improved gunfire controls. Both were at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese began the Pacific War with their 7 December 1941 surprise attack. Following that disaster, the sunken ''California'' was out of the war for over two years, but the relatively lightly-damaged ''Tennessee'' was back in service by early 1942.

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:

====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.

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.

 

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.