USS California (BB-44) during World War II

Entering service in 1921, USS California (BB-44) served the US Navy for over a quarter-century and saw combat operations during World War II (1939-1945). Dubbed The Prune Barge due to the large volume of the fruit exported by California in the early part of the 20th century, the battleship was the second vessel of the Tennessee-class and was severely damaged during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Raised from the harbors mud, it was repaired and heavily modernized. Rejoining the fleet in 1944, California took part in the Allies island-hopping campaign across the Pacific and played a central role in the Battle of the Surigao Strait. Though hit by a kamikaze in early 1945, the battleship was quickly repaired and returned to action that summer. Remaining in the Pacific through the end of the war, California later helped transport occupation troops to Japan. Design USS California  (BB-44) was the second ship of the  Tennessee-class of battleship.  The ninth  type of dreadnought battleship  (South Carolina, Delaware, Florida,  Wyoming,  New York,  Nevada,  Pennsylvania,  and  New Mexico) built for the US Navy, the  Tennessee-class was intended to be an enhanced variant  of the preceding  New Mexico-class.  The fourth class  to follow the Standard-type approach, which required ships to possess  similar operational and tactical attributes,  the  Tennessee-class was propelled  by  oil-fired boilers rather than  coal and employed an  Ã¢â‚¬Å"all or nothing† armor arrangement. This armor scheme  called for critical  areas of the ship, such as magazines and engineering, to be heavily protected while less important spaces were left unarmored.  Also, Standard-type battleships were required to have  a  minimum top speed of 21 knots and a tactical turn radius of 700 yards or less. Designed after the  Battle of Jutland, the  Tennessee-class class was the first to utilize the  lessons learned in the engagement.  These included enhanced armor below the waterline as well as fire control systems for both the main and secondary batteries which were placed on top of two large cage masts. As with the  New Mexico-class, the new ships carried twelve 14 guns in four triple turrets and fourteen 5 guns.  In an improvement over  its predecessors, the main battery on the  Tennessee-class could elevate its guns to 30 degrees which increased the weapons range by 10,000 yards.  Ordered on December 28, 1915, the new class comprised two ships: USS  Tennessee  (BB-43) and USS  California  (BB-44). Construction Laid down at the Mare Island  Naval Shipyard on October 25, 1916, construction of California advanced through the winter and following spring when the  US entered  World War I.  The last battleship built on the West Coast, it slid down the ways on  November 20,  1919, with Barbara Zane,  daughter of California  Governor William D. Stephens, serving as sponsor.  Completing construction,  California  entered commission on August 10, 1921,  with Captain Henry J.  Ziegemeier in command.  Ordered to join the Pacific Fleet, it immediately became this forces flagship. USS California (BB-44) shortly after completion in 1921. US Naval History and Heritage Command USS California (BB-44) - Overview Nation:  United StatesType:  BattleshipShipyard:  Mare Island Naval ShipyardLaid Down:  October 25, 1917Launched:  November 20, 1919Commissioned:  August 10, 1921Fate:  Sold for scrap Specifications (as built) Displacement:  32,300  tonsLength:  624.5 ft.Beam:  97.3  ft.Draft:  30.3  ft.Propulsion:  Turbo-electric transmission  turning 4 propellersSpeed:  21  knotsComplement:  1,083  men Armament (as built) 12  Ãƒâ€" 14 in. gun (4  Ãƒâ€" 3)14 Ãâ€" 5 in. guns2 Ãâ€" 21 in. torpedo tubes Interwar Years Over the next several years,  California  participated in a routine cycle of peacetime training, fleet maneuvers, and war games.  A high-performing ship, it won the Battle Efficiency Pennant in 1921 and 1922 as well as Gunnery E awards for 1925 and 1926.  In the former year,  California  led elements of the fleet on a goodwill cruise to Australia and New Zealand.  Returning to its usual operations in 1926, it underwent a brief modernization program in the winter of 1929/30 which saw enhancements to its anti-aircraft defenses and additional elevation added to its main battery. Though largely operating out of San Pedro, CA during the 1930s,  California  transited the Panama Canal in 1939 to visit the  Worlds Fair in New York City.  Returning to the Pacific, the battleship took part in Fleet Problem XXI in April 1940 which simulated the defense of the Hawaiian Islands.  Due to increasing tensions with Japan, the fleet remained in Hawaiian waters after the exercise and shifted its base to Pearl Harbor.  That year also saw  California  selected as one of the first six ships to receive the new RCA CXAM radar system. World War II Begins On December 7, 1941,  California  was moored at the southernmost berth on Pearl Harbors Battleship Row.  When the Japanese attacked that morning, the ship quickly sustained two torpedo hits which caused extensive flooding.  This was worsened by the fact that many watertight doors had been left open in preparation for an impending inspection.  The torpedoes were followed by a bomb hit that detonated an  anti-aircraft ammunition magazine. A second bomb, which just missed, exploded and ruptured several hull plates near the bow.  With the flooding out of control,  California  slowly sunk over the next three days before settling upright in the mud with just its superstructure above the waves.  In the attack, 100 of the crew were killed and 62 wounded.  Two of Californias crew, Robert R. Scott and Thomas Reeves,  posthumously received the Medal of Honor for the actions during the attack. USS California (BB-44) sinking after being torpedoed at Pearl Harbor. National Archives and Records Administration Salvage work commenced a short time later and on March 25, 1942,  California  was re-floated and moved to dry dock for temporary repairs.  On June 7, it departed under its own power for Puget Sound Navy Yard where it would begin a major modernization program.  Entering the yard, this plan saw significant alterations to the ships superstructure, the trunking of the two funnels into one, improved watertight compartmentalization, expansion of the anti-aircraft defenses, alterations to the secondary armament, and a widening of the hull to increase stability and torpedo protection.  This last change pushed  California  past the beam limitations for the Panama Canal essentially limiting it to wartime service in the Pacific. Rejoining the Fight Departing Puget Sound on January 31, 1944,  California  conducted shakedown cruises  off San Pedro before steaming west to aid in the invasion of the Marianas.  That June, the battleship joined combat operations when it provided fire support during the Battle of Saipan.  On June 14, California sustained a hit from a shore battery which inflicted  minor damage and caused 10 casualties (1 killed, 9 wounded).  In July and August, the battleship aided in the landings on Guam and Tinian.  On August 24, California  arrived at Espiritu Santo for repairs after a minor collision with  Tennessee.  Completed, it then departed for Manus on September 17 to join forces massing for the invasion of the Philippines. National Museum of the US Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Covering  the landings on Leyte between October 17 and 20,  California, part of Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorfs 7th Fleet Support Force, then shifted south to the Surigao Strait.  On the night of October 25, Oldendorf inflicted a decisive defeat on Japanese forces at the Battle of Surigao Strait.  Part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf, the engagement saw several Pearl Harbor veterans exact revenge on the enemy.  Returning to action in early January 1945,  California  provided fire support for the Lingayen Gulf landings on Luzon.  Remaining offshore, it was struck by a kamikaze on January 6 which killed 44 and wounded 155.  Completing operations in the Philippines, the battleship then departed for repairs at Puget Sound. Final Actions In the yard from February through late spring,  California  rejoined the fleet on June 15 when it arrived off Okinawa.  Aiding troops ashore during the final days of the Battle of Okinawa, it then covered minesweeping operations in the East China Sea.  With the end of the war in August,  California  escorted occupation troops to Wakayama, Japan and remained in Japanese waters until mid-October. Receiving orders to return to the United States, the battleship shaped a course through the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope as it was too wide for the Panama Canal.  Touching at Singapore, Colombo, and Cape Town, it arrived at Philadelphia on December 7.  Moved into reserve on August 7, 1946,  California was decommissioned on February 14, 1947.  Retained for twelve years, it was then sold for scrap on March 1, 1959.