USS Arkansas (BB-33)

The USS Arkansas BB 33 is the only building in its class. It was built on January 25, 1910, and was launched on January 14, 1914 in Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipyard Co. He took part in the First World War, where he had to fight. On the eve of the Second World War, the ship had already toured the world. At the beginning of the war (1939 - 1940), it was used for the transport of material to Hampton. It is then armed with 12 305 mm guns in 6 turrets of 2, 16 guns of 127 mm in 16 turrets of 1, 8 guns of 76 mm in 8 turrets of 1 and 3 aircraft. Following this lack of arming, it will be rearmed thereafter for 6 guns of 127 mm, 10 guns of 76 mm DP, 36 guns of 40 mm AA.  

During the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the battleship was anchored in Atlantic Maine. It will be used first to support the landing of Allied troops in Africa and then was used during the disembarkation of June 6, 1944. Indeed it will be positioned in front of the beach of Omaha. It will open fire on the barracks and blockhouse at 05:52 precise (English time). He received air attacks but continued his artillery support. On June 25, 1944, he took part in the capture of cherbourg, harassing the enemy, although he was also targeted by the German coastal artillery.

He was never touched. The next day Cherbourg fell. He then withdrew from the Atlantic and participated in Operation "Anvil" (invasion of the French coast between Toulon and Cannes) on August 15, 1944, where he took part in an artillery support. Finally, it will be used during the battle of the Pacific, for the landing of Iwo Jima for example, as well as on the raid on Okinawa ...

At the end of the war he was to be used as soon as possible to return the triumphant American soldiers back home. He was disarmed in July 1946 and was removed from the naval registers of the ships on August 15, 1946.

Specifications :  

Type: Battleship
Crew: 1,650 men
Displacement: 26,100 tonnes
Height (outside the tower): 171.30 meters
Length (flotation): 169.32 meters
Width : 32.39 meters
Draught : 7.92 meters
Machines: 4 turbines developing 28,000 horsepower
Speed: 21 knots or 38.89 km / h
Armament: 12 guns of 305 mm in 6 turrets of 2
                   16 guns of 127 mm in 16 turrets of 1
                   8 guns of 76 mm in 8 turrets of 1
                   3 planes

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