USS Arizona Battle Ship

THE PENNSYLVANIA CLASS

The Pennsylvanias were an evolution of the Nevadas of the previous years programme, with all or nothing protection: massive armour where it mattered, but in some areas they had only structural plating which, while preventing AP shells from detonating, would instead allow them to pass straight through. USS Arizona (BB39) was not identical to her sister-ship, which was constructed as a flagship from the outset, with extra accommodation and command facilities. Built by the New York Navy Yard, she was laid down on 16 March 1914, launched on 19 June 1915 and completed on 17 October 1917. She saw no combat during WWII, and was sunk by Japanese aircraft during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour which brought the USA into the war. She remains where she sank, as a memorial to the men who died aboard her.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

USS Nevada pioneered turbine machinery for US capital ships, and Arizona had the same basic arrangement, though with engines twenty percent more powerful. The most important improvement the new class introduced was their twelve 1 4in (356mm) guns, arranged in four triple turrets, an arrangement which became almost standard in the US Navy (the exception was the Colorados) thereafter. Each gun can be fired independently.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Battleship
Machinery: 4-shaft, Curtis geared turbines producing 31,500shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 185.4m (608ft); beam, 29.6m (97ft)
Displacement: 31,400t standard, 32,570t full load
Draught: 8.8m (28.9ft full load)
Complement: 915
Speed: 21 knots (39km/h)