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USS Pennsylvania BB-38

Construction began on the battleship in 1913 and was completed in 1916. As a member of the Atlantic Fleet, the USS Pennsylvania was the flagship for the fleet. She had just completed training exercises when the United States entered World War I. Although she was a new ship, she remained in US waters because of the lack of fuel oversees. At the time, the United States only sent coal burning ships to aid the British Army.

The Pennsylvania made her first trip across the ocean at the end of the war. She was part of the large convoy that escorted President Wilson to France. She then returned to the United States for additional training. These training operations included joint maneuvers with the Pacific Fleet, where she was once again named flagship of the combined units. In 1922, the USS Pennsylvania was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Based in San Pedro, she patrolled the west coast, occasionally sailing to Hawaii and the Caribbean. Her schedule consisted of training maneuvers, short and longer cruises, including one to Australia, and periods of overhaul. Because of her inclusion in the Pacific Fleet, it was not unusual for the USS Pennsylvania to be in port at Pearl Harbor. This was exactly where she was on the morning of December 7, 1941.

The Pennsylvania fared better than many of the other ships that were moored at Pearl Harbor because she was in the dry dock area. She was able to open fire on the attacking planes of the Japanese even as she was hit by bombs and torpedoes. At the end of the attack fifteen sailors were known to be dead, another fourteen were missing in action and nearly forty were injured.

Because the attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States squarely into the second World War, and because five of the eight ships docked at Pearl Harbor that morning had been sunk, it was imperative that the Pennsylvania was repaired as quickly as possible. Because of the damage to Pearl Harbor's facilities, repairs were made in San Francisco.

The USS Pennsylvania, repaired and updated, participated in the Aleutian Islands campaign, otherwise known as the forgotten battle of World War II. The Aleutian Island campaign was aimed at driving out a small group of Japanese soldiers that had invaded small islands in the area. Because of the proximity to Alaska, and the United States, the military was uncomfortable with the situation, although the actual land occupied was inconsequential.

Once her duties were completed in the north, the Pennsylvania moved back to Pearl Harbor. After training exercises and a brief transport, carrying almost 800 passengers to California, she headed to the Gilbert Islands. The Pennsylvania's duties in battle included softening up targets before invasions and providing off shore fire support during invasions. During her time in the Far Pacific, the Pennsylvania led many battles, including in the New Hebrides and the Marianas and Guam.

Perhaps the most impressive battle of the USS Pennsylvania's career was the Battle of Surigao Strait. Six battleships, including the Pennsylvania, as well as destroyers and cruisers, stood ready for the approaching Japanese. With ships ahead and behind in the strait, the US was able to effectively trap the Japanese. The United States escaped the battle unscathed, while the Japanese lost two battleships and three destroyers, and a cruiser was sunk the next day.

After a trip back to the US for an overhaul, the USS Pennsylvania returned to the Pacific Theater. She was extensively damaged while in port at Buckner Bay. A hit from a torpedo killed twenty of her men and injured ten. The hole left by the torpedo nearly caused her to sink, but rapid thinking by her crew stemmed the flood of water until she could be repaired in Guam. The repairs completed in Guam were a temporary measure, and it was necessary to send the Pennsylvania home for more extensive repairs. The repairs did not hold and divers were sent to cut through a propeller and shaft that had shifted below the ship. The Pennsylvania completed the trip with her remaining propeller. The extensive damage and the age of the ship were not a promising combination. Repairs were made that allowed the Pennsylvania to be ocean worthy, and she was sent to participate, as a target, in atomic testing.

After her duties were complete, she was decommissioned and eventually sunk. Due to her service during World War II, the USS Pennsylvania received eight battle stars.

Life in the Navy during World War II was extremely dangerous. The men aboard the USS Pennsylvania and other ships took their life into their hands on a daily basis. Even today it is possible that navy men and those who built and overhauled these ships may feel the effects of their service. Anyone who spent time on a navy vessel during World War II may have been exposed to asbestos. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Pennsylvania BB-38, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Battleships Index

USS Alabama USS Arizona BB 39 USS Arkansas BB 33 USS California BB 44 USS Colorado BB 45 USS Idaho BB 42 USS Indiana USS Iowa BB 61 USS Maryland BB 46

USS Massachusetts BB 59 USS Mississippi BB 41 USS Missouri BB 63 USS Nevada BB 36 USS New Jersey BB 62 USS New Mexico BB 40 USS New York BB 34 USS North Carolina BB 55 USS Oklahoma BB 37

USS Pennsylvania BB 38 USS South Dakota BB 57 USS Tennessee BB 43 USS Texas-BB 35 USS Utah BB 31 USS Washington BB 56 USS West Virginia BB 48 USS Wisconsin BB 64

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