USS South Dakota BB-57

The construction of the battleship USS South Dakota began in 1939 and was completed in 1941. She was a huge ship at over 680 feet in length and traveled at speeds of nearly 28 knots. After her initial training, she headed through the Panama Canal to the Tonga Islands. Just a few days after her arrival she was damaged by coral. The sea in the area was uncharted and the damage required her to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

After repairs were complete, she headed back out to join forces with the Enterprise, an aircraft carrier. The objective of their mission was to stop any advances by the Japanese. This was thought to be a routine patrolling mission, but tensions in the area were growing.

Less than two weeks into her mission, the Battle of Santa Cruz erupted. The duty of the USS South Dakota during this time was to protect the Enterprise and her planes. While the South Dakota did manage to fend off many attacks, she was also hit by enemy fire.

During the Battle of Santa Cruz, the USS South Dakota was given the credit for downing 26 Japanese airplanes. Shortly after the battle, the South Dakota collided with a destroyer, the USS Mahan, and both sustained damage. The ships were still seaworthy and headed to port in New Caledonia where a repair ship was waiting.

After repairs, the South Dakota joined another battleship, the USS Washington, and four destroyers, the Benham, the Gwin, the Preston and the Walke. Together, they headed toward Savo Island. En route, the ships encountered an overnight battle that left massive destruction. Heavy gunfire in the night led to major losses.

By the time the battle ended, the USS South Dakota had been hit over 40 times. With no radio or radar capabilities left, she headed back to New Caledonia. Two of the destroyers were sunk in the attack, while the third was abandoned and intentionally sunk because of extensive damage. Repairs in port at New Caledonia by a repair ship enabled the South Dakota to return to the United States, where she was overhauled and repaired. Following repairs, she spent time in the Atlantic Fleet and operated as part of the British Navy.

The South Dakota eventually headed back to the Pacific Theater where she would spend the rest of the war as a participant of many great battles. First on the itinerary was the Gilbert Islands, where she took part in the Gilbert Island raids. The South Dakota's task was to provide pre-invasion fire and additional fire support during the landings on the islands.

From the Gilbert Islands, she headed to the Truk Atoll and then the Marianas. During this time she shot down four Japanese airplanes. On the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the main deck of the South Dakota was hit by the Japanese, killing 24 service men and wounding nearly 30 more. Even with a gaping hole in her deck she maintained her position throughout the battle.

This first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea was known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot. By the end of the day, the Japanese had over 300 airplanes lost in battle. After the battle she returned to Puget Navy Yard and received repairs and installation of new equipment. The USS South Dakota was instrumental in bombing attacks over the next several months, traveling through the Pacific.

The South Dakota was part of the historical first gunfire attack on Japan by heavy warships when she took part in the raid on the Kamaishi Steel Works Plant. At the end of the war, the USS South Dakota triumphantly entered the Tokyo Bay before heading home to San Pedro, California. From there she headed to Philadelphia where she was overhauled and placed in the Atlantic Fleet. The USS South Dakota was decommissioned in 1947 and was sold for scrap in 1962.

During her career, the South Dakota was awarded 13 battle stars for her service. She had the honor of participating in every major battle of the second World War and was the most highly decorated ship of the war. The courage of the men aboard the USS South Dakota was no less. Today, many navy veterans are concerned about the exposure they received to asbestos during their military career. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS South Dakota BB-57 or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, check with an asbestos attorney to learn about your rights to compensation.

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