USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48)



Moored outboard Tennessee, West Virginia was exposed to a withering port-side torpedo attack, suffering at least nine torpedo impacts; two of which may have detonated deep inside her hull via holes created by earlier torpedo explosions. In addition, she was stricken by two dud 800-kg bombs. One pierced turret three, and the second passed through the foretop and landed on the second deck. She was saved from capsizing only by prompt counter-flooding by her crew. The most severely damaged battleship to be raised and repaired, she rejoined the

fleet in 1944.


SHIPS DATA

NAME: West Virginia

HULL NUMBER: BB-48

DIMENSIONS:

Displacement: 31,500 tons (standard), 33,590 tons (full load)
Waterline Length: 600'
Length Overall: 624'
Maximum Beam: 108'
Maximum Draft: 33'

ARMAMENT:

8x16"/45cal Mk. 1 (dual mountings)
10x5"/51cal Mk. 15 (single mountings)
8x5"/25cal Mk. 11 (single mountings)


.

PHOTO GALLERY

HISTORY
FIGHTING FIRES AMIDSHIPS
WEST VIRGINIA POST-RAISING
WEST VIRGINIA, 1944
VIEW OFF PORT-BOW, POST-ATTACK
WITH TENNESSEE, BURNING
RAISED FLAG ON FANTAIL
PORT SUPERSTRUCTURE DAMAGE, CLOSE-UP #1
PORT SUPERSTRUCTURE DAMAGE, CLOSE-UP #2
VIEW OF PORT DAMAGE, WIDE-ANGLE
TORPEDO DAMAGE
ONBOARD VIEW OF BOW, OKLAHOMA


FROM THE ROBERT F. WALDEN COLLECTION

BATTLESHIP ROW WAS GENEROUSLY GRANTED USE OF THESE
VERY LARGE, HIGH RESOLUTION FILES BY THE HAWAII WAR
RECORDS DEPOSITORY
, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, AT MANOA.

Cat. #WVa01
Cat. #WVa04
Cat. #WVa05
Cat. #WVa07
Cat. #WVa16
Cat. #WVa30
Cat. #WVa31
Cat. #WVa33
Cat. #WVa34
Cat. #WVa37



© 1997-2001 taskforce-17@msn.com