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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-33 USS ARKANSAS
1910 - 1914

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Charlie - Tango
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1915 - 1919
1920 - 1926
1927 - 1940
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1944 - 1945
Post War - Sinking

Wyoming Class Battleship: Displacement 26,000 Tons, Dimensions, 562' (oa) x 93' 3" x 29' 7" (Max). Armament 12 x 12"/50, 21 x 5"/51, 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 11" Belt, 12" Turrets, 3" Decks, 11 1/2" Conning Tower. Machinery, 28,000 SHP; Direct Drive Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 20.5 Knots, Crew 1063.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by New York, Shipbuilding, Camden, NJ., January 25, 1910. Launched January 14, 1911. Commissioned September 17, 1912. Decommissioned July 29, 1946. Stricken August 15, 1946.
Fate: Sunk July 25, 1946, During Atomic Bomb Test "Baker" at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.
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For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
BB-32 Wyoming1.84kUncle Sam To Build World's Biggest Battleship
Lessons learned from the building of the Dreadnought incorporated into construction of what would be the Wyoming (BB-32) class.		Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library.
Photo by Deseret Evening News. (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 12 January 1907, Last Edition, Image 10, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas1.06kWorld's Biggest Sea Fighting Machine — Arkansas (BB-33) Launched Saturday
THE BATTLESHIP ARKANSAS, AS IT LOOKED BEFORE IT STARTED DOWN THE WAYS AT CAMDEN SHIPYARDS.		Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA.
Photo from The Tacoma Times. (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 18 January 1911, Image 8, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas778kGreat Fighting Craft Ready for the Water, and Its SponsorImage and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo by The Washington Times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 13 January 1911, Last Edition, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas566kArkansas (BB-33) immediately prior to being launched on 14 January 1911. Library of Congress photo # LC-B2-2134-5 via Mike Green.
BB-33 Arkansas1.19kArkansas (BB-33), Largest in American Navy, Glides Into Water.
GREAT DAY AT CAMDEN, N. J. Miss Macon Baptizes Vessel with Champagne, Despite Home Folks' Protest. 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 15 January 1911, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas 133k Miss Nancy Louise Macon is about to introduce the Arkansas (BB-33) to the liquid realm. Photo courtesy of US Navy, ussnewyork.com. via Scott Koen.
BB-33 Arkansas2.70kBIG BATTLESHIP ARKANSAS (BB-33) LAUNCHED AT CAMDEN. Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside.
Photo from the The San Francisco Call. (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 15 January 1911, Image 31, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas 450k Arkansas (BB-33) fitting out with the Williamsburg Bridge in the background. Digital ID: # LC-B2-2940-6. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, via flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress.
BB-33 Arkansas1.20kTHE NEW BATTLESHIP ARKANSAS (BB-33)
Which struck the edge of a reef while preparing for speed trials and was saved from probable serious damage by the construction of her compartments.
ARKANSAS HITS ROCKS AND ESCAPES
Newest American Battleship Runs 44 Feet Over a Reef in Penobscot Bay.
ACCEPTANCE TRIALS GO ON
Naval System of Small Compartments in the Hull Saves the Great Ship from Serious Harm. 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 05 June 1912, Image 5, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas1.09kBIG BATTLESHIP IN DRYDOCK.
During her speed trials off the coast of Maine the other day, the new battleship Arkansas (BB-33) ran onto an uncharted reef that damaged her bottom and forced her into drydock. Despite the accident the powerful destroyer exceeded her contract speed of 20& 3/4 knots by attaining 21 & 1/2 knots an hour.		Image and text provided by Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA.
Photo from the The Colfax Chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 20 July 1912, Image 6, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas877kNEW BATTLESHIP ARKANSAS (BB-33) IS THOUGHT TO BE FASTEST VESSEL OF HER CLASS.Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library.
Photo from the The Evening Standard.(Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 14 September 1912, Image 11, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas 144k Pres. Taft boards Arkansas (BB-33) on 14 October 1912 during the Naval Review. Digital ID: # 2404820229_c65d6780c9. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, courtesy of Tom Kermen.
BB-33 Arkansas 142k Civilians stroll the deck of the Arkansas (BB-33), possibly on 14 October 1912 during the Naval Review. Digital ID: # 2404820229_c65d6780c9. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, courtesy of Tom Kermen.
BB-33 Arkansas 141k Peeling potatoes on the Arkansas (BB-33). Digital ID: # 2387161881_f1e8fd92ab_o. LC-B2-2446-8. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, courtesy of Tom Kermen.
BB-33 Arkansas 315k Playing Ace y-ducey on the Arkansas (BB-33). Digital ID: # 2387992624_c2b49c7370_o. LC-B2-2446-9. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, courtesy of Tom Kermen.
BB-33 Arkansas 305k Signaling from the Arkansas (BB-33). Digital ID: ggbain 10838. # 2387991768_541b175986_o. LC-B2-2446-5. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, from the George Grantham Bain Collection, courtesy of Tom Kermen.
BB-33 Arkansas 188k Captain Roy Campbell Smith was the commanding officer of the battleship Arkansas (BB-33) from 17 Sept. 1912 to 13 Oct. 1914. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo.
BB-33 Arkansas 154k Port side underway, 15 October 1912. National Archives photo # 19-N-13581.
BB-33 Arkansas554kPresident Taft and Secretary Meyer on Their Inspection Visit to Super-Dreadnought Arkansas (BB-33).Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library.
Photo from the The Logan Republican. (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 05 November 1912, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas549kBattleship Arkansas (BB-33) Mightiest In World; Interesting View of Life on Board Her.Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library.
Photo from the The Logan Republican. (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 09 November 1912, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-32 Wyoming110kUnknown battleship photo quite likely taken during trials or shakedown period due to the text written "Making twenty knots" possibly circa 1912-13.
Short Answer: This is either the Wyoming (BB-32) or Arkansas (BB-33).
Key Clues: Conning Tower in front of Signal Bridge Deck, which angles back from the tower, wet 5"/51 guns below this deck, saluting battery above, command bridge on mast above, and arrangement of search lights.
Long Answer: The date of the photo is definitely prior to America's entry into WW I. The British insisted that an enclosed pilot houses was a necessity when operating in the North Atlantic and North Sea and the USN added them to all battleships sent to England. The only weather protection this ship has is awnings and the canvas wind/spray breaks tied to the deck stanchions. The other clue is the search lights on top of the boat cranes rather than a 3" AA gun; another addition before going "Over There".
This is definitely a 12" gunned dreadnought but not one of the South Carolina's (BB-26/27). They have a prominent plated supports at the outer edge of the signal bridge which would be visible where the 5"/51 is peeking out above the awning. Also note the saluting guns on the deck above.
The Delaware class' (BB-28/29) originally had the forward most 5"/51 guns in casemates on the second deck foreword of the No. 1 barbette. This proved to be too wet and the casemates were removed and plated over and the guns were move to a "wet" mount on the 02 Deck beside the foremast and under the signal bridge deck (03 deck). The 03 deck also completely surrounds the conning tower allowing a walkway in front of the conning tower. The ship in the photo lacks this walkway. Also I have not seen any photos of either Delaware (BB-28) or North Dakota (BB-29) with only 2 searchlights mounted on the foremast in an over/under arrangement. So I do not think this either of the Delaware's.
The Florida's (BB-30/31) can be eliminated as all of this class' secondary battery were mounted in casemates in the forecastle or on the Second Deck amidships and aft. They have no "wet" mount 5"/51's though the saluting battery was located in this position. Also their signal bridge deck extends straight back from the conning tower to the bridge wings, which extends outboard perpendicularly.
The USNHC page for the "Arkansas" has a photo album from a European cruise taken in the fall of 1913, just a year after commissioning. The first photo is an over-all picture of the Arkansas in which she is carrying the same search light arrangement as in this photo. Assuming that the cover photo from the album was taken at the same time as the other photos, its reasonable to assume that it represents the Arkansas at or near the time of commissioning. Photos of the Wyoming attributed to her trials show her sporting 6 search lights mounted on the fore mast. All of this suggest that the photo is probably the Arkansas in 1912 or 1913. 		USN photo courtesy of Jerry Crow. Photo I.d. & text courtesy of Chris Hoehn.
BB-33 Arkansas 242k Arkansas (BB-33) underway, shortly after commissioning. Photograph by Edward M. Mitchell courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
BB-33 Arkansas 1.00k Arkansas (BB-33) sometime shortly after commissioning in 1912. Photo by William H. Rau from "Our Navy", published by the L.H. Nelson Co., Portland, Maine in 1917, courtesy of David Johnston (USNR).
BB-33 Arkansas662kArkansas (BB-33) in dry dock # 4 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs to bottom, 9 April 1913. Photo No. f1050n2, Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flickr.com.
BB-28 Delaware319k Delaware (BB-28) with what probably are Utah (BB-31) & Arkansas (BB-33) in 1913.Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Haberlein & Ronald J. Nash.
Library of Congress Reference number # LC-H261-3207, courtesy of Tracy White.
BB-33 Arkansas 83k Dec. 1913 – Rear Admiral Cameron Mc. R. Winslow, commanding the first division, made the Arkansas (BB-33) his flagship. The first division also included the battleships Florida (BB-30), Utah (BB-31), Delaware (BB-28), and New York (BB-34).
After Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger retires Winslow will become Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. Rear Admiral Frank E. Beatty will replace Winslow as Commander of First Division. 		Digital ID: # ggbain 12540. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
BB-33 Arkansas1.72kBATTLESHIP ARKANSAS (BB-33) FIGHTS WINDS AND TIDEImage and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation.
Photo from the The Sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 03 April 1914, Image 7, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-32 Wyoming989kWILSON ORDERS GREAT BATTLESHIP FLEET TO COMPEL HUERTA TO SALUTE THE FLAG; DICTATOR STILL REFUSES REPARATION
BATTLESHIP ARKANSAS (BB-33), FLAGSHIP OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET ORDERED TO TAMPICO.		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo by New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 15 April 1914, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-18 Connecticut489kMARINES LAND AT VERA CRUZ
Badger's Ships Ordered to Blockade Harbor of Vera Cruz
Five of the Battleships Which Will Participate in Blockade		 Image and text provided by University of Oregon, Knight Library; Eugene, OR.
Photo courtesy of The Evening Herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906- 1942, 21 April 1914, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-12 Ohio507kVERACRUZ TAKEN AFTER BOMBARDMENT
PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE STURDY FIGHTERS OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET STEAMING OUT OF HAMPTON ROADS FOR MEXICAN WATERS
LEFT TO RIGHT: THE OHIO (BB-12), THE VERMONT (BB-20), THE CONNECTICUT (BB-18), THE NORTH DAKOTA (BB-29), THE DELAWARE (BB-28), THE FLORIDA (BB-30), THE UTAH (BB-31), AND THE ARKANSAS (BB-33).		Image and text provided by University of Oregon, Knight Library; Eugene,OR.
Photo from Medford Mail Tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, 22 April 1914, SECOND EDITION, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
U.S. Atlantic Fleet battleships71k U.S. Atlantic Fleet battleships steaming toward Mexican waters in 1914. Photograph copyrighted in 1914 by E. Muller, Jr., and Pach.
The following battleships that were dispatched to Mexican waters included the:
Ohio (BB-12), Virginia (BB-13), Nebraska (BB-14), Georgia (BB-15), New Jersey (BB-16), Rhode Island (BB-17), Connecticut (BB-18), Louisiana (BB-19), Vermont (BB-20), Kansas (BB-21), Minnesota (BB-22), Mississippi (BB-23), Idaho (BB-24), New Hampshire (BB-25), South Carolina (BB-26), Michigan (BB-27), Delaware (BB-28), North Dakota (BB-29), Florida (BB-30), Utah (BB-31), Wyoming (BB-32), Arkansas (BB-33), New York (BB-34) & Texas (BB-35) .
In insets are (left to right):
Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo,
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher,
Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger. 		USNHC # NH 60322.
BB-33 Arkansas1.19kALERT LIFE ON THE BRIDGE OF AN AMERICAN BATTLESHIP.
The drawing shows Admiral Winslow on the deck of the Arkansas (BB-33) in November 1913.
From a Painting by Henry Reuterdahl		Image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation.
Photo from the The Sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 26 April 1914, FOURTH SECTION PICTORIAL MAGAZINE, Image 35, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
U.S. Atlantic Fleet battleships71k U.S. Atlantic Fleet battleships steaming toward Mexican waters in 1914. Photograph copyrighted in 1914 by E. Muller, Jr., and Pach.
The following battleships that were dispatched to Mexican waters included the:
Ohio (BB-12), Virginia (BB-13), Nebraska (BB-14), Georgia (BB-15), New Jersey (BB-16), Rhode Island (BB-17), Connecticut (BB-18), Louisiana (BB-19), Vermont (BB-20), Kansas (BB-21), Minnesota (BB-22), Mississippi (BB-23), Idaho (BB-24), New Hampshire (BB-25), South Carolina (BB-26), Michigan (BB-27), Delaware (BB-28), North Dakota (BB-29), Florida (BB-30), Utah (BB-31), Wyoming (BB-32), Arkansas (BB-33), New York (BB-34) & Texas (BB-35).
In insets are (left to right):
Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo,
Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher,
Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger. 		USNHC # NH 60322.
BB-33 Arkansas260kGigs transferring personnel from the Arkansas (BB-33) in 1914.Library of Congress photo # LC-H261-3748 courtesy of Tracy White.
BB-32 Wyoming88k Battleships of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet steaming in column formation, circa 1914. The leading ship is either Wyoming (BB-32) or Arkansas (BB-33). Note the dense smoke produced by these coal-burning ships. USNHC # NH 105079 Photographed by Enrique Muller, New York.
BB-33 Arkansas3.73kOUR FLAGSHIP, ARKANSAS (BB-33).
Admiral Badger going aboard his flagship, the Arkansas, at Old Point, iust before she sailed for Tampico.		Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA & Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the The Tacoma Times. Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 21 April 1914, Image 8, & by The Washington Times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 30 April 1914, HOME EDITION, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas676kSailor of Battleship Arkansas (BB-33) Describes How Snipers Picked Off Uncle Sam's Fighters and Then Got Their Deserts.Image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation.
Photo from the The Evening World. (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 08 May 1914, Baseball Final, Image 4, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-33 Arkansas 273k Postcard photo by Enrique Muller Jr. of the Arkansas (BB-33) underway sometime after 1914. Photo courtesy of SK/3 Tommy Trampp.
Additional Arkansas Images
1 General View Of Arkansas From The Library Of Congress Server.
USS ARKANSAS BB-33 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. John R Meyer
Address: None Listed
Phone: 630-968-4991
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
U.S.S. ARKANSAS-Bikini Able and Baker Test Underwater Images.
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Battleship Photo Index Page

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