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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-39 ARIZONA
1944 - 1997


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1914 - 1918
1919 - 1929
1930 - 1937
1938 - Dec. 6, 1941
Dec. 7, 1941 - 1943
1998 - Present


Pennsylvania Class Battleship: Displacement 31,400 Tons, Dimensions, 608' 6" (oa) x 97' 1" x 29' 10" (Max). Armament 12 x 14"/45 14 x 5"/51, 4 x 3"/50 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 13 1/2" Belt, 18" Turrets, 3" +2" Decks, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 34,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 915.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by New York Naval Ship Yard, March 16, 1914. Launched June 19, 1915. Commissioned October 17, 1916. Decommissioned (War Loss). Stricken December 1, 1942.
Fate: Sunk by Japanese aircraft during attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Arizona still rests in the berth where she sank. A Monument to her crew was built over the wreck in 1962. 1,177 Officers and Men were lost with the ship and remain on duty inside her rusting hulk. The wreck is still bleeding fuel oil, more than 60 years after her sinking.

In Memorium:

In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 19th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S.sailors who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay..."
Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via quinlanroad.com.
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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
BB-39 Arizona144 Had Arizona (BB-39) survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, she would have been similarily altered to this rendering. Note the SC air search and MK3 fire control radar antanneas, the MK 37 fire control directors and twin 5/inch 38 gun mounts, the 1.1-inch and 20mm machine guns, and the measure 12 camouflage painting scheme. Text & drawing by Alan E. Chesley, courtesy of Leeward Publications, P.O. Box 149, Annapolis MD 21404.
BB-39 Arizona71k The Arizona (BB-39) after turrets were determined to be salaveable after her sinking. The Army in 1943 intended to incorporate these turrets into the costal defense of Hawaii. Named Batteries Pennsylvania and Arizona, they were to be placed on the tip of Mokapu Peninsula, to cover the eastern portions of Oahu, and on Kahe Point, to cover the south and west, respectivley. Only battery Pennsylvania was completed and it was test fired on V-J day when it instantly became obsolete. Courtesy of Leeward Publications, P.O. Box 149, Annapolis MD 21404.
BB-39 Arizona131k Here armor is being assembled for battery Pennsylvania. Courtesy of Leeward Publications, P.O. Box 149, Annapolis MD 21404.
BB-39 Arizona33kDrawing from underwater survey conducted on Arizona (BB-39) showing her lying on the bottom.Courtesy of the National Park Service.
BB-39 Arizona397Drawing from underwater survey conducted on Arizona (BB-39) showing her lying on the bottom and detailing her damage. Courtesy of the National Park Service.
BB-39 Arizona161kDamage to the Arizona (BB-39) from the attack and salvage operations. This image shows the current state of the Arizona, compared to a drawing of its pre-war condition in the background. Note in particular the way the two forward turrets have dropped.
The exploding magazines were directly under these turrets and destroyed the structural support for the gun turrets and barbettes on which they rested. The foremast toppled forward for the same reason. During salvage operations, divers attempting to enter this area from further aft reported that the ship's decks gradually pinched together until further progress forward became impossible.
Salvage operations involved removing the two main gun turrets aft, all of the ships superstructure and the guns from turret two. In the area of the most damage, the hull above the ship's main armor belt is missing, apparently as a combination of the explosion and subsequent salvage which involved the removal of metal from the hull that was projecting out from the side of the ship. The plans of the sunken Arizona are from the publication, Submerged cultural resources study. Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor national historic landmark, the report by the National Park Service on the survey work they did during the 1980's. The background drawing is adapted from Breyer, Siegfried. Battleships and Battle Cruisers, 1905-1970.
The University of Arizona Library
BB-39 Arizona84kAdmiral Arthur W. Radford, USN, Commander in Chief, Pacific, and CinC, Pacific Fleet leads the procession during memorial services on board the wreck of Arizona (BB-39), 7 December 1950, on the 9th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-K-11244, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona117kArizona Memorial Pearl Harbor. The ID pennant on the motor whaleboat is ComDesDiv 132. The picture was taken from O'Brien DD-725 in 1954. Courtesy of Roy Thomas
BB-39 Arizona46kView of the Arizona (BB-39) from the flight deck of Essex(CV-9) in 1954. Contributed by AT3 Richard J. Havener.
BB-39 Arizona86kBennington (CVA-20) passes the wreck of Arizona (BB-39) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Memorial Day, 31 May 1958. Bennington's crew is in formation on the flight deck, spelling out a tribute to the Arizona crewmen who were lost in the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Note the outline of Arizona's hull and the flow of oil from her fuel tanks. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 1036055, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona102kArizona Memorial Pearl Harbor, Hawaii photographed on 29 May 1962, with Ford Island in the background, at left.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # USN 1061040, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona75kThe U.S. Flag flies over the memorial, as seen from its interior, July 1962.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-1072409, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona83kArizona Memorial Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The marble northwestern interior wall of the memorial, with the names of the men lost with Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Photographed by PH2 Thomas on 24 January 1963.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # USN 1067058, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona85kCoral Sea (CVA-43) passes the Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 18 April 1963. Photographed by PHCS Robert A. Carlisle, USN.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97325-KN, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona184kPhotographed on 21 August 1963, looking toward the morning sun. Photographed by PH1 R.C. Moen.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # USN 1088057, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona57Wreck of the Arizona (BB-39), May 17 1969.Copyright by Richard Leonhardt.
BB-39 Arizona214k Mural Dedication Program for the Arizona Memorial. The mural was painted by New York artist Kipp Soldwedel. It was unveiled and dedicated on Memorial Day 1969. Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-39 Arizona485kA view of one of the two bells used on the Arizona (BB-39). The bell has been placed at the entrance to the Arizona Memorial. In the background, a ceremony commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is taking place, 7 Dec 1981. USN photo # DN-SN-82-04604, by JOCS John D. Burlage, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona100kThe Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Tracy D. Connors, USN (Retired), June 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97326-KN, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona625k A closeup of a model of the wrecked Arizona (BB-39), 28 Feb 1988. The model, designed by Robert Sumerall, is based on architectural drawings and measurements taken by Navy divers from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One during Project Sea Mark, a four-year undersea survey and mapping study of naval historic sites. The study is being conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Park Services's Submerged Cultural Resource Unit. USN photo # DN-ST-88-03857, by Lt Cmdr. Tracy Connors, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona618k A close-up view of architectural drawings used by members of Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One as they survey the wreck of the Arizona (BB-39), during Project Sea Mark, a four-year undersea survey and mapping study of naval historic sites. USN photo # DN-ST-88-03858, by Lt Cmdr. Tracy Connors, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona593k A 1/96th scale model of the wrecked Arizona (BB-39) which was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. USN photo # DN-ST-88-01462, by Lt Cmdr. Tracy Connors,from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona467k A 1/96th scale model of the wrecked Arizona (BB-39) and the memorial which spans its hull. USN photo # DN-ST-88-01463, by Lt Cmdr. Tracy Connors, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona142k Members of Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1 and a Park Service member examine a 1/96th scale model of the wrecked Arizona (BB-39) and the memorial which spans its hull. USN photo # DN-ST-88-01465, by Lt Cmdr. Tracy Connors, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona60k A bugler plays taps as the remains of a crew member of the battleshipArizona (BB-39) are committed to the sunken vessel during a memorial service at the Arizona Memorial on 13 Sep 1990. The remains, stored in a canister, will be dropped into an opening in the battleship's submerged hull. USN photo # DN-ST-90-11917, by PH1 Mike D.P. Flynn, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Photo added 10/16/06.
BB-39 Arizona520k An aerial view of the Arizona Memorial on 1 June 1991 at the northeast end of Ford Island, with markers in the background indicating battleships lost during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. USN photo # DN-SC-93-04706, by PH3 BOS, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona541k The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band performs for Arizona (BB-39) survivors and their families during Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Arizona Memorial Visitors Center, 4 December 1991. The event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, and the band is performing the music played by sailor musicians aboard several battleships during a "Battle of Music" competition in 1941. USN photo # DN-SC-92-05776, by JOC(AW) Chet King, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona790kAlfred Preis, designer of the Arizona Memorial, speaks during an observance of the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 6 December 1991. Photo # DN-SC-92-06648 by JOC(AW) Gloria Montgomery, & text from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
BB-39 Arizona663k Arizona (BB-39) survivors and their families view the schematic of the battleship at the Arizona Memorial following Remembrance Day ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The schematic shows the configuration of the battleship before and after the bombing.Photo # DN-SC-92-05786 by JOC(AW) Gloria Montgomery, & text from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.
(NISMF)376kA guest studies a painting depicting the history of battleships. The artwork was painted by George Skybeck and presented to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association during their annual banquet at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 8 Dec 1991. USN photo # DN-SC-92-05391, by PHC Carolyn Harris, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil.

USS Arizona BB-39 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: Ruth Campbell
Address: PO Box 14435 Tucson, AZ, 85732-4435
Phone: 520-529-7494
E-mail: rcmpbll@comcast.net


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. Arizona (BB-39) Web Site at the University Of Arizona

U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39)Facts
by Lorraine E. Marks (Haislip)
Home of the Heros, U.S.S. Arizona

HyperWar Pacific Theater of Operations.
Pearl Harbor Attack: Commander Battle Force Action Report Naval Historical Center

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