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BB-40 USS NEW MEXICO
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 | 693k | NO OTHER NAVY WILL HAVE SHIP LIKE CALIFORNIA WHEN SHE IS COMPLETED The keel of the superdreadnaught California, destined to be the greatest of battleships, was laid at the navy yard in Brooklyn. The event was an epoch in naval construction, and among those who participated were Secretary of the Navy Daniels, Rear Admiral Nathaniel R. Usher, commandant of the great yard in which the California will be rushed to completion; Rear Admiral Robert S. Griffin, the engineer in chief of the navy, and Rear Admiral David W.Taylor, chief of the bureau of construction in Washington. Her name would be changed before her commissioning to New Mexico (BB-40). | Text i.d. courtesy of Mike Green. Photo by American Press Association. Image and text provided by Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH & University of Utah, Marriott Library. Photo from The Democratic Banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 19 October 1915, Image 1 & The Broad Ax.(Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 30 October 1915, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. PDF added 12/19/11. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 3.92k | Electricity to Make Our Latest Battleship Mightiest In World In the presence of a great throng the keel of the oil-burning turbine engine battleship California was laid with impressive ceremonies at the Brooklyn navy yard. | Photo by Underwood and Underwood. Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA. Photo from The Tacoma Times. (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 01 November 1915, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 451k | THE NEW BATTLESHIP NEW MEXICO (BB-40). This is a picture of the model for the new battleship New Mexico. It will be the greatest dreadnaught afloat when completed. Its sister ships will be the Mississippi (BB-41) and Idaho (BB-42). | Image and text provided by University of North Texas; Denton, TX. Photo from El Paso Herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 07 April 1916, HOME EDITION, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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53k | "Misses Margaret C. DeBaca Virginia Carr, sponsors for the new dreadnought & members of the launching party which came from New Mexico for the ceremony." | Times Photo Service, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 29 April 1917, Page 1, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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138k | "Launching at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on last Monday of the U.S. super-dreadnought New Mexico (BB-40), newest, and with her sister ships the largest and most powerful vessels in the Navy, and the world's first dreadnought to be driven by electric power." | Times Photo Service, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 29 April 1917, Page 1, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 950k | NEW U. S. SUPERDREADNOUGHT LEAVING THE WAYS New Mexico (BB-40), Nation's Greatest Battleship, Takes the Water. Navy Yard Closely Guarded for Launching, Witnessed by Only 300 Guests. Huge Oil Burning Super-dreadnought Is First To Be Electrically Driven. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 24 April 1917, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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331k | Main battery drawn out as construction continues on the New Mexico (BB-40), 6 Oct. 1917. | Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flickr.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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610k | Port forward quarter of the New Mexico (BB-40), 6 Oct. 1917. | Photo No. f1060n14, Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flickr.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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623k | New Mexico (BB-40) in Dry Dock #4, Bow view, Jan. 1918 | Photo No. N3480, Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flickr.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1.4m | New Mexico (BB-40) in Dry Dock #4, portside looking aft, Jan. 1918 | Photo No. N3478, Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive - courtesy National Archive and Records Administration, Northeast Region - NYC, Record Group 181 via flickr.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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105k | Capt. Ashley Herman Robertson was the Commanding Officer of the New Mexico (BB-40) from May 1918 to September 1918. | Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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577k | New Mexico (BB-40) starboard view, shortly after commissioning, circa 1919. | Courtesy of Seaman 2nd Class Ralph D Gummerson via Al Gummerson & Tom Bateman & Philip H. Robare RMCS, USN - RET. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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108k | After initial training, New Mexico (BB-40) departed New York 15 January 1919 for Brest, France, to escort home transport George Washington (ID-3018) carrying President Woodrow Wilson from the Versailles Peace Conference, returning to Hampton Roads 27 February. | Photo taken from U.S. Warships of World War One, by P.H. Silverstone. Text courtesy of DANFS. Photo contributed by Robert Hurst. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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50k | The magnificent sweep of her clipper bow is revealed by a spell in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard in the summer of 1919. | Photo taken from Jane's Battleships of the 20th Century, by Bernard Ireland, & contributed by Robert Hurst. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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129k | Photographed from an airplane, while steaming in line with other battleships, 13 April 1919. Note S.E.5A airplane atop the flying-off platform atop the battleship's second turret. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 59949, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 1.78k | "American dreadnoughts & super-dreadnoughts steaming into New York harbor 14 April 1919." The Texas (BB-35) leads the procession with a airplane on her turret catapult. Note the escorting biplane. The "escorting" aircraft is either a Curtiss HS-1 or HS-2 (note the single engine) can't tell which from the photo. The aircraft on a fly-off platform atop the No. 2 turret of the Texas is 1 of 6 Sopwith Camels purchased from Britain at the end of the war. The platforms were a British concept designed to provide the fleet with an aircraft capable of reaching the high flying Zeppelins which the German Navy occasionally used as scouts. The Texas was the only US Battleship to be fitted with turret fly-off platforms while in Europe and was the test bed for this program in the US Navy. Not visible in this view is a stripped down (No fabric and no wings) Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter lashed atop the No. 3 Turret. The platforms were eventually mounted on all 14" gun BB's through the New Mexico class (with mixed reviews from their commanders) and carried either a Hanriot HD-1 or a Neiuport 28. Though equipped inflatable floats for water landings, this tended to do a lot of damage not the least of which was dowsing a hot engine in cold salt water. By 1920 a successful compressed air catapult was developed and were being mounted on the aft deck of all 4 turreted battleships and fly-off platforms were removed. The Texas and New York (BB-34), because of their 5 Turrets, lacked the deck space for the catapult and had to make do with a float plane (Vought VE-7) sitting on the aft deck which would be launched by lowering it over the side for a surface take-off. If you look carefully at the 12th photo from the bottom on the New York 1919-1926 page, you see the VE-7 on the deck and the A-frame hoist used for handling it. | Photo by Paul Thompson. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, page 481, from The War of the Nations (New York), 31 December 1919, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn. |
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 | 975k | How the Atlantic Fleet looked to the camera man in a seaplane flying over lower Manhattan a week ago yesterday morning as the mighty armada came up the bay to anchorage in the Hudson off Riverside Drive for a two weeks' vacation after months of strenuous maneuvers in Southern waters. The destroyers
Dale (DD-290) and Flusser (DD-289) are shown leading the column of eight dreadnoughts: Oklahoma (BB-37), Nevada (BB-36), Arizona (BB-39), flagship Pennsylvania (BB-38), Utah (BB-31), Florida (BB-30), North Dakota (BB-29) and Delaware (BB-28) past the Statue of Liberty at a fifteen-knot clip. In
addition to the big battleships, the fleet includes thirty-two destroyers, numerous supply ships and several submarines. The Atlantic battleship fleet is home: again. Here are the twelve great first line fighting ships that are paying Father Knickerbocker a two weeks' visit. Over a hundred of Uncle Sam's grim sea warriors gray the North River, while their 30,000 sailor-men are given the freedom of the city in a royal welcome home. The Battleship Mississippi (BB-41) leading the fleet into the harbor, as photographed from an airplane. Note the airplanes atop the forward and aft turrets. |
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 20 April 1919, Image 48. courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 1302k | Our Hundred Per Cent Navy Leviathan. | Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. PDF courtesy of New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 01 June 1919, Image 83 via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 900k | Aboard the New Mexico (BB-40), the first electric ship. | Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. PDF courtesy of New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 07 September 1919, Image 71, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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86k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of the New Mexico's (BB-40) officers' Ward Room, with the table set for a meal, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105048. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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86k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of crew members exercising with her Number Four 5"/51 broadside gun, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105049. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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81k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of crew members reading and writing in the ship's reception room, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105050. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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82k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in the ship's surgical operating room, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105051. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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64k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in the ship's galley, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105052. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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64k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing crew-members scrubbing clothes on the ship's forecastle, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105053. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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89k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of a band concert held on the ship's quarterdeck, 1919. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105054. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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81k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken on the ship's fore deck, looking aft on the port side, 1919. Note liferafts attached to turret sides (and one suspended from the forward turret's rangefinder). The text provided on the original print is incorrect. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105055. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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81k | Halftone reproduction of a photograph of crew members on the ship's fore deck, with her two forward 14-inch triple gun turrets behind them, 1919. The text provided on the original print is incorrect. The view actually looks aft on the port side, from a position near the anchor capstans. This image was published in 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning New Mexico. | U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 105056. Donation of Edwin C. Finney, Jr., 2007, from the collection of J. Louise Finney. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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45k | "America's first great Pacific Fleet on its historic journey by way of the Panama Canal to San Francisco where it is to be reviewed by President Wilson in the middle of this month. Leaving Hampton Roads in a majestic procession. Admiral Rodman's flagship, the dreadnought New Mexico (BB-40), appearing in the foreground." | Photo by Underwood & Underwood, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 3 August 1919, Page 5, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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289k | The New Mexico (BB-40) on 16 July 1919 became flagship of the newly-organized Pacific Fleet, and three days later sailed for the Panama Canal and San Pedro, Calif., arriving 9 August. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Text courtesy of DANFS. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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134k | New Mexico (BB-40) traverses the Culebra Cut, Panama Canal, 25 July 1919. | U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of David Buell. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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89k | New Mexico (BB-40) in the middle west chamber, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, 25 July 1919. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 75719, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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296k | Deck view from the New Mexico (BB-40) in the Panama Canal, 1919. | Associated Press photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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339k | New Mexico (BB-40) and Wyoming (BB-32) passing through Miraflores lock, 8 August 1919. | Associated Press text & photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1.60k | Wyoming (BB-32) and the stern of the New Mexico (BB-40) passing through Gatun lock, 8 August 1919. | USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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257k | USS Navy Fleet In Panama Canal; (Visit of Panama President, standing, wearing a gray suit and standing on the gangway platform)in Panama Canal aboard the New Mexico (BB-40), 26 July 1919. | Associated Press text & photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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201k | At the main-truck of the electric marvel floats the four star flag of Admiral Rodman, C & C of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. | Associated Press text & photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 727k | Naval Chief Visits Pacific Fleet. SECRETARY OP THE NAVY DANIELS boarding the New Mexico (BB-40), flagship of the huge new Pacific fleet, upon its arrival at San Diego, Calif., after successfully passing through the Panama Canal. |
Photo by Underwood & Underwood. Image and text provided by Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA. Photo from Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 14 August 1919, Final, Image 24, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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51k | Twin Billing: "The Super-dreadnought New Mexico (BB-40), Admiral Rodman's flagship of the new Pacific Fleet, firing the salute of nineteen guns in honor of Secretary Daniels at the first review of the Fleet in Pacific waters." Secretary of the Navy Daniels and Admiral Rodman, commander of the Pacific Fleet, receiving citizens of San Diego on board the flagship New Mexico. |
Times World Wide Photo, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 24 August 1919, Page 6, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 899k | Aboard the New Mexico (BB-40), the First Electric Ship . | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 07 September 1919, Image 71, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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19k | "President Wilson, Secretary of the Navy Daniels and others of the reviewing party stand with bare heads while..." | Times Wide World Photo Service, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 28 September 1919, Page 7, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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51k | ...The super-dreadnought New Mexico (BB-40), flagship of the Pacific Fleet, steamed past with the band playing The Star Spangled Banner. The new American Pacific Fleet, first great dreadnought squadron on the Pacific coast, making it's historic entry into Seattle Harbor for its first review by the President of the United States." |
Times Wide World Photo Service, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 28 September 1919, Page 7, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | 648k | Three of the four giant propellers that drive the oil-burning New Mexico (BB-40), flagship of the Pacific Fleet, and the first electrically driven battleship in the world. Each propeller is driven by an 8.000 h. p. electric motor. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 28 September 1919, Page 6, Image 58, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.  157k |
Sept. 1919. Admiral Hugh Rodman (on the left) Commander, Battleship Division 9, Pacific Fleet, on the Bridge of the New Mexico (BB-40) consulting with her commanding officer Captain Arthur Lee Willard.
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Image from the Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley, courtesy of Bill Gonyo. |  701k |
Crew of the New Mexico (BB-40) posed on deck, on large guns. Photo inscription is Long Beach, California.
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Photo # J239186 U.S. Copyright Office. Digital ID: cph 3c08389 Source: Library of Congress, by C.E. Waterman, Long Beach, Calif. Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. |  225k |
Port side beam of the New Mexico (BB-40) underway, circa 1919. The next 12 years were marked by frequent combined maneuvers with the Atlantic fleet both in the Pacific and Caribbean which included visits to South American ports and a 1925 cruise to Australia and New Zealand. |
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. |  210k |
Two officers gigs and a lighter are moored alongside the New Mexico (BB-40), circa 1919, in San Francisco Bay. |
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. |  70k |
Sailor tightens an oil refueling coupling on board, circa 1919.
The original caption reads: "Coaling ship holds no terrors for the gobs on the New Mexico (BB-40) as on our latest oil burning types of super dreadnaught all that is necessary is to connect the hose and turn on the valve." |
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 45320, now in the collections of the National Archives. |
 50k | Captain Arthur Lee Willard was the commanding officer of the battleship New Mexico (BB-40) from 1919 to 1921. Renewed problems with naval armaments saw Willard assigned as Special Aide for Navy Yards to the Secretary of the Navy in 1921. In this capacity he was in charge of all U.S. Navy industrial plants and shipbuilding on the eastern U.S. coast. In 1930, now holding the rank of Vice Admiral, Willard was assigned as commander of a series of U.S. fleet exercises that validated the increasing importance of aircraft carriers and attacks launched from beyond battleship gun range. These fleet exercises also inspired the creation of a two-ocean Navy in the 1930s by the Roosevelt administration. In 1932 Vice Admiral Willard was chosen to command the Fifth Naval District, a post which he held until retirement shortly before his death on 7 April 1935. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Willard Park, located at Washington Navy Yard, is named in his honor. | Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo.
|  498k | Hoisting a Barge Aboard the New Mexico (BB-40). | Photo by Amerrican Press Association. | Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library. Photo from The Ogden Standard. (Ogden City, Utah) 1913-1920, 12 December 1919, LAST EDITION - 4 P.M., Image 12, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.  3.49k |
"The dreadnought New Mexico (BB-40), flagship of the newly created Pacific Fleet, entering the Golden Gate, San Francisco, in a pathway of equally golden sunlight, as seen from a Navy seaplane in flight nearly a thousand feet above." |
U.S. Navy official Photo, from Kadel & Herbert, text courtesy of N.Y. Times 21 December 1919, Page 7, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. |
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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.
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