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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-41 USS MISSISSIPPI
1915 - 1930

Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Kilo - Tango
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1931 - 1941
1942 - 1943
1944 - 1945
Post War - Decommissioning

New Mexico Class Battleship: Displacement 32,000 Tons, Dimensions, 624' (oa) x 97' 5" x 31' 1" (Max). Armament 12 x 14"/50 22 x 5"/51, 8 x 3"/50 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 13 1/2" Belt, 18" Turrets, 3 1/2" +2" Decks, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 32,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 1084.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Newport News, Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA., April 5, 1915. Launched January 25 1917. Commissioned December 18 1917. Reclassified Gunnery Training Ship, AG-128, February 15, 1946. Decommissioned September 17, 1956. Stricken July 30, 1956.
Fate: Sold November 28, 1956 and broken up for scrap.
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BB-41 Mississippi 134k As completed in her original form. She is shown here on 7 August 1917 being assisted by tugs away from the dock at Newport News presumably for acceptance trials. She was commissioned on 18 December 1917. Of the three New Mexico class ships, only the Mississippi (BB-41) was fitted with all twenty two of the designed 5" guns. USN photo.
BB-41 Mississippi 92k Mississippi (BB-41) anchored off New York City for the Victory Fleet Review, 25 Dec. 1918. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 46047, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-41 Mississippi 195k In April 1918 Mississippi (BB-41) returned to Hampton Roads and cruised between Boston and New York until departing for winter maneuvers in the Caribbean 31 January 1919. She is pictured here anchored in New York City's waterways sometime between those two dates, probably for the Victory Fleet Review, 25 Dec. 1918. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
New York Harbor46k"American dreadnoughts & superdreadnoughts 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.		Photo by Paul Thompson, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, 31 December 1919. Photo added 02/16/08.
BB-41 Mississippi 89k 1919 photo of the ship on the Hudson River showing that the hull mounted guns have been removed and their ports plated over. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 60653.
BB-41 Mississippi 44k 1919 era photo of the Mississippi (BB-41). USN photo by O.W. Waterman from Jane's Fighting Ships, 1924 submitted by Robert Hurst.
BB-41 Mississippi 421k 1919 photo of the Mississippi (BB-41) transiting the Panama Canal. On 19 July 1919 she left the Atlantic seaboard and sailed for the west coast. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-41 Mississippi 212k Mississippi (BB-41) transiting the Miraflores Locks in the Panama Canal. On 19 July 1919 she left the Atlantic seaboard and sailed for the west coast. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-41 Mississippi 243k Mississippi (BB-41) wearing what looks like a camouflage pattern of triangular flages painted across the length of the ship. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-41 Mississippi 74k 1919 photo of the Mississippi (BB-41) underway with elements of the Atlantic fleet. USN photo.
New Mexico class 56k The freighter Montpelier (ID # 1954), formerly the German vessel Bochum, in port, with a New Mexico class (BB-40 / 42) battleship alongside, 1919. The original image is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. The card's reverse bears the pencilled inscription "The boat I came home on from France". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 103043. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.
BB-41 Mississippi 53k Port side view of the Mississippi (BB-41) underway, circa 1920. Courtesy of LT. Gary P. Priolo, USN Ret.
BB-41 Mississippi 58k Mississippi (BB-41), about 1920, as completed, line drawing by A.L. Raven. Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.
BB-41 Mississippi 45k Mississippi (BB-41) all dressed up with flags for Washington's Birthday, circa late teens - early 20's. U.S. Navy photograph courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-41 Mississippi 21k Sailors onboard the Mississippi (BB-41) render aid to a seal on board. She had an injured flipper and they healed her up and she followed the ship for some time. Photo circa late teen's - early 20's. Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 27k Mississippi's (BB-41) mascots helped pass along the long spells of sea time. Photo circa late teen's - early 20's. Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 26k Mississippi's (BB-41) mascots helped pass along the long spells of sea time. Photo circa late teen's - early 20's. Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 97k Electrical Division of the Mississippi(BB-41). Photo circa late teen's - early 20's. Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 144k Arizona (BB-39) firing a salvo of 14" guns. Picture from the bridge of the Mississippi(BB-41). Photo circa late teen's - early 20's. Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 130k Note on the back of the photo says "21 inch torpedo. Would blow Ogeden off the map if placed on Main Street and it exploded." ("Ogden" is the small Iowa town he was from.) Photo from collection of crewmember Reynold Oberg, submitted courtesy of his grandaughter Sherry Witt.
BB-41 Mississippi 270k Mississippi (BB-41) operating off Panama, circa 1923. USNHC # NH 100503, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-45 Colorado106kThe United States Battle Fleet steaming in column off the California coast during the middle or later 1920s. The three leading ships are (in no particular order) Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46) and West Virginia (BB-48) followed by Tennessee (BB-43) and three older battleships. Photograph taken from California (BB-44).Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-695093, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Southern Cruise89kIn the summer of 1925, the California (BB-44) led the Battle Fleet and a division of cruisers from the Scouting Fleet on a very successful good-will cruise to Australia and New Zealand. The following vessels might be the Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46) and West Virginia (BB-48) followed by Tennessee (BB-43) and three older battleships, the New Mexico (BB-40), Mississippi (BB-41) & Idaho (BB-42). Photograph probably taken from the California.U.S. Navy photograph courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Southern Cruise90kView from the deck of a one of the battleships looking aft of the Battle Fleet and a division of cruisers from the Scouting Fleet cruise to Australia and New Zealand. U.S. Navy photograph courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-45 Colorado54kThe photo here might be on the same occassion as the above, but from a different angle. Then again maybe not. It was taken off a 16mm film. Official U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of periscopefilm.com.
Battlefleet44kThe U.S. battlefleet framed through a porthole. It was taken off a 16mm film. Photo might be from the same sequence as above.Official U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy of periscopefilm.com.
Battlefleet122kWatercolor of a Presidential review during President Hoover's term of office, 1928-32.
Crews line the rails of a Colorado class (BB-45-48) battleship as the ships pass in line astern of the reviewing stand with the airship Los Angeles (ZR-3) piercing the clouds accompanied by 9 biplanes. 		Courtesy of Michael Schwarz.
Battlefleet56kView of the U.S. Battlefleet from above, possibly from the airship Los Angeles (ZR-3). Photo courtesy of periscopefilm.com.
BB-41 Mississippi 21k Mississippi (BB-41) at Pedro with observation ballon in tow. Date unknown. Jon Burdett
BB-40 New Mexico class 323k Mississippi (BB-41) or Idaho (BB-42) sometime before modernization in 1930. In the background is a Tennessee (BB-43/44) or Colorada class (BB-45/48) battleship.
These 2 photos are appear to be 2 sequential photos of the same ship taken from a passing ship. The only distinguishing feature I've been able to discern between the three ships of this class while sporting the cage masts is the size and location of the Navigation bridge. The New Mexico's(BB-40) bridge is attached to the fore mast completely above the roof of the conning tower while on the other two it sits behind the conning tower and "peeks" over the top; so eliminate the New Mexico.
Distinguishing between the Mississippi and the Idaho is not a clear cut. It appears that on the Mississippi the bridge is a free standing structure that abuts the conning tower but is not attached to the mast (???). On the Idaho the bridge also abuts the conning tower but seems deeper and appears extends back to and partially around the front of the mast. 		US Navy Photograph courtesy of Ric Hedman. Photo i.d. contributed by Photo i.d. contributed by Chris Hoehn.
BB-40 New Mexico class 400k Mississippi (BB-41) or Idaho (BB-42) sometime before modernization in 1930. In the background is a Tennessee (BB-43/44) or Colorada class (BB-45/48) battleship.
These 2 photos are appear to be 2 sequential photos of the same ship taken from a passing ship. The only distinguishing feature I've been able to discern between the three ships of this class while sporting the cage masts is the size and location of the Navigation bridge. The New Mexico's(BB-40) bridge is attached to the fore mast completely above the roof of the conning tower while on the other two it sits behind the conning tower and "peeks" over the top; so eliminate the New Mexico.
Distinguishing between the Mississippi and the Idaho is not a clear cut. It appears that on the Mississippi the bridge is a free standing structure that abuts the conning tower but is not attached to the mast (???). On the Idaho the bridge also abuts the conning tower but seems deeper and appears extends back to and partially around the front of the mast. 		US Navy Photograph courtesy of Ric Hedman. Photo i.d. contributed by Photo i.d. contributed by Chris Hoehn.
BB-41 Mississippi 155k Mississippi (BB-41) while with the Pacific fleet, circa 1930 before modernization at Norfolk Navy Yard 30 March 1931.
Note that she has an "E" for excellence painted on her smoke stack. Unfortunatley DANFS doesn't mention any awards during this period in her history. 		Photo courtesy of Manuel Tafoya Sr. Text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-41 Mississippi 81k The national ensign flies from Mississippi's (BB-41) stern in this circa 1930 photo while with the Pacific fleet. She is probably anchored at San Pedro. Note the life rafts attached to her turrets. Photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-41 Mississippi 91k Mississippi (BB-41) underway off the California coast circa 1930 photo. Photo courtesy of David Buell.
USS MISSISSIPPI BB-41 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
USS Mississippi BB-41
Contact Name: Mr. Stanley Airington
Address: 1030 E Louisiana St Norman, OK, 73071-4421
Phone: 405-329-8387
E-mail: None
 Crew Contact And Reunion Information
USS Mississippi ARG-128
Contact Name: Mr. Jack Hefferman
Address: 163 Shawn's Hideaway, Millsboro, DE, 19966
Phone: 302-947-1896
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.
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