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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-42 USS IDAHO
1919 - 1929

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Victor - Xray
To Additional Pages

1930 - 1939
1940 - 1943
1944 - 1947

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 New York Shipbuilding, Camden, N.J., April 5, 1915. Launched January 25, 1917. Commissioned December 18, 1917.
Fate: Decommissioned 3 July, 1946 and was placed in reserve until sold for scrap 24 November, 1947 to Lipsett Inc., of New York City.
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BB-42 Idaho24k"Miss H. A. Simmons, granddaughter of the Governor Moses Alexander of Idaho, sponsor for the nation's newest sea fighter." Photo by International News Service, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, 8 July 1917, Page 2. Photo added 02/16/08.
BB-42 Idaho138k"The U.S. superdreadnought Idaho (BB-42) launched at yards of the New York Shipbuilding,Camden, N.J.. The Idaho is here shown fast slipping down the ways on her baptismal plunge."Photo by International News Service, courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Text courtesy of N.Y. Times, 8 July 1917, Page 2. Photo added 02/16/08.
BB-42 Idaho130kIdaho (BB-42) fitting out at New York Ship Building Corporation on 23 June 1919 as is shown here, the Idaho was the first battleship not to befitted with hull mounted secondary guns. The ports were plated over before she was commissioned; the ports remained as the hull design was identical to her sisters, New Mexico (BB-40) and Mississippi (BB-41). She is equipped with a small bridge which is topped with a "tent" where a main battery range finder will be mounted.USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho100k1919 photo of the Idaho (BB-42) basically as completed. Foremast range clock is clearly visible.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-42 Idaho150kNewly completed and commissioned in 1920, the Idaho (BB-42) is shown at speed. Short flying off platforms are mounted on #2 and #3 turrets and two 3" A.A. guns are mounted even with her derricks. Six more 3" A.A. guns were later mounted on the 01 level. Note semaphore signalman atop her second turret.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Text from USNHC photo # NH 73983.
BB-42 Idaho129kIdaho (BB-42) seen in the Panama Canal, circa 1920's.USNI / USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho320kTraversing the Pedro Miguel Locks in the Panama Canal, circa 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-42 Idaho 56k Starboard side view, circa 1920. Courtesy of LT. Gary P. Priolo, USN Ret.
BB-42 Idaho115kInspection on the battleship's forecastle, circa 1920. Note her forward triple 14"/40 gun turrets and "cage" foremast.USNHC # NH 53203, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho151kCrewmen running on deck during physical training, circa 1920. Note wooden planking and working gear on her deck.USNHC # NH 53204, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho110kIdaho (BB-42) seen in the Panama Canal, 1920's Stern view.USNI / USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho58kYou are cordially invited to view as the uninitiated crew members (Pollywogs) pass over the equator for the first time, the Shellbacks (those who in the past had undergone the exquisite pleasure of meeting King Neptune's Court) met to decide what to do with the newcomers of Idaho's (BB-42) contingent in Jan. 24, 1921.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho128kIdaho (BB-42) fires her 14/50" guns at a target which the battleship Texas (BB-35) is towing 10 miles away, 16 April 1921.Courtesy of Charles Moore.
BB-42 Idaho43kDependents visiting the Idaho (BB-42), early 1920's.
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
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-42 Idaho109kIdaho(BB-42) departs Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, as a Douglas DT-2 torpedo plane from NAS Pearl Harbor bids "aloha" to passangers Cmdr. John Rogers and his crew, 17 Sept. 1925. Cmdr. Rogers and his crew attempted to fly from San Francisco to Honolulu but ran out of fuel and landed at sea. Lost at sea for 10 days, they rigged a sail on their PN-9 seaplane and covered 450 miles before their rescue.USNHC # NH 53201, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho40kIdaho(BB-42) starboard view, underway. 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho143Wardroom of the Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26. Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho136kLaundry room of the Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho133kSickbay of the Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho164kCPO (Chief Petty Officers) Quarters of the Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho83Gallery, 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho94kCarpenter shop, 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho99kAs the uninitiated crewmembers (Pollywogs) pass over the equator for the first time, the Shellbacks (those who in the past had undergone the exquisite pleasure of meeting King Neptune's Court) met to decide what to do with the newcomers of Idaho's (BB-42) contingent in 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho115kThe operating room of the Idaho (BB-42) : This is where Doc either kills you or wonders why he didn't in 1925-26.Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho96kBake shop, Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26. Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho75kPrinting Office, Idaho (BB-42), 1925-26. Courtesy of Jon Burdett.
BB-42 Idaho168kIdaho (BB-42) in dry dock, at Puget Sound Navy Yard, March 1926.Photo contributed by Robert Hurst. Photo taken from U.S. Warships of World War One, by P.H. Silverstone.
BB-42 Idaho170kStarboard side underway, Two aircraft on catapults. 4 June 1927.
US National Archives # 19-N-11008.
BB-42 Idaho90k Crane ship Kearsarge working alongside, as the battleship is regunned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s. Barge YC-279 is in the left background. USNHC # 43459, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho137k Idaho(BB-42) being regunned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s. This view shows the crane ship Kearsarge lowering a 14"/50 gun into Idaho's second turret. USNHC # 43457, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho93k 14"/50 gun is lowered in to her second turret, during regunning at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa the later 1920s. The work is being performed by the crane ship Kearsarge. USNHC # 43458, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho86kIdaho(BB-42), seen in Seattle harbor, circa late 1920's. Photo courtesy of Joseph Macdonald.
BB-42 Idaho168kPort side view of the Idaho (BB-42), off the California coast, circa late 1920's. Courtesy of Manuel Tafoya Sr.
Battlefleet122Watercolor 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-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 Colorado 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 Colorado 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.
USS IDAHO BB-42 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. David Graham
Address: PO Box 711247 San Diego, CA, 92171-1247
Phone: None Listed
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.
ussidaho.com By David Roye
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To The Battleship Photo Index Page

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