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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-42 USS IDAHO
1944 - 1947

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Victor - Xray
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1919 - 1929
1930 - 1939
1940 - 1943

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 Idaho482k Next on the Pacific timetable was the invasion of the Marshalls, and the veteran battleship arrived off Kwajalein early 31 January 1944 to soften up shore positions. Again she hurled tons of shells into Japanese positions until 5 February, when the outcome was one of certain victory. USN photo courtesy of David Buell. Text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-42 Idaho62kIdaho (BB-42) in Espiritu Santo floating dry dock ASBD-1 on 15 August 1944. Idaho was the first battleship to ever enter a floating drydock. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho85kPortside stern view of the Idaho (BB-42) in Espiritu Santo floating dry dock ASBD-1 on 15 August 1944.Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho227kIdaho (BB-42) entering Espiritu Santo floating dry dock ASBD-1 on 15 August 1944 for repairs to her "blisters". Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho158kStern view of the Idaho (BB-42) in Espiritu Santo floating dry dock ASBD-1 on 15 August 1944.USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-42 Idaho66kOctober, 1944 photo of the Idaho (BB-42) anchored at Puget Sound Navy Yard just prior to her refit.USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho89k The Idaho (BB-42) after her final refit at Puget Sound Navy Yard that took place from 22 October 1944 - 1 January 1945. At this time her open mounted 5"/25 guns were replaced with ten enclosed 5"/38 weapons”. Courtesy of Jerry Mason. Text courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-42 Idaho138k Close up views of port side showing the 5"/38 caliber single enclosed mounts added to the Idaho (BB-42) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in late 1944. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho60k Close up views of starboard side showing the 5"/38 caliber single enclosed mounts added to the Idaho (BB-42) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in late 1944. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho103kThe Idaho (BB-42) is shown in it's final configuration.
This photo was taken by Edwin Elden Schroeder, a Seaman First Class in the 5th gunnery division on the Idaho.
He was a sight setter on gun 3 on the starboard side for a time during his tour, which began in December 1944, and ended May 1946.		 Edwin E. Schroeder S1C/USN.
BB-42 Idaho153k Port side view of the Idaho (BB-42) as refitted and on post-refit trials on 2 January 1945.USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho44kBow view port side of the Idaho (BB-42) at Puget Sound, 2 January 1945. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho170k After final refit with single 5"/38 caliber guns. Picture taken 2 January 1945 in Puget Sound, Washington, while ship was on post refit trials.USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho112k Idaho (BB-42) 7 Jan 1945 Puget Sound, WA, Speed 12 Knots. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
Iwo Jima76k Photo taken from Vicksburg (CL-86) of the battleships Idaho (BB-42), Tennessee (BB-43), and New York (BB-34) (on right), during the bombardment of Iwo Jima, Feb 1945. Courtesy of modelwarships.com & submitted by Joesph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho55k Idaho(BB-42) bombarding Iwo Jima, prior to the landings there, circa 16-19 February 1945. Heavy cruiser in the right distance is probably Chester (CA-27). Photographed from Nevada (BB-36). Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-303822.
BB-42 Idaho58kA painting by the artist Wayne Scarpaci entitled "By Dawn's Early Light".
At dawn on the second day of the Iwo Jima operation depicts the Idaho (BB-42) bombarding Mt. Suribachi. The aircraft are SB2C's from VB 17 Yorktown (CV-10) . In the background is the Nevada (BB-36). 		Drawing courtesy of artbywayne.com
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BB-55 North Carolina58k North Carolina (BB-55) off Iwo Jima while supporting the invasion of that island, circa 19-22 February 1945. Three cruisers and the battleship Idaho (BB-42) are in the background, with Iwo Jima beyond. Mount Suribachi is in the far left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 44724.
BB-42 Idaho63kAll of Idaho's (BB-42) guns are trained on Iwo Jima, circa late February 1945.Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho72kBombarding Iwo Jima, circa late February 1945.USNHC # NH 92509.
BB-42 Idaho41kOperating off Iwo Jima, February 1945.USN photo.
BB-40 New Mexico 70k Idaho (BB-42) at sea with two other battleships and an amphibious force command ship (AGC), probably at the time of the Iwo Jima or Okinawa operations, circa February-April 1945. Battleship in the center background is Idaho (BB-42). The one further to the left is either Tennessee (BB-43) or California (BB-44). Official U.S. Navy Photograph,USNHC # 80-G-K-3706, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho121kSitting among circling landing craft, the Idaho (BB-42) takes up her assigned bombardment station, off Okinawa as the invasion begins. The Idaho was flagship of Bombardment Unit 4 and had been hitting Japanese shore batteries and installations for almost a month before this April 1, 1945 photo.USN photo.
BB-42 Idaho81kFireing the 14"/50 guns of Turret Three at nearly point-blank range, during the bombardment of Okinawa, 1 April 1945.Official U.S. Navy Photograph,USNHC # 80-G-K-3844, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho86kBombarding Okinawa with her 14"/50 main battery guns, 1 April 1945.Official U.S. Navy Photograph,USNHC # 80-G-K-3829, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho49kBombarding Okinawa with her 14"/50 main battery guns, 1 April 1945.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 89368, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-42 Idaho75k Idaho (BB-42) as seen from the Texas (BB-35) about to be hit by a kamikaze on 12 April 1945 off Okinawa. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho22k Damage from a kamakaize attack on the Idaho (BB-42) on 12 April 1945 off Okinawa Photo from WW II Damage Reports, courtesy of NavSea / dcfp.navy.mil.
BB-42 Idaho104k View of her main 14"/50 and 40 mm taken onboard in 1945 either during Iwo Jima or Okinawa campaigns. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho74k View of one of her portside 5"inch mounts & 40 mm taken onboard in 1945 either during Iwo Jima or Okinawa campaigns. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho81k Idaho (BB-42) in the floating drydock ABSD-3, August 1945. Courtesy of hazegray.org.
BB-42 Idaho85kAfter refit, October 1945, Transiting the Panama Canal.Larry Proper / USN.
BB-42 Idaho233kIdaho (BB-42) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard around Oct 1945. Right below the 5 inch guns, the name Idaho is painted in large white letters. I have seen this in photos of other ships, and it was for the Navy Day celebrations of 1945. That would place the Idaho at Norfolk during or after Oct. 1945. Also, notice how high the ship is riding in the water. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-42 Idaho85kA line drawing by A.L. Raven of the Idaho (BB-42) as refitted with single 5in/38 guns. Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.
BB-42 Idaho602k Idaho (BB-42) ties up in Annapolis, Maryland 10 Dec 1947 on her way to be scrapped. Photo courtesy of Joseph MacDonald.
BB-32 Wyoming361k"Battleship Graveyard" - Three decommissioned battleships, the Idaho (BB-42) (left foreground), the Wyoming (AG-17), (right foreground), and the New Mexico (BB-40), lie alongside a pier at Port Newark, N.J. were they are being scrapped.
Workmen have progressed with the New Mexico which was the subject of considerable controversy between Newark city officials and the scrapping concern. The Wyoming, most recent arrivial, has its gun turrets protected by round white coverings. 		Text courtesy of AP wirephoto of 17 Dec 1947 edition of the Baltimore Evening Sun, submitted by Joe MacDonald. Photo courtesy of Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner & submitted by Robert Hurst. Photo added 04/28/08.
(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.
World War II Memorial371k A quote made by Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz is inscribed on a granite wall at the National World War II Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Fleet Adm. Nimitz was the United States signatory to the surrender terms aboard the battleship Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay, Japan on 2 Sept. 1945, thus ending World War II. Established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the memorial honors all military veterans of World War II, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms. On 29 May 2004, the memorial will be formally dedicated with an estimated 200,000 people expected to attend, and includes 100,000 visiting veterans of all wars. U.S. Navy photo # N-0295M-011 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
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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