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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-46 USS MARYLAND

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Romeo - Charlie


Colorado Class Battleship: Displacement 32,600 Tons, Dimensions, 624' (oa) x 97' 4" x 31' 4" (Max). Armament 8 x 16"/45 14 x 5"/51, 4 x 3"/50AA 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 13 1/2" Belt, 18" Turrets, 3 1/2" + 1 1/2" Decks, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 28,900 SHP; Turbines with Electric Drive, 4 screws. Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 1080.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, 24 April 1917. Launched 20 March 1920. Commissioned 21 July 1921. Decommissioned 3 April 1947. Stricken 1 March 1959.
Fate: Sold 15 July 1959 and broken up for scrap.
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Keel Laying / Commissioning
1917 - 1921

Maryland NR GIGANTIC PROJECTED AMERICAN WARSHIPS WILL OUTCLASS WORLD'S GREATEST VESSELS
With the picture of the battle cruiser (upper picture) is shown that of the new projected battleship of the Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46), West Virginia (BB-48) and Washington (BB-47). They will be vessels of 32,600 tons, With twenty-one knots speed and carrying eight sixteen inch guns each. There will be twenty-two smaller guns besides four anti-air craft guns and torpedo tubes. Big as these ships will be they will be outclassed by the three still newer battleships already authorized, the ships of the 49, 50, 51 class.
Image and text provided by Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH.
Photo from The Democratic Banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 26 December 1916, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland 971k Building a super-dreadnought: 1,000 men a day work on building the Maryland (BB-46) for Uncle Sam's Navy. Image provided by: Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA.,
Text by Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 4 February 1919, Night Extra, Image 20, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Photo via Popular Science Magazine April, 1919 page 37, courtesy of Mike Green.
Almost UnknownNRSTRANGE MASCOTS OF THE FLEET
Coxswain Caulkett and his goat mascot Shooter, on board the Kentucky (BB-6). Redhead and 14 Bore, parrot mascots belonging to C. B. M. Rolenhagen and Coxswain Curtis of the New Jersey (BB-16). Goat mascots Caliber and Anchor of the Wyoming (BB-32). Boatswain's Mate B. P. Holloway and a close-up of Frisky, the Panama sugar bear mascot of the battleship Alabama (BB-8). Seaman Du Bois and his Panama squirrel Creeper aboard the Maryland (BB-46).
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 07 September 1919, Image 80, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland465kFilming the photographers: Maryland (BB-46) under construction as viewed from above. Photo courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland504k1919-Newport News, VA: Battleships under construction. Photograph shows men working on the frame of a battleship. Photo courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland1.42kVirginia - Newport News: Maryland (BB-46) under construction, 10 March 1920, 10 days before her launching: under construction in the fourth slipway from the left, Shipway No. 6.
At the time of Maryland's launching, Newport News had five other large ships on the ways, which would be launched by mid-1920. They were:
Passenger Liner Golden State (launched 17 July '20. Later Tasker H. Bliss, AP-42)
Tanker Sepulga (launched 21 April '20. Became Sepulga, AO-20)
Tanker Salinas (launched 5 May '20. Became Salinas, AO-19)
Tanker Tippecanoe (launched 5 June '20. Became Tippecanoe, AO-21)
Tanker Trinity (launched 3 July '20. Became Trinity, AO-13)

The Golden State was 535' x 72'. She is probably the ship on the seventh slipway (three to the right of Maryland). Alongside her, on the eighth slipway and less far along, is probably the identical Silver State, which was launched on 11 December '20. She later became Zeilin (AP-9, APA-3).
The tankers were all 477' x 60'. Two of them are on the shipways flanking Maryland. I think two others are on the (partially covered) first & second slipways. The one on the first slipway has her stack visible, so is presumably Sepulga. The one on the third slipway (just to left of Maryland) is not quite as advanced, so is presumably Salinas. You can take your pick on the other two.
Text i.d. courtesy of Chuck Haberlein.
Virginia - Newport News: Record Hierarchy
Record Group 18: Records of the Army Air Forces, ca. 1902 - 1964 Series: "Airscapes" of American and Foreign Areas, 1917 - 1964
National Archives Identifier: 68150871
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov via Chadd Smith.
BB-46 Maryland381kMaryland (BB-46) a few days before her launching at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave.
Maryland 1.78k AMERICA'S GREATEST DREADNOUGHT LAUNCHED TODAY.
The battleship Maryland (BB-46) was launched successfully at the plant of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company a few minutes after 9 o'clock this morning. Mrs. E. Brooke Lee, wife of the controller of Maryland, was the sponsor.
One of the propeller motors for the huge ship.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the Evening Star. (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 20 March 1920, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland 599k Uncle Sam's greatest super dreadnought and the first battleship to carry 16-inch guns, the Maryland (BB-46), is successfully launched at Newport News. Note the seaplane resting on the deck of the newly launched floating fortress'. Left. A full quart of real "bubble water" crashes against the bow as Mrs. B. E. Lee, daughter of Maryland's State Comptroller and daughter-in-law of Senator Lee, of Maryland, christens the monster fighting ship. Circle - Pretty Mrs. Lee's engaging smile. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 28 March 1920, Image 58, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland954kSponsor Mrs. E. Brooke Lee, daughter-in-law of U.S. Senator from Maryland, Blair Lee. Photographed through Mylar sleeve. Collection of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.
USN photo # Lot 5423-5, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland228kMaryland (BB-46) getting ready for the shot across the bow.Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)
BB-46 Maryland1.56kLaunching of the Huge American Superdreadnought & The Splash. Bottle breaks on Maryland's (BB-46) bow.USN photo s courtesy of periodpaper.com
BB-46 Maryland152kMaryland (BB-46) before launching.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland177k Maryland (BB-46) shown ready for launching at Newport News, Virginia, as she was later in the day, in this photo taken 20 March 1920.USN photo.
BB-46
014601n
382k The official party were invited by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to go to Newport News on board the Mayflower. After the launching a large party of Marylanders who had come down on other boats were invited to luncheon on board the Mayflower. In the official party were Governor Ritchie, Adjutant General Milton Reckerd, Mrs. Henry L. Cabell, the Governor's aunt, Mr. Blair Lee, Doctor Hugh Young of Baltimore, and Major Brooke.
Launching party of the United States battleship Maryland (BB-46).
Image and text provided by Ships of the United States Navy and Their Sponsors, 1913-23, pg. 127.
BB-46
014664
248k Maryland (BB-46) sliding down the ways.Image and text provided by Ships of the United States Navy and Their Sponsors, 1913-23, pg. 131.
BB-46 Maryland103kAlmost at the end of the launching ways at Newport News, Virginia, Maryland (BB-46) begins to get her stern wet, 20 March 1920.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland160kMaryland (BB-46) from the dock.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland
014620m
NR Launching of Maryland (BB-46), America's Greatest Fighting Vessel
...launched on Saturday at Newport News shipyard, and shot out into the James river for almost half a mile before the tugs could halt her. One of the tugs, a big seagoing craft, shown beside the Maryland in the above photograph reveals the dreadnought's size by comparison.
The Maryland will mount the first sixteen inch turret guns ever placed on a battleship.
Image and text provided by The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation.
Photo from The Sun and the New York Herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1920-1920, 22 March 1920, Image 5, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland100k4 photo PDF showing Maryland (BB-46) about 80% finished & awaiting help from tugs to move her to her berthing place for final finishing, just after being launched, 20 March 1920.USN photo s courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland163kMaryland (BB-46) on the water. USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland791kMaryland (BB-46) in South Boston.Photo i.d. courtesy of Ron Nash.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland172k1920 photo of the Maryland (BB-46) before any catapults were added to her stern area.USN photo courtesy of Paul & Barbara Rebold.
BB-46 Maryland505kStarboard stern view of the Maryland (BB-46), 6 November 1920. USN photo # 19N-9372 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Maryland 1.23k Every Conceivable Electric Appliance Installed on U. S. Battleship Maryland (BB-46)
Has Perfect Record in Builders' Trial Off Virginia Cape
Image and text provided by Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT.
Photo from the Great Falls Tribune. (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 10 July 1921, Image 24, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Preston162kCaptain Charles Francis Preston was the commanding officer of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in 21 July 1921 to 1 March 1922. He appears in this photo ranked as a Commander, which means the photo was dated sometime before 23-May-1917 when he was promoted to Captain.Text info courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler.
Photo courtesy of the USNA Alumni Association via Bill Gonyo.
BB-43 TennesseeNRWHERE MONEY GOES TO MAKE OUR NAVY
Itemized Bill for Ships and Guns Revelation to Layman
Superdreadnoughts of Maryland Class at $42,000,000 Each, Fire 16-Inch Guns Costing $2,048,000 and Using $18,000 in Projectiles for Each Salvo. Torpedoes at $15,000, Bombs at $4,000, and Airplanes at $27,000 Incidental Expenses of Service
SIX 14--INCH GUNS ON TENNESSEE (BB-43) COST $116,000 EACH, EACH SHOT $900. SALVO $ 10,800: MARYLAND (BB-46) COST $4-2,000,000 UPKEEP $750,000 YEARLY PAYROLL. $1,200,000.
United States Navy 14-inch gun on a railroad carriage for testing. Extreme range 30 miles, projectile weighs 1,400 pounds, carriage, 320 tons. Battleships of the Tennessee class carry twelve of these monster weapons.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by The New York Herald. (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 11 September 1921, SECTION SEVEN, Image 75, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland NR Uncle Sam's newest battleship, the Maryland (BB-46) passing under Brooklyn bridge. The great fighting ship will receive her fiinishing touches at the Brooklyn navyyard, and then will go to sea.Image and text provided by Oklahoma Historical Society.
Photo from the The Morning Tulsa Daily World. (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 18 November 1921, FINAL EDITION, Image 16, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Roaring 20's thru 30's
Maryland 16k CAPT. SELLERS, Sec. Denby's aide, to command battleship Maryland (BB-46).Image and text provided by Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA.
Photo & text by Evening Public Ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 08 March 1922, Night Extra, Image 30, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland 697k Maryland (BB-46), the new flagship of the Atlantic Fleet, now in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, as viewed from a seaplane recently over the East River. The mighty superdreadnought, an electrically-driven oilburner, was launched two years ago this month as the most powerful battleship in the world. She is a sister ship of the California (BB-44) and Tennessee (BB-43), and mounts eight 16- inch guns, the first of this size ever mounted on a ship. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the New-York Tribune. (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 12 March 1922, Image 70, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland 422k Uncle Sam's battleship, the Maryland (BB-46) can now boast of a wonderful mess crew, the pride of the Navy Captain D. F. Sellers each week has an inspection of the mess tables for which there are three prizes offered to the best mess crew. Keen rivalry exists between the mess squads and George W. Sweeney of the Hotel Mens association was called upon to judge the inspection. The photograph shows the winning table. Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO & University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
Photo & text by The Jasper News. (Jasper, Mo.) 1898-1924, 01 June 1922, Image 3, & insert via The Bourbon News. (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 06 June 1922, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland221kMaryland's (BB-46) crew cleaning the Forecastle deck area, 1922.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
Maryland NR U. S. Battleships Now Equipped To Beat Off Airplane Attacks
Recently Perfected Airplane Turntable on Battleship Maryland (BB-46).
Has the battleship outlived its usefulness? American naval officers say "No," emphatically. The navy designers have just perfected a device for battleships which will enable them to carry a fleet of fighting planes and launch them at sea should they be attacked from the air. The device is a turntable on the plane deck. Recent navy department tests have been very successful.
Image and text provided by Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT.
Photo & text by The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 17 June 1922, FINAL EDITION, Image 6, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland797kThe Maryland (BB-46) about to launch her first catapult plane, a Naval Aircraft Factory VE-7H, designation A5970 and the story behind it from The Mid - Week Pictorial edition of 6 July 1922. Note the catapult car atop the catapult.Photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky & Pieter Bakels.
BB-46 Maryland
014601p
NRCATAPULTING A SEAPLANE FROM DREADNOUGHT MARYLAND (BB-46).
The launching of an aircraft from the deck of a battleship is a difficult enterprise, but the invention of a catapult launching machine has somewhat simplified matters. The new Navy catapult throwa the flying machine into the air at a speed of sixty miles an hour.
Image and text provided by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC.
Photo from the Yorkville Enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 11 July 1922, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland143kTurret markings on both fore and aft top turrets and what might be a Loening OL series observation plane on the stern of the Maryland (BB-46), circa 1922. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-46 Maryland85k Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes (at left) and Admiral Hilary P. Jones, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet on board Maryland (BB-46), in August 1922, during her cruise to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the Brazilian Centennial Exposition. Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 52784, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland116kShip board life. Pie eating contest aboard the Maryland (BB-46), August 1922.Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 76520, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-36 Nevada192k A Vought VE-9H A6463 float plane being catapulted from the Maryland (BB-46) in September 1922 while the ship was in Rio de Janeiro. The battleship brought Secretary of State Evans Hughes to Rio for the opening of the Brazilian Centennial commemorating 100 years of freedom from Portuguese rule. A6463 was wrecked during a catapult launch in July 1923 in which the launching car was badly damaged. Photo courtesy of Battleship and Cruiser Aircraft of the United States Navy 1910-1949. by William T. Larkins; Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA, 1996. pg 24. via Alan Moore.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn.
Maryland 572k Maryland (BB-46), one of Uncle Sam's electrically-driven super-dreadnoughts, arrives in the Hudson after a record run up from Rio de Janiero with Secretary of State Hughes and members of his party who had been attending the opening of the Brazilian Exposition as official representatives of the United States. The mighty battleship made run in just 10 days and 18 hours. Photo & text by New-York Tribune.(New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1 October 1922, Image 20, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland NR Brazilian exposition at Rio de Janeiro has Ameican battleship day celebration.
Two seafighters of the States fleet, Nevada (BB-36) and Maryland (BB-46), were in the harbor and the bluejackets formed a parade.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 10 December 1922, Image 87, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland180k Photo probably taken from the Brooklyn Bridge looking north. The Maryland (BB-46) in the early 1920's is leaving the New York Navy Yard. The Manhattan Bridge is in the background and her top masts have been lowered to allow passage under it. Unusual in this picture is the large armored rangefinder atop #2 turret, most of these ships just mounting the range finder sat in the rear turret.USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Partial text i.d. courtesy of Tom Bennett.
BB-46 Maryland193kMaryland (BB-46) and Statue of Liberty, circa early 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland354kMaryland (BB-46) all dressed up with flags circa early 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland189kCaptain C. F. Preston inspects the Forecastle, circa early 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland332kMaryland (BB-46) fires her main battery, circa early 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland233kMaryland's (BB-46) Band entertains the crew, circa early 1920's.USN photo courtesy of Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland353kStern view on a hot weather Maryland (BB-46), circa early 1920's. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-46 Maryland115kThe Maryland (BB-46) rides at anchor in this early 1920's photo.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-46 Maryland211kLock gates of the Miraflores in the Panama Canal are open as the Maryland (BB-46) passes through, February 1923.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-46 Maryland
014621
1.63k Pacific Terminal Pier No 18 from Sosa Hill, Balboa, CZ. 8 March 1923.
Maryland (BB-46) appears in the lower portion of the photo & California (BB-44) in the upper.
Record Group 185:Records of the Panama Canal, 1848 - 1999 Series: Photographs of the Construction of the Panama Canal, 1887 - 1940
File Unit: Construction of the Panama Canal - Volume 4
National Archives Identifier: 100995186
Local Identifier: 185-G-304
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
BB-46
014633b
440kLed by the Maryland (BB-46), the Pacific Battle Fleet steamed out of New York Harbor yesterday, 13 March 1924, with nine other dreadnoughts in her wake. Photo shows the Maryland silhouetted against the western sun as she went down to the sea, on her way to maneuvers off Panama and her Pacific coast base." Photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
BB-45 Colorado
014508
1.69kA naval scouting plane lays a protective smokescreen during maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea, 21 March 1924. Left to right: New York (BB-34/35) class battleship; Pennsylvania (BB-38/39) class battleship; Tennessee (BB-43/44) class battleship (behind smoke); Omaha (CL-4/13) class cruiser; Tennessee or Colorado (BB-45/48) class battleship (stern only visible). Photo NH-69203 courtesy of history.navy.mil
BB-46 Maryland126kLighted by the night. Maryland (BB-46) all dressed up for the 4th of July at Tacoma, Washington, 1924. Photo courtesy of David S. Smith.
BB-46 Maryland231kMaryland (BB-46) sports an E in the early 1920's.USN photo # 19N-10937 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
BB-46 Maryland113kCAPT Thomas Tingey Craven commanded the Maryland (BB-46) from 9 June 1925 to 24 May 1927. Photo #17631v courtesy of the Library of Congress via Bill Gonyo.
BB-46 Maryland291kCrew-members on the stern of the Maryland (BB-46) stand near the canvas covered engines of two of her scout planes as another scout plane hovers in the distance near the Tennessee (BB-43), circa mid-1920s.
The scout planes are Vought UO-1's. They entered service around 1922 replacing the VE-7/VE-9 series. They are essentially a VE-7 with a radial engine mounted and stringers added to the fuselage to give it a round cross section. They may also be considered the first of the "Corsair" line though it never carried the name. There was a fighter version (FU-1) built by covering the forward cockpit and adding 2.30 cal MG forward. Equipped with floats, they were parceled out among the BB's of the Battle fleet for 6 months in mid 1926. The easiest way to distinguish the three radial powered Vought Observers is the shape of the tail. The O2U Corsair began replacing them about 1927.
The large ship's name on the fuselage predates the change to the concept of the aircraft belonging to squadrons, rather than the ships.
USN photo courtesy of Paul & Barbara Rebold.
Photo i.d. & text courtesy of Chris Hoehn & Alan Moore.
BB-46 Maryland167kThe Maryland (BB-46) about to recover one of her Vought VE-7H's or VE-9H's during the soaring 20's.Text i.d. courtesy of Alan Moore.
Photo courtesy of ATC Alex Hester.
BB-40 New Mexico 52k Battleship Div 4 in Sydney harbor, 23 July 1925. Photo courtesy of Tom Totoris, MCPO, USN Ret 1971-1997.
BB-42 Idaho
014295
548k Panorama of Sydney Harbour during the United States Navy's goodwill tour.
On 23 July 1925, Sydney hosted eight of the US Navy Battle Fleet's largest ships, including California (BB-44), Colorado (BB-45),Tennessee (BB-43), Maryland (BB-46), West Virginia (BB-48), New Mexico (BB-40), Mississippi (BB-41) and Idaho (BB-42). The fleet departed for New Zealand on 6 August. This photograph was probably taken at Georges Head Battery, in Georges Heights in the Sydney suburb of Mosman.
This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Image and text provided by flickr.com
Port Angeles Washington 1.90k Port Angeles Washington: The lack of turret bearing markings places the photo post 1924 while the already noted presence of the Kidder (DD-319) places it before 1930. The front row of battleships are, left to right, Colorado (BB-45) based on the turret two rangefinder, West Virginia (BB-48) based on the lack of a turret two rangefinder, and probably California (BB-44) based on the bridge configuration. The back row, left to right, are New Mexico (BB-40) based on the higher bridge configuration, Mississippi (BB-41), based on the lower bridge and the fact that the searchlights and lookout station on the main mast are lower than those on the foremast (BB-42 had them at the same height), and Maryland (BB-46) based on the configuration of the turret two rangefinder. Photo courtesy of Curtis Nicolaisen.
Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
BB-45 Colorado1.22kThe 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 USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-695093, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland757kThe battleship Maryland (BB-46) unleashes a broadside with her 16-in. guns during exercises in the Pacific Ocean. Photo taken sometime between 1924 to 1927. Photo courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum via Bill Gonyo.
BB-46 Maryland2.30kA group photograph of the ship's football team on the deck, circa 1920's.National Naval Aviation Museum photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 1927 2.60k Ships of the U.S. Fleet pictured at anchor at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during winter exercises in 1927.
The "center" row has Mississippi (BB-41) then Langley (CV-1) , Oklahoma (BB-37), Pennsylvania (BB-38) and Arizona (BB-39) in that order. The next row to the left has Idaho (BB-42) then New Mexico (BB-40), followed by 3 of the Tennessee/Colorado class (hard to pick out distinguishing features in this photo), with Nevada (BB-36) as tail-end-Charlie. Further to the left are another Tennessee/Colorado class BB and a Memphis (formerly Tennessee) class armored cruiser. Two unidentified Omaha class cruisers are in the foreground. There are at least 17 destroyers, identifiable (bottom, right) is Mahan (DD-102), converted to a minelayer and redesignated DM-7, but still wearing her old DD hull number (102) and two submarine tenders in the foreground with about 10 smaller and two large submarines. The peninsula in the right foreground is South Toro Cay, where the drydock is still visible that was begun in 1904, but cancelled two years later.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen & wikipedia.org.
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org via Branden Deschaine & Fabio Pena.
BB-46 & 41
014628
986kMaryland (BB-46) and her scout planes & Mississippi (BB-41) in the Panama Canal, April 1927. Photo courtesy of gallica.bnf.fr via Daniel Hacker.
SS 163-64 & 65 154k Battleship Maryland (BB-46); Submarine Tender Camden (AS-6); two unknown S-boats; and two V-1 class submarines, possibly Barracuda (SS-163), Bass (SS-164) and or Bonita (SS-165) in port in May 1927.
Note the tremendous difference in size between the S-boats and V-1 class submarines.
Photo # NH 46418 courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
BB-46 Maryland374kO2U seaplane being shot from the catapult from the deck of the battleship Maryland (BB-46).USN photo # 80-G-1009377 from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland1.74kMaryland (BB-46) with a Vought O2U Corsair in the water near her stern. New Mexico (BB-40) is behind the Maryland .
Two aspects of the aircraft's markings are date-indicative. The first is the fuselage markings, 5 / 8, which signify VO-5's (Observation Squadron 5's) eighth aircraft. The symbol for Observation Squadron would later be changed from "/" to "O," making the marking 5-O-8.
The second is the solid-color painted tail surfaces. Prior to the adoption of this practice, the rudders where painted with vertical Red-White-Blue stripes. The solid-colored tails were to identify the aircraft of a squadron, each squadron having it's own tail color. Each Battleship Division had its own squadron, with the planes distributed among the ships of the Division. Therefore, the planes on the ships of a Division had the same tail color.
So this photo was taken after the adoption of painted tail surfaces but before the change of / to O. I can't find a specific date for either practice, only a vague "around 1930" or (in the case of the O) "in 1930."
A third factor leading to the date is the existence of the squadron, VO-5B. William Larkins, in his Battleship and Cruiser Aircraft of the United States Navy 1910-1949, writes "VO-5B was only in commission for three years, 1927-1930, so planes with these markings are rare." (page 176)
In the same work Larkins lists BatDiv5's ships as West Virginia (BB-48) (Flagship), Tennessee (BB-43), Maryland and Colorado (BB-45).
From this photo I can't distinguish an O2U-2 from a -3 (Larkins lists both.) but it's definitely not an O2U-1, which had a different rudder. Appended is his aircraft breakdown for Maryland.

Date Division Squadron Aircraft
7/1926 Five VO-1 2 UO-1
7/1927 Five VO-1B 2 UO-1, 1 OL-3, 1 FU-1
7/1928 Five VO-5B 3 O2U-1, 1 OL-6
7/1929 Five VO-5B 11 O2U-1, 1 O2U-2 [These are the aircraft for the entire Division, not just MD.]
6/1930 Five 6 O2U-1, 1 O2U-3 [ditto: aircraft for entire Division]
7/1931 One VO-1B 4 O2U-1, 1 O3U-2 [ditto; (Larkins lists only two ships, MD and ID)]
Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Text courtesy of Alan Moore.
Photo courtesy of Alan K. Radecki.
BB-46 Maryland452kMaryland (BB-46) on the 4th of June 1927.
The aircraft on the stern catapult are Vought UO-1s, while the aircraft on the turret catapult appears to be a Loening OL-3.
Text i.d. courtesy of Alan Moore.
USN photo # 19N-11019 & 19N-11020 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Capt Victor Ashfield Kimberly 64k Capt Victor Ashfield Kimberly had a short stint as C.O. of the Arizona (BB-39), 27/06/1928 to 04/09/1928. Apparently he pulled some strings in Washington D.C. to get command of the newer battleship Maryland (BB-46) with her 16 inch guns; he was captain from 06/09/1928 to 16/05/1930. This stunt did not go over with his shipmates on the Arizona and he was not a popular topic in the officers wardroom. This might explain why he never was promoted to Admiral. Text courtesy of Bill Gonyo & Wolfgang Hechler.
Photo courtesy of findagrave.com.
BB-46 Maryland75kDry Dock, Hunters Point Navy Yard, November 1928.NHC / USN photo.
BB-46 MarylandNRA view of the quarter deck of the battleship Maryland (BB-46), where President-elect Herbert Hoover and his party will do most of their exercising during the weeks in which they will make their home aboard the giant sea fighter on the South American trip. Mr. Hoover plans to board the Maryland next Monday at San Pedro,Calif.Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 14 November 1928, Image 17, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Maryland NR A striking photograph of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) on which President-elect Hoover is making his good-will visit to South America. It was taken during maneuvers in the Caribbeaan Sea.Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from the The Washington Herald. (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 25 November 1928, Image 104, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland
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NR President-elect Hoover boarding the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in San Pedro Harbor for his good will voyage to South America. Ambassador Fletcher is seen just behind Mr. Hoover.
The battleship Maryland as seen from the air in San Pedro Harbor just after President-elect Hoover had boarded the sea fighter for his Latin American voyage. The crew is lined up for inspection on the quarterdeck.
© Associated Press Photo.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 December 1928, Image 113, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland329kThree photo PDF showing President elect Hoover & Mrs Hoover aboard the Maryland (BB-46), December 1928.Photo courtesy of Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, inspired by Tommy Trampp.
Note; High-resolution scans can be ordered from the site.
BB-46 MarylandNROn the bridge of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) President-elect Hoover scanning the Pacific horizon with Capt. Kimmerly commanding the battleship and Ambassador Henry P. Fletcher.
President-elect Hoover has had to demonstrate a good deal of sure-footedness in some of the landings he has made from the battleship Maryland on his good-will tour. A choppy sea is tossing the Maryland's barge here as sailors reach for a grip on the pier at L'Union, Salvador. Mr. Hoover is waiting in the stern to climb up the pier steps.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star.[volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 16 December 1928, Image 112, & 10 December 1928, Image 17 via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 Maryland
014678
NR WEARINESS OF HOOVER AFTER CAMPAIGN DROPS LIKE A MASK AFTER BATTLESHIP COMES TO HALT OFF CAPE SAN LUCAS AND PRESIDENT-ELECT LANDS TWO FISH—"BIGGEST ONE GOT AWAY"
President-elect Hoover and Ambassador Fletcher taking life easy on the Maryland (BB-46), en route to Honduras.
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 23 January 1929, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 MarylandNRRANK OF "SENIOR OFFICER" OF THE MARYLAND (BB-46) HELD BY HOOVER REQUIRES HIM TO SERVE AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF BATTLESHIP
The President-elect, in chief petty officer's cap and yachting attire, poses for a snapshot with Lieut. Comdr. H. W. Hill, gunnery officer of the Maryland.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star.[volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 25 January 1929, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-46 MarylandNRKing Neptune "surgeons" operate on Allan Hoover, son of President-elect Hoover, as part of his initiation into the select society of "shellbacks," as the battleship Maryland (BB-46) crossed the equator. He is seen stretched out on the operating table as one of the many "landlubber" victims of the sport enjoyed by old Neptune's cohorts during the traditional ceremony.
COURT OF KING NEPTUNE ADDS ZEST TO HOOVER'S THANKSGIVING OBSERVANCE AS "POLLYWOGS" GET INITIATED ON BATTLESHIP CROSSING EQUATOR
King Neptune welcoming "Shellback" Hoover to his "raging domain" on the occasion of his majesty's visit to the Maryland December 1 last.
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 17 December 1928, Image 17 & 07 February 1929, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
BB-47 Washington 284k Colorado (BB-45) leading, Maryland (BB-46) following. The 3 sisters can be distinguished from one another (during the 20's and early 30's) by the forward range dial. Colorado carries hers half below the bottom of the fire control tower, the Maryland carries hers fully on the face of the fire control tower while the West Virginia (BB-48) carries hers like the Colorado but her dials are black with white numbers. Text & photo i.d. courtesy of Chris Hoehn.
Photo possibly by Frank Lynch, chief photographer of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, circa 1929.
Photo from the collection of Carrie Schmidt.
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-46698k7th May 1932: Four women visitors in sailor suits sit astride a pair of ship's guns on the Maryland (BB-46).Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-44671k(Original Caption) 2/5/1932-Los Angeles, CA- Here is an aerial view of 4 of Uncle Sam's Battleships as they left LA Harbor with the rest of the US Battle fleet, for the manuevers of the Hawaiian islands. (Left to Right) The ships are: Flagship California (BB-44), Maryland (BB-46), Colorado (BB-45), and West Virginia(BB-48). Photo by Bettmann, via Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland562kThe Maryland (BB-46) from West Virginia (BB-48) Bridge, during a drill, of 103 units of the North American fleet took part, November 1932, Pacific Ocean, photo from L'illustrazione Italiana, year LIX, n 50, 11 December 1932. Photo courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland51kShipboard scene from the early 1930's. Nothing like crawling into bed with some good literature. Photo courtesy of Wendy Johnson.
BB-34 New York413k New York (BB-34) ahead of Pennsylvania (BB-38). The next ship ahead is a Tennessee class (BB-43 /44) based on the slope of the turret roofs. (Uniform slope back to front - no kink like the twin 16" mounts on the Colorado's (BB-45). Based on the relatively full appearance of the forward superstructure, I am leaning toward California (BB-44) which had an enlarged flag bridge as Battle Force Flagship. The other three are obviously Tennessee (BB-43) and/or Colorado class (BB-45 / 48) but are too indistinct to ID specifically. Because of the boom cranes on the sterns, the photo was taken between 1931 and 1934.Photo courtesy of Kerry Garrett.
Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Richard M. Jensen.
Colon, Canal Zone2.44kShips of the United States Fleet pictured at anchor inside the breakwater at Colon, Canal Zone, 1935.
The carriers are, front to back, Langley (CV-1), Saratoga (CV-3) and Lexington (CV-2). The two battleships beyond Lexington are the New York (BB-34) with Texas (BB-35) behind. The nearest battleship, straight up from the Langley is Pennsylvania (BB-38). The BB immediately beyond and to the left of Pennsylvania (BB-38) is California (BB-44). The remaining battleships include two New Mexico's: Mississippi (BB-41) and Idaho (BB-42), but even this higher rez shot is not clear enough to tell which is which. Also are the rest of the "Big Five" and what is probably one of the Nevada's, but that is not certain. The photo is not clear enough for positive identifications. The cruisers to the left are three Northampton's (CA-26 / 31) and the two Pensacola's (CA-24 & 25) (the pair furthest from the camera) and six Omaha's.
Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Richard M. Jensen.
Photo courtesy of National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) photo (# 1996.488.001.006) courtesy of Fabio Pena.
BB-46 Maryland43kCapt. Lewis Broughton Porterfield was the commanding officer of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) from 21 December 1932 to 1 March 1934. Photo obtained from the Naval Historical Foundation via Bill Gonyo.
Maryland701kThe E division of Maryland (BB-46) poses for a crew photo, 2 April 1934. Collection of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.
Photo courtesy of Roy A Harrell via Robert Taylor.
BB-46 Maryland755kStarboard beam, underway, 1935. National Archives photo # N3169, courtesy of David Buell.
BB-48 West Virginia272kThe West Virginia (BB-48) as flagship for the Commander, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet, followed by other battleships steaming in line ahead during the middle through later 1920's.
The aircraft on the turret catapult appears to be a Curtiss SOC (I can't make out the stern aircraft.), so the date has to be mid-to-later 1930s.
The four leading ships behind her are (in no particular order) Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46), California (BB-44) & Tennessee (BB-43).
Text i.d. courtesy of Alan Moore.
Photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
Battleship Row1.80k 1936 photo of Battleship Row, Pearl Harbor. Among the ships in the harbor are: Front and center a Northampton class CA, most likely the Chester (CA-27).
The two New Orleans (CA-32) class cruisers on the far left are the Minneapolis (CA-36) nearer the camera with New Orleans (CA-32) behind. Both have the curved-faced turrets, limiting them to the CA-32/34/36 group. Within that group, only New Orleans lacked the glassed-in navigation bridge (below the pilothouse), and minor superstructure variations point to the other being Minneapolis rather than Astoria (CA-34).
The battleships from left to right: Colorado (BB-45), or West Virginia (BB-48), outboard of Idaho (BB-42), Nevada (BB-36), outboard of Mississippi (BB-41), New Mexico (BB-40), outboard of Maryland (BB-46) or California (BB-44).
On the far right is the Hospital ship Relief (AH-1) with two unidentified ships ahead and to her port side.
Text courtesy of David Johnston, (USNR), Aryeh Wetherhorn (USNR) & Richard Jensen.
Photo courtesy of Edward Cwalinski, submitted by Barry Litchfield.
BB-46 Maryland121kPhotographed by George Winstead of the Maryland (BB-46) with Curtiss SOC-3s of VO-4 and an accompanying cruiser at anchor, mid 1930's - pre war image. Text i.d. courtesy of Alan Moore.
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Almost Unknown274kUS Navy battleships in parade formation in San Diego, California, 23 August 1935.
Pennsylvania (BB-38) in the lead followed by West Virginia (BB-48), Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46), California (BB-44) and Texas (BB-35). After the Texas, the photo is just too "fuzzy" for an ID.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
USN photo # 80-G-462946 from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland & Arizona117kArizona (BB-39) inboard & Maryland (BB-46) at Puget Sound sometime circa late 1935, early 1936. The Arizona still has the searchlights on the funnel and the funnel is short. It was extended vertically in early 1936.USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Mike Green.
Text courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
BB-46 Maryland235k Maryland (BB-46) at the Bremerton Navy Yard, circa 1936-1938.Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. 2014.71.01, from the Harold Fawcett Collection via Mike Green.
BB-39 Arizona
013934
6.44kU.S. Fleet battleships steam under the incomplete Golden Gate Bridge, circa November 1936. Leading ship is Arizona (BB-39), followed by Nevada (BB-36), Maryland (BB-46) and Texas (BB-35) .Photo NH 95911, courtesy of history.navy.mil
BB-46 Maryland700kUnique view of the Maryland (BB-46) and fo'c'sle. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
BB-46 Maryland1.05kMaryland (BB-46) sails the seas in this painting by the artist R. Lillo.Photo courtesy of Arnold Putnam.
BB-40 New Mexico & family463kProbable front and rear photos here and below showing formations of aircraft flying over U.S. Navy battleships during exercises at sea, 1938 / 1939.
Pictured here is the New Mexico (BB-40) in the van with other battleships of the Pacific Fleet and a carrier air group, led by the Air Group Commander in a Curtiss SBC Helldiver.
The aircraft following are:
A torpedo squadron of eighteen Douglas TBD-1s;
A bombing squadron of eighteen Northrop BT-1s;
A scouting squadron eighteen Curtiss SBCs;
A fighting squadron of eighteen Grumman F2F-1s or F3F-3s from either the Yorktown (CV-5) or F3F-2s from the Enterprise (CV-6), plus possibly nine additional aircraft.
The Yorktown and Enterprise were the only two carriers whose bombing squadrons were equipped with the Northrop BT-1.
The text for the photo reads:
"The Navy uses enormous amounts of rubber. At least seventy-five tons of rubber, enough to makes 17,000 tires, are used in the construction of each of these battleships. Tons more are needed for the naval planes that are making history over the world. Medical and communication requirements--and countless other needs of the Navy--are met."
The lead BB looks like Mississippi (BB-41) followed by Maryland (BB-46) (rangefinder on Turret II). My first impression of the Tennessee class (BB-43 /44) is the Tennessee (BB-43), but that is not a certain ID from this photo alone. Fourth is the Oklahoma (BB-37) (no birdbath). Aside from the DD now in the lead, I see nothing in the head-on shot aerial that positively differs from the ID's of the first 4 BB's in the first photo. Of course, in the aft aerial shot, BB #5 is the California (BB-44), ID'd by the enlarged flag bridge, lending support to BB #3 in the first photo being Tennessee. Everything I see supports these three photos all being part of the same operation with at least the first 5 BB's remaining in the same order.
Photograph # LC-USE64 - DC-000944 & partial text courtesy of memory.loc.gov.
Battleship i.d. & text courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Aircraft i.d. & text & timeline courtesy of Alan Moore via the following sources: Airplane i.d.: Yorktown Class Carriers (Warship Pictorial No. 9) by Steve Wiper, Tucson, AZ: Classic Warships Publishing, 2000. & That Gallant Ship: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5) by Robert Cressman, Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Pub Co, 1985. Timeline from Battleship Arizona: An Illustrated History by Paul Stillwell, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1991.
BB-40 New Mexico & family1.62kProbable front and rear photos here and above showing formations of aircraft flying over U.S. Navy battleships during exercises at sea, 1938 / 1939.
New Mexico (BB-40) is leading the BB column while the remaining battleships have dual masthead fire control structures.
The air group formation in the two photos appears to be similar. The composition of 18 TBDs, 18 BT-1s, 18 SBCs, and 27 fighters is easier to distinguish in the front/surface view. I'm assuming, based on total aircraft count alone, that the formation in the rear/aerial view is the same. (The perspective makes it difficult to sort the monoplanes and biplanes into their respective types.) The only difference is that in the front/surface view the formation is lead by a Curtiss SBC Helldiver (likely the Air Group Commander) but in the rear/aerial view that lead Helldiver is not present. I suppose it's possible that the photographer was in that Helldiver's rear seat. What stands out for me is the presence of nine extra fighters beyond the normal squadron composition of 18, as seen in the other three squadrons in this formation.
Photo i.d courtesy of Chuck Haberlein, Richard Jensen, Aryeh Wetherhorn, & Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Battleship i.d. & text courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Aircraft i.d. & text courtesy of Alan Moore.
US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo No. 2008.104.001.234.
BB-46 Maryland129kNaval officer reviewing kitchen stewards clad in aprons w. pots & pans at their feet on the deck of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) during 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland162kChief machinist's mate & 2 firemen working w. huge engine turbine in the engine room of battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland165kNavy engineer manning ships throttle next to steam gauges in the battle station of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) during 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland133kNavy crewmen using water hose & brush to scrub down ship's hammocks before hanging them up to dry on lines behind them, on the prow of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) during 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland123kView fr. the bridge looking down the big guns on the prow where folding cots can be seen hanging fr. the side rails on the battleship Maryland (BB-46) at San Pedro CA., 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland152kNavy crewman hanging from a rope ladder on a spar while working to control the hawser lines for the launches that arrive to load up crewmen to ferry them ashore on "Liberty" from the battleship Maryland (BB-46) anchored in the harbor at San Pedro, CA. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland173kNavy launches ferrying sailors from the Maryland (BB-46) to the harbor at San Pedro CA., 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland188kNavy signalman using semaphore flags as he communicates w. another ship while signal corpsmen handle the signal flag hoists on board the battleship Maryland (BB-46) anchored in the harbor at San Pedro, CA.
Note the numbers and letters written on the flag storage locker for the handling of the flags.
Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland168kNavy crewmen working in the main engine control room of the battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via & Life.
BB-46 Maryland179kNavy crewmen working in the main engine control room of the battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland136kHeavy anchors hanging from the prow of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) as she gets a paint job in the harbor at San Pedro CA., 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via & Life.
BB-46 Maryland134kNavy crewmen on hanging scaffolds while painting the side of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) anchored in the harbor at San Pedro, CA. Note three other battleships in the background. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland117kCapt. C. G. Logan being served lunch in his cabin on board the battleship. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland132kTwo Naval officers conferring in the Officers Stateroom on board the battleship. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland125kMarines standing at "parade rest" during inspection review on the deck of the battleship. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland134kNavy crewmen stringing up hammocks on board the battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland129kNavy crewmen making decorative macrame fringes on the deck of the battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland123kNavy cooks preparing a meal while working next to large steam-jacketed vats in the galley of the battleship. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland112kPortrait of Lieut. Commander Charles Phleger manning the controls on the bridge of the battleship. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland393kView looking up at the conning tower of the Maryland (BB-46), 1939. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland
014639s
1.59kAir craft crew members in ready room of the Maryland (BB-46), 1939, & Margaret Bourke-White with her camera. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of gettyimages.com.
BB-46 Maryland137kCrew members of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) eating a meal in mess hall on board. Photographer: Margaret Bourke-White courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-38 Pennsylvania & Colorado class119kPennsylvania (BB-38) & or Colorado (BB-45), Maryland (BB-46) & or West Virginia (BB-48) at 1010 dock sometime after returning to Pearl Harbor, circa 1939-40. USN photo by Albert Weigandt & submitted by James D. Card, QMCS (SW/AW). Partial text courtesy of DANFS. Photo i.d. courtesy of Tom Bateman.
BB-39 Arizona1.31kBetween 9 & 13 September 1940 the Arizona (BB-39) was under way with other ships of the US Fleet for simulated fleet engagement. She is pictured here in company with other ships of the Pacific Fleet taken during Fleet Ops. and at least one carrier air group.Text & photo i.d. courtesy of Alan Moore via Battleship Arizona: An Illustrated History by Paul Stillwell, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1991.
US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2008.104.001.235 courtesy of Alan Moore.
BB-46 Maryland143kAviators standing aboard battleship Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor, 1941. Photographer: Peter Stackpole,courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-45 Colorado127k Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, View from the west on 25 July 1941, taken from an aircraft based at Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Among the ships present are: Aroostook (AK-44, ex-CM-3), at right, and Prometheus (AR-3), center, alongside the near side of the long pier closest to the camera; Utah (AG-16), in drydock at left; Maryland (BB-46), alongside the middle of the three longest piers; Barnegat (AVP-10) and Biscayne (AVP-11), fitting out on the far side of the most distant long pier; Casco (AVP-12) and Mackinac (AVP-13), under construction in the drydock in the upper left. Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 84927, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-45 Colorado138k Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, View from the south on 25 July 1941, taken from an aircraft based at Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Among the ships present are: Aroostook (AK-44, ex-CM-3) and Prometheus (AR-3), alongside the left side of the long pier in left center; Utah (AG-16), in drydock in the center of the photo; Maryland (BB-46), alongside the middle of the three longest piers; Barnegat (AVP-10) and Biscayne (AVP-11), fitting out on the right side of the long pier in right center; Casco (AVP-12) and Mackinac (AVP-13), under construction in the drydock at right. Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 84926, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-45 Colorado159k Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, View from the north on 25 July 1941, taken from an aircraft based at Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Among the ships present are: Barnegat (AVP-10) and Biscayne (AVP-11), fitting out on the left side of the long pier in left center; Casco (AVP-12) and Mackinac (AVP-13), under construction in the drydock at left; Maryland (BB-46), alongside the middle of the three longest piers; Utah (AG-16), in drydock in the center of the photo; Aroostook (AK-44, ex-CM-3) and Prometheus (AR-3), alongside the right side of the long pier in right center. Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 84925, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-45 Colorado125k Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington. View from the east on 25 July 1941, taken from an aircraft based at Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Among the ships present are: Barnegat (AVP-10) and Biscayne (AVP-11), fitting out on the near side of the long pier nearest the camera; Casco (AVP-12) and Mackinac (AVP-13), under construction in the drydock nearest the camera; Maryland (BB-46), alongside the middle of the three longest piers; Utah (AG-16), in drydock in the right center of the photo; Aroostook (AK-44, ex-CM-3) and Prometheus (AR-3), alongside the far side of the most distant long pier. Aroostook, at left. is being disassembled. Prometheus (AR-3) is being prepared for recommissioning. Photo i.d. courtesy of Richard Jensen.
Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 84924, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Maryland422kA OS2U Kingfisher on the catapult of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) getting ready to fly in 1941. Text i.d. courtesy of David Stubblebine.
Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
Maryland129kA OS2U Kingfisher in flight from the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in 1941. Text i.d. courtesy of David Stubblebine.
Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
Maryland1.42kA OS2U Kingfisher in flight over the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in 1941.Text i.d. courtesy of David Stubblebine.
Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
Maryland1.23kA threesome of OS2U Kingfisher sit on the catapults of the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in 1941. Text i.d. courtesy of David Stubblebine.
Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
Maryland1.42kLooking at a 1.1"/75 quad gun mount anti-aircraft underneath the boat deck on board the battleship Maryland (BB-46) in 1941. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Spivey.
Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
Maryland1.31kBig guns on the battleship Maryland (BB-46) up close and personal in 1941. Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-46 Maryland492kLooking aft, as the Maryland (BB-46) is underway, from the top of #4 main gun turret, showing the 1941 pre-Pearl Harbor configuration. Two OS2U Kingfisher observation planes, one on the stern catapult and one on a movable dolly are seen, with an inspection taking place.Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life shared by Peter DeForest via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland134kFlying officers consulting naval officers aboard battleship Maryland (BB-46). Photographer: Peter Stackpole, courtesy of time.com. via Life.
BB-45 Colorado445kCut out of the Colorado class (BB-45) as of December 1941. Drawn by Edward H Wiswesser; 1/10 scale.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
BB-36 Nevada
013600b
1.15kPainting by the artist Joseph Reindler titled SOMEWHERE OFF HONOLULU : Heavy elements of the US Pacific Fleet on maneuvers; Nevada (BB-36) leads Maryland (BB-46) (second-nearest) and Tennessee (BB-43) (at distance). Another generic scene, circa Winter 1941.
Besides Nevada, details of armament coupled with nuances of the Measure-1 camouflage worn by these ships, as well as the obvious lines of anti-torpedo blisters also permit clear identification of Maryland at least – given that of the 16-inch gunned latter three of the ‘Big-5’ standard battleships, West Virginia (BB-48) was not fitted with anti-torpedo blisters by Winter of 1941; and Colorado (BB-45) was in refit at the time represented by this drawing. Admittedly there was very little I could add on so small a sketch to differentiate between Tennessee and her sister California (BB-44).
The International Code of Signals still reads well in black & white – which is by design not accident; thereby the signal Nevada makes at her Starboard foretop signals yard reads : “PREP-BAKER-TARE, FIRST-REPEAT-LOVE-ZED, X-RAY-ONE-SEVEN-NINE”. Or, translated: “TOGETHER TURN TO COURSE TRUE ONE-SEVEN-NINE”. It was a bit of fun working an actual message into so small a drawing. Of course with the signal still hauled up Nevada has yet to actually execute her own turn – and with Maryland and Tennessee in line astern still wearing around onto the same heading the scene would no doubt make for some fun between the respective Officers of the Deck and Signals Yeomen in all three ships. But no doubt with war brewing all crews were being put through their paces.
Painting courtesy of Joseph Reindler.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
BB-46 Maryland126kIn January 1941, Rear Admiral Walter Stratton Anderson assumed command of Battleships, Battle Force, and also performed additional duty as Commander, Battleship Division 4. In April 1941 the designation of that command was changed to Battleships, Pacific Fleet, and additional duty as Commander, Battleship Division 4. Flying his flag on board Maryland (BB-46) , he was present at Pearl Harbor, T. H., when the Japanese attacked on 7 December 1941.Photo from the Naval History and Heritage Command via Bill Gonyo.
Pearl Harbor 2.94k Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers in dawn fly-off for Pearl Harbor. Artwork by John Hamilton from his publication, "War at Sea," pg. 68-69.
USN photo # 80-142-H, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
Pearl Harbor
014325
NR The Assault On Pearl Harbor—An Artist's Conception
HANK BARROW, AP artist, reconstructs the battle at Pearl Harbor from information provided by Secretary Knox. One battleship, the  Arizona (BB-39), (right center), was sunk by a bomb that "literally passed through the smokestack." Another battleship, the Oklahoma (BB-37), (left center,capsized. It can be repaired. Three destroyers (one in right foreground), an old target ship, and a mine layer also went down. Other ships were damaged, many U. S. planes were destroyed on the ground. Almost 2,900 servicemen died The attackers lost three subs (one midget sub is at extreme right) & 41 aircraft. Knox said that after the initial surprise, American men fought with "magnificent courage and resourcefulness. The men's will to resist was tremendous...
Image and text provided by University of Florida.
Photo from The Key West Citizen.  [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 22 December  1941, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Pearl Harbor
014316s
2.14k The Navy's Own, Four-Page Picture Story of Pearl Harbor
Old Glory flying proudly in one of her darkest hours and over sailors at Pearl Harbor last 7 December risking their lives close up to the bomb-set flames roaring from both West Virginia (BB-48) and Tennessee (BB-43).
Slightly-damaged 31,000-ton Maryland (BB-46) (first battleship to rejoin the fleet after repairs) in Pearl Harbor's flames. Behind her is another battleship, at right the capsized battleship Oklahoma (BB-37).
Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library.
Photo from Detroit Evening Times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 06 December 1942, FINAL, Images 21, 22, 23, & 24, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Pearl Harbor 1.67k Battleship row in flames. Artwork by John Hamilton from his publication, "War at Sea," pg. 74-75.
USN photo # 80-142-I, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
Hit 399k Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance. A torpedo has just hit West Virginia (BB-48) on the far side of Ford Island (center). Other battleships moored nearby are (from left): Nevada (BB-36), Arizona (BB-39), Tennessee (BB-43) (inboard of West Virginia), Oklahoma (BB-37) (torpedoed and listing) alongside Maryland (BB-46), and California (BB-44). On the near side of Ford Island, to the left, are light cruisers Detroit (CL-8) and Raleigh (CL-7), target and training ship Utah (BB-31) and seaplane tender Tangier (AV-8). Raleigh and Utah have been torpedoed, and Utah is listing sharply to port. Japanese planes are visible in the right center (over Ford Island) and over the Navy Yard at right. U.S. Navy planes on the seaplane ramp are on fire. Japanese writing in the lower right states that the photograph was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry. Text courtesy of wikipedia.com.
Official USN photograph NH 50930.
Hit 3.95k Vertical aerial view of "Battleship Row", beside Ford Island, during the early part of the horizontal bombing attack on the ships moored there. Photographed from a Japanese aircraft. Ships seen are (from left to right): Nevada (BB-36), Arizona (BB-39) with Vestal (AR-4) moored outboard; Tennessee (BB-43) with West Virginia (BB-48) moored outboard; Maryland (BB-46) with Oklahoma (BB-37) moored outboard; and Neosho (AO-23), only partially visible at the extreme right. A bomb has just hit Arizona near the stern, but she has not yet received the bomb that detonated her forward magazines. West Virginia and Oklahoma are gushing oil from their many torpedo hits and are listing to port. Oklahoma's port deck edge is already under water. Nevada has also been torpedoed.
Japanese inscription in lower left states that the photograph has been officially released by the Navy Ministry. Also at NHHC as NH 50472.
From the translated Japanese caption, "Alas, the spectacle of the American battleship Fleet in its Dying Gasp. The attack of our assault force was extremely accurate and achieved direct hits with all bombs. The leading ship of the Oklahoma Class is already half sunk. The Maryland type and the Pennsylvania type are blowing up from several direct hits. The ships crumble and their hulls are twisted and keeling over. Crude oil gushes forth fearfully. This view of the wretched enemy's capital ships which were converted into a sea hell was photographed from directly overhead by the heroes of our calm, valorous attack force."
USN photo # 80-G-30551, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
Hit 1.01k Japanese post card of bombers over Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Photo courtesy of Arnold Putnam.
Hit 3.24k Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - Hickam Field. Photo courtesy of Arnold Putnam.
BB-46 Maryland512kPearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941. Oil fires burning on the water near Ford Island in the morning of 7 December 1941, shortly after the conclusion of the Japanese raid. Maryland (BB-46) is in the center background. A harbor tug is at right. Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-19951, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-37 Oklahoma 86k Oil on canvas painting by the artist Tom Freeman entitled "Last Torpedo". The Oklahoma (BB-37) starts to capsize. The ship had no watertight integrity, as all portholes and watertight doors were open for Captain's inspection when the Japanese attacked. Maryland (BB-46) is at left, and Tennessee (BB-43) is behind and to the left of the Oklahoma, and West Virginia (BB-48) is directly behind her and sinking. Photo and partial text courtesy of oldgloryprints.com
BB-37 Oklahoma3.52kVertical aerial view of "Battleship Row", beside Ford Island, soon after Arizona (BB-39) was hit by bombs and her forward magazines exploded. Photographed from a Japanese aircraft. Ships seen are (from left to right): Nevada (BB-36); Arizona (burning intensely) with Vestal (AR-4) moored outboard; Tennessee (BB-43) with West Virginia (BB-48) moored outboard; and Maryland (BB-46) with Oklahoma (BB-37) capsized alongside. Smoke from bomb hits on Vestal and West Virginia is also visible.
Japanese inscription in lower left states that the photograph has been reproduced under Navy Ministry authorization. Also at NHHC as NH 30552.
Translated Japanese caption reads, "Capsizing, Sinking, Burning, the anchorage of the American capital ships is changed to a scene of carnage. In rapid succession, the enemy war vessels were set ablaze by the violent bombing attacks which followed the torpedo attacks. The special service ship in the capital ship anchorage has already been sunk. The violent smoke from the exploding powder magazine is rising from a vessel of the Oklahoma Class alongside. A Pennsylvania class ship, capsized and sinking, shows its bottom. Two ships the California class and the Maryland class are in flames from direct bomb hits. In the upper right-hand part of the photograph are what appear to be several rescue ships, darting right and left.
USN photo # 80-G-30552, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
The Raid on Pearl Harbor63kOil on canvas painting by the artist Ivan Berryman entitled "The Raid on Pearl Harbor, 7th December 1941," depicting the view across Battleship Row, viewed from above Ford Island as the Nevada (BB-36) gallantly makes her break for the open sea, coming under heavy attack from Japanese A6M2s from the carrier Hiryu. The Nevada was eventually too badly damaged to continue and was beached to avoid blocking the harbour entrance. In the immediate foreground, the lightly damaged Tennessee (BB-43) is trapped inboard of West Virginia (BB-48) which has sunk at her moorings, leaking burning oil and hampering the daring operations to pluck trapped crew members from her decks, while just visible to the right is the stern of the Maryland (BB-46) and the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37). Photo and partial text courtesy of military-art.com.
BB-46 Maryland103kView of "Battleship Row" from the head of 1010 dock, during or immediately after the Japanese raid. Arizona (BB-39) is sunk and burning at right. West Virginia (BB-48) is in the right center, sunk alongside Tennessee (BB-43), with oil fires shrouding them both. The capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) is in the left center, alongside Maryland (BB-46). Note wire spools in the right foreground, one marked "Crescent Wire & Cable Co., Trenton, N.J.".Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-32691, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-37 Oklahoma 6.38k Rescue teams at work on the capsized hull of Oklahoma (BB-37), seeking crew members trapped inside, 7 December 1941. The starboard bilge keel is visible at the top of the upturned hull. Officers' Motor Boats from Oklahoma and Argonne (AG-31) are in the foreground. Maryland (BB-46) is in the background. Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-19941, now in the collections of the National Archives via Bob Canchola.
BB-46 Maryland758kOfficers' Motor Boats from either the Oklahoma (BB-37), or Argonne (AG-31) pass the capsized hull of Oklahoma. The Maryland (BB-46) is in the background.USN photo # 80-G-32488 from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, courtesy of flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland97kView looking down "Battleship Row" from Ford Island Naval Air Station, shortly after the Japanese torpedo plane attack.California (BB-44) is at left, listing to port after receiving two torpedo hits. In the center are Maryland (BB-46) with the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) alongside. Neosho(AO-23) is at right, backing clear of the area. Most smoke is from Arizona (BB-39). Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-32640, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-37 Oklahoma2.85kView of Battleship Row during or immediately after the Japanese raid. West Virginia (BB-48) and Tennessee (BB-43) are in the center right. The capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) is at the left, alongside Maryland (BB-46). USN photo # 80-G-32416, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland88kMaryland (BB-46) alongside the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37), West Virginia (BB-48) is burning in the background.Submitted by Scott Dyben.
Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-19949, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland332k Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor with the upturned Oklahoma (BB-37) in the foreground.Photo courtesy of pacificwarbird via flickr.com.
BB-37 Oklahoma3.51kThe capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) and Maryland (BB-46) are shown after the attack. National Archives Identifier: 12009058
Local Identifier: 80-G-32741
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
BB-37 Oklahoma1.29kLooking for survivors from the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37). The Maryland (BB-46) rises above the overturned Oklahoma . USN photo # 80-G-32748, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
BB-37 Oklahoma1.52kView of Battleship Row during or immediately after the Japanese raid. The capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) is in the center, alongside Maryland (BB-46).
Note, on the mount card, hand-writing reads, Negative reversed in formatting.
USN photo # 80-G-32417, courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com.
BB-37 Oklahoma 78k The capsized hull of Oklahoma (BB-37), with a barge alongside to support rescue efforts, probably on 8 December 1941. Maryland (BB-46) is at right, and California (BB-44) is in the center distance. Official USN photo # 80-G-32453, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona116kAerial view of "Battleship Row" moorings on the southern side of Ford Island, 10 December 1941, showing damage from the Japanese raid three days earlier. In upper left is the sunken California (BB-44), with smaller vessels clustered around her. Diagonally, from left center to lower right are: Maryland (BB-46), lightly damaged, with the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) outboard. A barge is alongside Oklahoma, supporting rescue efforts.Tennessee (BB-43), lightly damaged, with the sunken West Virginia (BB-48) outboard. Arizona (BB-39), sunk, with her hull shattered by the explosion of the magazines below the two forward turrets. Note dark oil streaks on the harbor surface, originating from the sunken battleships. Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-387565, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland95k Maryland (BB-46) at Pearl Harbor or Puget Sound before having her cage mast cut down. She is protected by anti-torpedo nets.USN photo.
Salvage & Repair
BB-46 Maryland114kMaryland (BB-46) at Puget Sound on 9 February 1942. The remaining Pacific Fleet battleships were kept at a 48 hour state of readiness due to invasion fears on the West Coast. Very little rebuild work could be done with this sailing time restriction. Little damaged at Pearl Harbor, she sailed for the main land as soon as she could be freed from her docking quay. Visible are the splinter shields on her 5"/25 mounts. She still carries 5"/51 guns in casemates.Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 19-N-28341, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland61kMaryland (BB-46) at Puget Sound on 9 February 1942.USN photo courtesy of Seattle NARA RG-181, submitted by Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
BB-46 Maryland1.60kThe Maryland (BB-46) 8 November 1942. Her aft cage mast has already been reduced half way.
Both the Colorado (BB-45) and the Maryland sported the cut down main mast with four 20mm on the top platform. It was probable cut down to save top side weight given the increased AA battery and because it was a fast conversion given that they were the only BB's available on the west coast following Pearl Harbor (Maryland being the least damaged BB after the attack and Colorado being in Bremerton at the time of the attack.) Colorado lost hers after Tarawa and the Maryland after Kwajalein.
Source: Division of Naval Intelligence, Identification and Characteristics Section, as published in June, 1943 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland271kStern view of Maryland (BB-46) underway on 8 November 1942. Most noticeable is her cut down main mast, now converted to a 20mm gun platform. Also, she only is equipped with one catapult, as the catapult mounted on #3 turret has been removed, most likely to increase AA firing arcs and save top side weight with the additional AA battery. Source: Division of Naval Intelligence, Identification and Characteristics Section, as published in June, 1943 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland124kAnchored at Havannah Bay in the New Hebrides, circa October 1943, the Maryland (BB-46) and her sister Colorado (BB-45) were used to guard the Southern shipping lanes to and from Australia. In this photo you can easily see her cut down stump cage mainmast, carrying searchlights and 20mm A.A. guns. She was vulnerable as at this time she was only equipped with one main battery director, the other having been mounted on her former mainmast structure. If she had lost use of this director, she would have had only local, turret control of her main battery. This situation was not rectified until she was rebuilt in April, 1944.USN photo i.d. courtesy of Aryeh Wetherhorn.
BB-46 Maryland75kTarawa Invasion, November 1943. Maryland (BB-46) firing her after 16"/45 guns, during the pre-invasion bombardment of Tarawa, 20 November 1943. Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, Commander, Task Force 53, and members of his staff are observing the bombardment from Maryland's port bridge, in the foreground.Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-54398, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland220kUndated photo of the Maryland (BB-46) taking turret gun powder from an LST.Courtesy of Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) / USN photo.
BB-46 Maryland83k12 November 1943 photo of the Maryland (BB-46) firing practice salvos for the upcoming Tarawa invasion. Beginning 19th November, her 16" main battery would be providing fire support for the troops invading Tarawa.USN photo.
BB-46 Maryland88kMaryland (BB-46) follows Tennessee (BB-43), in mid-Pacific, November 1943. Originally near sisters, note difference in beam and silhouette. Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Warships of W.W. II by Paul H. Silverman, submitted by Robert Hurst.
BB-46 Maryland42k Maryland's (BB-46) bow view, starboard side at Puget Sound, Washington, 25 April 1944.USN photo # 1414-44, from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N), Box 4, courtesy of Dan Treadwell.
BB-46 Maryland58k Maryland (BB-46) stern view, starboard side at Puget Sound, Washington, 25 April 1944.USN photo # 1416-44, from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N), Box 4, courtesy of Dan Treadwell.
BB-46 Maryland424kStarboard broadside view of Maryland (BB-46) anchored off Puget Sound Navy Yard, 25 April 1944. The ship has completed a refit and rebuilt and has had her stub cage mainmast replaced with a short tower superstructure. She still retains her early war 5"/51 caliber dual purpose secondary mounts. These were not replaced with the twin 5"/38 caliber mounts until she was repaired from Kamikaze damage which occurred on 29 November 1944. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-63820 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland705kBow view of Maryland (BB-46) anchored off Puget Sound Navy Yard, 25 April 1944 at the completion of a refit and aft superstructure rebuild. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-63825 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland393kMaryland (BB-46) in April 1944.USN photo # 80-G-455340 via National Archives via David Buell. Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Haberlein.
BB-46 Maryland312kMaryland (BB-46) slowly moving at an unknown location. Rebuilt in April, 1944, the ship had her stub cage mainmast replaced with a short tower superstructure, as seen here. Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302664 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland518kStarboard side view taken at an altitude of 300 feet of the Maryland (BB-46) running post-overhaul speed trials in Puget Sound, Washington, 5 May 1944. US National Archives photo # 80-G-433934 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
BB-46 Maryland671kMaryland (BB-46) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, 5 May 1944. Later that day she sailed westward 5 May to participate in the biggest campaign yet attempted in the Pacific war-Saipan. Vice Adm. R. K. Turner allotted TF 52.3 days to soften up the island before the assault. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-433933 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
BB-46 Maryland107kGeneral view of the bow from the attack of 22 June 1944 by a Japanese airplane which dropped a torpedo which opened a gaping hole in Maryland's (BB-46) bow, ports side. Casualties were light and in 15 minutes she was underway for Eniwetok, and shortly thereafter to the repair yards at Pearl Harbor. With an around-the-clock effort by the shipyard workers, on 19 August, 34 days after arrival, the ship again steamed forth for the war zone.USN photo from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N), Box4, courtesy of Dan Treadwell.
Text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-46 Maryland54kEntering drydock at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard 10 July 1944, for torpedo (aerial) damage repair and the replacement of her bow. USN photo.
BB-46 Maryland413kClose-up starboard side view of the damaged bow on 10 July 1944, showing the Maryland (BB-46) in Dry Dock No. 2 at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard before any repair work begins.Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 4, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland392k Close-up port side view of the damaged bow on 10 July 1944, showing the Maryland (BB-46) in Dry Dock No. 2 at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard before any repair work beginsSource: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 6, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland247kMaryland (BB-46) in Dry Dock No. 2 at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. The damaged bow has been removed and scaffolding is in place, waiting for the new bow sections to be installed. Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 09, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland368kUpper bow assembly being constructed in Pearl Harbor Navy Yard fabrication shop.Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 16, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland296kThe lower bow subassembly is being moved from the fabrication shop to the dry dock. Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 17, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland297kUpper bow is being moved into place and fitted onto the bow of the Maryland (BB-46). Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 21, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland300kA preserved section of her original bow is completed and will be installed when rebuild work is completed onboard the Maryland (BB-46).Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 13, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
Insert USN photo # 80-G-283939 now in the collection of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large./font>
BB-46 Maryland334kWith repairs completed and the dry dock flooded, the Maryland (BB-46) is being eased out into the harbor on 10 August 1944. Source: Hawaiian War Records Depository, Photo No. MD 25, from the Robert F. Walden Collection, courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-38 Pennsylvania251kMaryland (BB-46) and Pennsylvania (BB-38) steam together as the battleships of Task Unit 32.5.2 between 6th and 12 September 1944 as they head towards the Palau Islands and the invasion of Peleliu.USN photo # 80-G-283625 now in the collection of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. /font>
BB-46 Maryland82kMaryland (BB-46) is hit by a "Kamikaze" suicide plane in the evening of 29 November 1944, while operating off Leyte.Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-270627, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-46 Maryland361kMaryland (BB-46), Colorado (BB-45) & Washington (BB-56), circa post November 1943. USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-40 New Mexico & family349kThe following photos document the start of repairs at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 19 December 1944, following a Kamikaze strike on 17 November. The photo above shows the start of the removal of starboard deck planking between Turrets #1 and 2 with Turret #2 and the superstructure in the background. This photo shows the same but of the port side planking, shot from the top of Turret #1. Turret #3 and the base of the aft tripod of Texas (BB-35) are in the background.Photos 80-G-270923 & 80-G-270924 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
BB-36 Nevada284kAt Ulithi, 27 January 1945 the Pensacola (CA-24) formed with a battleship-cruiser-destroyer gun strike task force under Rear Admiral B. J. Rodgers. Six battleships, four cruisers and a destroyer screen comprised the bombardment force which sailed 10 February via Tinian to Iwo Jima.
Pictured here are the Nevada (BB-36), Maryland (BB-46) & Pensacola .
Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo # USN N-3173, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
BB-46 Maryland96k Maryland (BB-46) 5in/25cal gun and crew in action 1944.USN photo.
BB-46 Maryland277kLT R.D. Cosgrove at Pearl Harbor on board the Maryland (BB-46) in early 1945 after his tour with VT-15 and while he was exec of VT-100 at Barbers Point.Photo courtesy of Michael Cosgrove.
BB-46 Maryland21kDamage from a "Kamikaze" suicide plane on the Maryland (BB-46), 7 April 1945.Photo from WWII Damage Reports, courtesy of NavSea / dcfp.navy.mil.
BB-46 Maryland488kBow view of Maryland (BB-46) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 August 1945. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-86956 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland400kStern view of Maryland (BB-46) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 August 1945. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-86957 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland40kOff Puget Sound Navy Yard after her final wartime overhaul on l5 August 1945. USN photo.
BB-46 Maryland85kA colored photo of the Maryland (BB-46) off Puget Sound Navy Yard after her final wartime overhaul on l5 August 1945. Courtesy of Eric Dahlstrom.
BB-46 Maryland101k A line drawing by A.L. Raven of the Maryland (BB-46) in August 1945, as refitted with twin 5in/38 guns. Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.
BB-46 Maryland67k View of the Mainmast looking aft, starboard side of the Maryland (BB-46) on 21 August 1945 at her final refitting at Puget Sound Navy Yard. Photo and text courtesy of Seattle NARA photo #45/4089. Record Group 181, 13th Naval District, Records of the Naval District & Shore Establishments, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
BB-46 Maryland64k View of the foremast radar looking forward, of the Maryland (BB-46) on 21 August 1945 at her final refitting at Puget Sound Navy Yard. Photo and text courtesy of Seattle NARA photo #45/4090. Record Group 181, 13th Naval District, Records of the Naval District & Shore Establishments, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
BB-46 Maryland47k View of the foremast radar looking aft, of the Maryland (BB-46) on 21 August 1945 at her final refitting at Puget Sound Navy Yard. Photo and text courtesy of Seattle NARA photo #45/4085. Record Group 181, 13th Naval District, Records of the Naval District & Shore Establishments, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Post War / Scrapping
BB-46 Maryland116kBow on view of the Maryland (BB-46) sometime after her final refitting at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 21 August 1945 and prior to her decommissioning 3 April 1947. USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-46 Maryland155kBroadside view of the Maryland (BB-46) sometime after her final refitting at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 21 August 1945.
Note the bow of an aircraft carrier off the Maryland's bow.
USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-46 Maryland351kSilhouette shot of Maryland (BB-46) probably taken in 1945 at Puget after overhaul and armament upgrade. BuShips photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-46 Maryland479kPort bow view of Maryland (BB-46) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 5 August 1945.Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-86953 via Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland658kIowa (BB-61) at Pier #91, Seattle, Washington. Photographed on 17 October 1945. Maryland (BB-46) is across the pier.Photo # 80-G-389650 courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
BB-46 Maryland774kColorado (BB-45) and Maryland (BB-46) shown docked at San Diego, California on 14 November 1945. Both ships, taking part in "Magic Carpet" duties, have just finished bringing a load of veterans from Pearl Harbor Navy Yard to San Diego. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-354581 courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-46 Maryland1.10kLast Menu for Xmas and Dance on the Maryland (BB-46), 5 February, 1946.Photo courtey of Thomas Becher.
BB-46 Maryland1.21kMaryland (BB-46) after her final modernization.Photo courtesy of Joe MacDonald.
BB-46 Maryland908kMaryland (BB-46) invitation for the placing the ship in reserve commission, 15 July 1946. Photo courtey of Thomas Becher.
BB-46 Maryland73kView of the Maryland (BB-46) & her main and secondary armament, taken from the West Virginia (BB-48) at Puget Sound NSY in 1946. Photo courtesy of West Virginia Web Page, submitted by Joe MacDonald.
Puget Sound NSY102kThe Alabama (BB-60) is seen tied up to pier 90 at Puget Sound Navy Yard in September, 1946. Directly behind her is the Bunker Hill (CV-17). The foremast and bridge of either the Colorado (BB-45) or Maryland (BB-46) is moored several piers away.Courtesy of Mike Green from Leeward Publications/ SHIP'S DATA (2 & 3) Naval Supply News, Volume 5, No. 18, 6 September 1946 by the U.S. Naval Station at Seattle, Washington.
BB-46 Maryland83k Maryland (BB-46) as she appeared after August 1946, probably after the Magic Carpet rides when she made five voyages between the west coast and Pearl Harbor, returning more than 8,000 combat veterans to the United States. USN photo courtey of Ed Dorsey & Steve Pavlosky.
Text courtesy of DANFS.
Puget Sound NSY1.10kPuget Sound NSY around 1948. There are five mothballed Essex class (CV-9) carriers at the left. To the right of the carriers are five battleships.
I believe they are Alabama (BB-60), West Virginia (BB-48), Maryland (BB-46), Indiana (BB-58), Colorado (BB-45).
USN photo courtesy of Joe MacDonald.
Almost Unknown619kThe decommissioned Missouri (BB-63) and Maryland (BB-46) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 1955. Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images via Joe MacDonald courtesy of gettyimages.com.
Puget Sound NSY1.10kSEA GOING PIPELINE
The soon to be scrapped battleships Maryland (BB-46) & West Virginia (BB-48) lie anchored in the background.
Bremerton Sun photo, 11 February 1959, submitted by Joe MacDonald.
Puget Sound NSY1.82kDREDGING NEARING COMPLETION
....The soon to be scrapped battleships at right, Maryland (BB-46) & West Virginia (BB-48), stand guard over the pipeline...
Bremerton Sun photo, 15 May 1959, submitted by Joe MacDonald.
Maryland2.90kMaryland (BB-46) entering San Francisco Bay on her way to Todd Shipyard, Alameda, CA.Photo courtesy of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
BB-46 Maryland43k Maryland (BB-46) lays at anchor at Todd shipyard in Alameda California in August 1959 awaiting scrapping. Photo courtey of Don Safer & submitted by Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland21k Maryland (BB-46) lays at anchor at Todd shipyard in Alameda California in August 1959 awaiting scrapping. Note her secondary armament encased in the "cocoons". Photo courtey of Don Safer & submitted by Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland25kLooking up at the Maryland (BB-46) as she lays at anchor at Todd shipyard in Alameda California in August 1959 awaiting scrapping. Note her secondary armament encased in the "cocoons". Photo courtey of Don Safer & submitted by Steve Pavlosky.
BB-46 Maryland359k 1959 photo showing the Maryland (BB-46) at Alameda, California in 1959 awaiting scrapping.Naval History and Heritage Command # 50170, now in the collections of the National Archives.
(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 December 1991. USN photo # DN-SC-92-05391, by PHC Carolyn Harris, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center.
World War II Memorial371kA 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 September 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 was formally dedicated with an estimated 200,000 people expected to attend, and includes 100,000 visiting veterans of all wars. USN photo # N-0295M-011 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
BB-46 Maryland
014622
320k2020 photo of Maryland's (BB-46) bell which resides at the Maryland state capitol building in Annapolis.Photo courtesy of Bryan Fisher.

Commanding Officers
01CAPT. Preston, Charles Francis, USN (USNA 1891)21.07.1921 - 01.03.1922
02CAPT. Sellers, David Foote, USN (USNA 1894) :ADM01.03.1922 - 10.05.1923
03CAPT. Clark Jr., Frank Hodges, USN (USNA 1893) :RADM10.05.1923 - 09.06.1925
04CAPT. Craven, Thomas Tingey, USN (USNA 1896) :VADM09.06.1925 - 24.05.1927
05CAPT. Klemann, John Valentine, USN (USNA 1895)24.05.1927 - 06.09.1928
06CAPT. Kimberly, Victor Ashfield, USN (USNA 1899)06.09.1928 - 16.05.1930
07CAPT. Taussig, Joseph Knefler, USN (USNA 1899) :VADM16.05.1930 - 03.02.1931
08CAPT. Morris, Robert03.02.1931 - 21.12.1932
09CAPT. Porterfield, Lewis Broughton, USN (USNA 1902) :RADM21.12.1932 - 01.03.1934
10CAPT. Bingham, Donald Cameron, USN (USNA 1902)01.03.1934 - 27.07.1935
11CAPT. Bryan, George Sloan, USN (USNA 1906) :RADM27.07.1935 - 20.06.1936
12CAPT. Davis, Louis Poisson, USN (USNA 1905)20.03.1936 - 16.12.1937
13CAPT. Glassford Jr., William Alexander, USN (USNA 1906) :VADM16.12.1937 - 31.03.1939
14CAPT. Logan, George Christian, USN (USNA 1907)31.03.1939 - 28.09.1940
15CAPT. McKee, Ernest Wheeler, USN (USNA 1908)28.09.1940 - 21.11.1941
16CAPT. Godwin, Donald Clark, USN (USNA 1911)21.11.1941 - 14.01.1943
17CAPT. Jones, Carl Henry, USN14.01.1943 - 15.12.1943
18CAPT. Ray, Herbert James, USN (USNA 1914)15.12.1943 - 30.12.1944
19CAPT. Wilson, Julian DuBois, USN (USNA 1918)30.12.1944 - 01.12.1945
20CAPT. Decker, Benton Weaver, USN (USNA 1920)01.12.1945 - 00.03.1946
21CDR. Parker, Frank Mahlon, USN (USNA 1932)00.03.1946 03.- 04.1947
Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)

Maryland BB-46 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. Richard W Beaman
Address: Watsonville, CA,
Phone: 408-722-4966
E-mail: None


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. 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.
HyperWar Pacific Theater of Operations.
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To The Battleship Photo Index Page

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