Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.
July 1942 - Feb. 1943 / War in the Atlantic
March 1943 - December 1945 / War in the Pacific
Post War - 1965
1966 - Present
| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
76k | Hull test model for the South Dakota class (BB-57 - 60) battleships. Hull model number 3536, photographed at the Experimental Model Basin, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., in 1938. Note the widely spaced skegs, supporting the outboard propeller shafts, that were a unique feature of this battleship class. Copied from the Bureau of Ships monograph "United States Battleship Designs for World War II", dated 1 June 1946. | USNHC # NH 93908, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. | |
 | 226k | August, 1939 view of the construction, less than a month after the July 20th keel laying. The Massachusetts (BB-59) is basically a few outer bottom plates and part of the keel. The support blocks divide aft to eventually support the twin skegs of the tunnel stern. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 264k | 6 October 1939 view of construction looking aft from the bow. The rise over what would become the tunnel stern is evident in the far end of the photo. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 256k | 4 January 1940 view of construction looking aft from the bow area. In the background work is beginning on the two skegs which are widely separated in this class. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 237k | 3 October 1940 view of construction looking aft from the bow. The two forward turret barbettes are being erected and the covered areas just aft are protecting the machinery areas. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 248k | 3 October 1940 view of the construction looking forward from the stern area. Work is being done on the forward turret barbette installations along with machinery areas which are protected with coverings, but work has not yet began on #3 turret barbette. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 188k | 16 January 1941 view of construction looking aft from the bow. #2 turret barbette has been covered to protect the turret roller races that are being installed at this time. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 188k | 16 January 1941 view of construction as seen from the stern looking forward. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 265k | Pre launch preview of the stern section of the Massachusetts (BB-59) 23 September 1941. The ship is provided with two rudders, each of which is actuated by its own steering gear housed in separate compartments. The stearing gears are exactly in duplicate and are independant except that synchronization of the two rudders is dependant upon synchronization of the two selsyn receivers as there is no mechanical or electrical coupling between the two rudder units. | USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Sources: General Information Books of South Dakota and Massachusetts. Office of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding For The United States Navy,Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipbuilding Div., Quincy, Massachusetts. 1942. |
|
 | 208k | Pre launch preview of the stern section of the Massachusetts (BB-59) 23 September 1941. The steering Gear is of the electric-hydraulic type with a double arm crosshead and two pairs of ram cylinders, and two pump units, either one of which can be connected to the rams. The disconnected, or stand-by unit, is normally not running, but under critical conditions of navigation it may be started to permit quick change over if required. |
USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Sources: General Information Books of South Dakota (BB-57) and Massachusetts (BB-59). Office of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding For The United States Navy, Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipbuilding Div., Quincy, Massachusetts. 1942. |
|
 | 224k | Pre launch preview of the stern section of the Massachusetts (BB-59) 23 September 1941. The rudders are of the balanced stream type. The area of one rudder is approximately 273 square feet. There are two rudders, each built up of a rudder main piece of cast steel, class "D" with stiffeners of plates run vertically and longitudinally and with sides of 60# and 30# plates and with a 60# doubler aft of the main piece,all welded together watertight. | USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Sources: General Information Books of South Dakota (BB-57) and Massachusetts (BB-59).Office of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding For The United States NavBethlehem Steel Co. Shipbuilding Div., Quincy, Massachusetts. 1942. |
|
 | 345k | Pre launch preview of the stern section of the Massachusetts (BB-59) 23 September 1941. Massachusetts used 2 Left Hand and two Right Hand, Variable Pitch, Solid Manganese Bronze Propellers. The inboard propellers had 5 blades, diam. 17' 4-1/2 ". The outboard propellers had 3 blades, diam. 17' 8".Shaft diam:22". |
USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Sources: General Information Books of South Dakota (BB-57) and Massachusetts (BB-59).Office of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding For The United States Navy,Bethlehem Steel Co. Shipbuilding Div., Quincy, Massachusetts. 1942. |
|
 | 139k | Massachusetts (BB-59) on 23 September 1941 just prior to launching. Note temporary bridge erected over the conning tower to assist in guiding tugs which will move her to the fitting out basin after being launched. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 512k | There she goes - down the ways, 23 September 1941. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 521k | Into the water. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 78k | Just after her launch, 23 September 1941. | USNI / USN photo. | |
 | 1.23m | "16 Gun Turret General Arangement Plan View # 78541-143 for Massachusetts (BB-59), dated 6 Oct. 1941. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. PDF added 03/15/10. | |
 | 392k | A many bladed propeller test was tried out in the following sources: "Battleships", US BB's in WWII/Dulin & Garzke, Anna,MD.,various editions, U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. page 287: ...."The designers cut the necessary area out of the bottom of the hull, forming a tunnel". "In its case, the chief risk was vibration due to interaction between propellers and skegs".(...) Page 294: "All ships but Indiana (BB-58) were completed with four-bladed propellers on each shaft". (...) "Model tests showed that five-bladed props inboard would be superior"(...)"Vibration trials (Indiana) in September of 1942 showed this arrangement superior to the 4 blade outboard/3 blade inboard combination installed abaord the South Dakota (BB-57) and the 5/4 combination was installed aboard the Massachusetts (BB-59) (1944)"(...) , etc....... Massachusetts, (Ship's Data)-Leeward publications, Anna, MD. 1979, page 22: (...) "A variety of propeller configurations was tried, in an effort to reduce vibration at high speed"(...) (...) "Alabama (BB-60) trials showed severe fore and aft vibrations due to inboard strut-supported propellers, and rather less severe athwardship vibrations due to the outboard skeg-supported ones; as a result the inboard fpour bladed propellers were replaced by three-bladed ones". "Five bladed propellers were also tried"(...) | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 168k | Massachusetts (BB-59) on 3 January 1942 being fitted out. No armament is in place at this time. | Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green / Leeward Publications "SHIP'S DATA". | |
 | 100k | May 1942 photo of the ship at or around commissioning. Clean lines along with no radar, incomplete light weight A.A. armament and no planes mean that she's not quite ready for sea yet. | USN photo. | |
 | 206k | Standing out for action. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 500k | All dressed up and ready to go, minus airplanes. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 403k | Cartoons to help the crew shakedown. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 750k | Two types of loading drills. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 117k | Entering Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, after leaving the Fore River Shipyard at Quincy, 12 May 1942. Photographed from an altitude of approximately 400 feet. Note harbor defense net system at top, with a Net Tender (AN) in attendance. | USNHC # NH 97254, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. | |
 | 392k | Full length view STBD stern quarter entering Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, after leaving the Fore River Shipyard at Quincy, 12 May 1942. | USN photo # 29556, courtesy of David Buell. | |
 | 261k | Full length view, starboard bow quarter on 12 May 1942. | USN photo courtesy of David Buell. | |
 | 600k | Only PO's rode ammo carts as we armed at Norfolk. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 141k | Below decks scene: Snipes. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
 | 607k | Off to the war. | USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson. Photo added 03/15/10. | |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
| Back To The Main Photo Index | Back To The Battleship Photo Index Page |
