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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-59 USS MASSACHUSETTS
March 1943 - December 1945 / War in the Pacific

Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Papa - Lima
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1939 - June 1942 / Keel Laying - Commissioning
July 1942 - Feb. 1943 / War in the Atlantic
1946 - 1965
1966 - Present

South Dakota Class Battleship: Displacement 35,000 Tons, Dimensions, 680' 10" (oa) x 108' 2" x 36' 2" (Max). Armament 9 x 16"/45 16 x 5"/38AA, 12 x 1.1" 12 x 0.5", 3 AC. Armor, 12 1/4" Belt, 18" Turrets, 1 1/2" +6" +1/3" Decks, 15" Conning Tower. Machinery, 130,000 SHP; G.E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 27 Knots, Crew 1793.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, MA., July 20, 1939. Launched September 23, 1941. Commissioned May 12, 1942. Decommissioned March 2, 1947. Stricken June 1, 1962.
Fate: Preserved as Memorial, Fall River Massachusetts, June 8, 1965.
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BB-59 Massachusetts742kInching through the Panama Canal.
After a cease-fire had been arranged with the French, she headed for the United States 12 November 1942, and prepared for Pacific duty. 		Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts270kOur first fleet base in far Pacific waters.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts401kThe graceful lines of the Massachusetts (BB-59) at sunset.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts348kTurret two's goblin.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts340kSixteen inch pattern.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts760kOur combat air patrol - ever faithful.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts544kCard games, sports, and beer parties made recreation at Efate enjoyable.USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts45kAnchored in Efate Harbor. Note the Atlanta class light cruiser in the background. August, 1943. USN photo.
BB-59 Massachusetts638kDetailed photo showing secondary armament and stern view, 1943. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts262k Cimarron (AO-22) connects fuel lines to the Massachusetts (BB-59) as Gasoline Officer directs the operation from above on 28 January 1944. U.S. Navy Photograph submitted by Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts706k Massachusetts (BB-59) shelled Ponape Island 1 May 1944, her last mission before sailing to Puget Sound to overhaul and reline her gun barrels, now well-worn. On 1 August she left Pearl Harbor to resume operations in the Pacific war zone.Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of James E. Hesson, plank-owner of the Massachusetts (BB-59). Photo submitted in his memory by his son, Joe Hesson.
BB-59 Massachusetts308kMassachusetts (BB-59) with heightened mainmast off PSNS after final wartime refit anchored, possibly off the North end of Whidbey Island heading into the Straits. Most probably during her sea trials. Text i.d. courtesy of Thomas Jacobs.
USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
BB-59 Massachusetts2.4mBroadside view, port side in Puget Sound, 11th July 1944. Photo # 2174-44 courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts40kAt Puget Sound Navy Yard following overhaul, 11th July 1944. USN photo.
BB-59 Massachusetts232kAt Puget Sound Navy Yard following overhaul, 11th July 1944. USN photo # 2169-44 courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts54kMk.37 director aboard Massachusetts (BB-59) in October 1944.
Please note the Mk.3 slewing sight on the director shield. In this earlier modification three telescopes had been fitted for the trainer, pointer and control officer.
The function of the slewing sight was to bring the director telescopes on the rangefinder to bear on a new target in train and elevation in a minimum of time.
The equipment was supported at the top of the director shield just forward of the control officer's hatch. The sighting unit mounted on the motor unit projected through an opening in the shield. The motor unit itself was secured within the director shield.
After opening the hatch, the operator grasped the handles and slewed the sight bar relative to the director until the bar lined up with target and he closed the “SLEW” switch on the handle. As the introduced train and elevation relative to the director, two potentiometer’s movable arms were offset in the motor and caused the train and elevation follow-up motors in the motor unit to be energized.
For more information see Directors / General Description and Operation 		Photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts403kWith destroyers off her bow as an escort, a stream of flags flying off her mast and a canvas tarp to provide shelter from the broiling Pacific sun.USN photo courtesy Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts674kMassachusetts (BB-59) refueling from the T3-S2-A1 class Kaskaskia (AO-27) during a storm at sea, 17 October 1944. Note radar equipment Mk.8 atop Spot 2.USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts350kMassachusetts (BB-59) refueling from the T3-S2-A1 class Kaskaskia (AO-27) during a storm at sea, 17 October 1944. USN photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts68kPhoto taken from the Massachusetts (BB-59) showing the destroyers escorting her in Oct. 1944. The destroyer on the lower right is the Thatcher (DD-514). The destroyer leading the pack is the Houston. Terry Sanders.
BB-59 Massachusetts85kComing into Ulithi Anchorage on 24 November 1944, during a break in operations off the Philippines. Photographed from Wasp (CV-18). Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz has autographed the original print.USNHC # NH 58573 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-59 Massachusetts1.0mSalt-water bath- seaman on a tanker take a dousing as they connect up to fuel lines preparatory to fueling the battleship Massachusetts (BB-59) at sea. USN / USNI photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts587kC.G. Evers' painting of the Massachusetts (BB-59) and an accompanying destroyer, circa 1942-45. USN / USNI photo.
BB-59 Massachusetts380k Massachusetts (BB-59) refueling from the Saugatuck (AO-75) on 20 April 1945, taken by a photographer on board the Hornet (CV-12). Note the 4 airplanes overhead. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-62 New Jersey 343k Oil on canvas painting by the artist Wayne Scarpaci entitled Fueling At Sea, 1944 showing the Massachusetts (BB-59) refueling from the Saugatuck (AO-75). Drawing courtesy of artbywayne.com
BB-59 Massachusetts 468k Massachusetts (BB-59) refueling from the Saugatuck (AO-75) on 20 April 1945, taken by the Hornet (CV-12).
The importance of fleet oilers to the success of U.S. naval operations in WWII is unquestionable.
They were the most valuable auxiliaries in the Navy, especially in the Pacific, where their presence facilitated the wide-ranging carriers operations and amphibious assaults conducted thousands of miles from the nearest naval base. Probably no other surface ship contributed so much to the successful conclusion of the war with Japan.
During one three-week period in April 1945, Task Force 58, then engaged in operations preceding the invasion of Okinawa, required the services of no less than thirty fleet oilers to provide refueling at sea.
The fuel required for the Okinawa operation far exceeded that consumed during any previous campaign with total deliveries to the carrier task force averaging 385,000 gallons of gasoline daily. 		USN photo & text courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-57 South Dakota 269k The United States battleships Indiana (BB-58), Massachusetts (BB-59) and Alabama (BB-60) form a line ahead during target practice as seen from the South Dakota (BB-57), 1945. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts320k Massachusetts (BB-59) replenishing from the Wrangell (AE-12). Wrangell then retired to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, in the Philippines, for upkeep and repairs. Wrangell subsequently returned to the open sea on 8 July and rendezvoused with TG 30.8 (the re-designated TG 50.8) on the 17th. From 20 July to 1 August, she rearmed 35 ships and hit a high point of transferring 700 tons of ammunition in a single day. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Text courtesy of DANFS.
BB-58 Indiana 74k Bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, 14 July 1945. Battleships and heavy cruisers steam in column off Kamaishi, at the time they bombarded the iron works there, as seen from South Dakota(BB-57). Indiana (BB-58) is the nearest ship, followed by Massachusetts (BB-59). Cruisers Chicago (CA-136) and Quincy (CA-71) bring up the rear. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 80-G-490143, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-59 Massachusetts828kBombardment of Kaimaishi Japan, August 1945. Massachusetts (BB-59) opens fire on Kaimaishi, in the last battleship bombardment of World War II, 9 August 1945. Photographed from Indiana (BB-58). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, # 80-G-339333, now in the collections of the National Archives.
High res photo added 05/02/12.
BB-58 Indiana 419k The battleships Indiana (BB-58) and Massachusetts (BB-59) operating off Honshu. The Massachusetts is firing. The South Dakota (BB-57) can be seen behind her. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-58 Indiana 837k The Indiana (BB-58) and Massachusetts (BB-59) and two Baltimore Class heavy cruisers close in for a bombardment. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-58 Indiana 357k Indiana (BB-58) fires a salvo from her forward 16"/45 guns at the Kaimaishi plant of the Japan Iron Company, 250 miles north of Tokyo. A second before, South Dakota(BB-57), from which this photograph was taken, fired the initial salvo of the first naval gunfire bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands. The superstructure of Massachusetts (BB-59) is visible directly behind Indiana. The heavy cruiser in the left center distance is either Quincy (CA-71) or Chicago (CA-136). Text courtesy of USNHC from photo # 80-G-K-6035. PDF & photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-59 Massachusetts256kPainting of Massachusetts (BB-59) by Robert D.Watts.Photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-63 Missouri 1.3m Watercolor of Missouri (BB-63) & Massachusetts (BB-59) & other units of the Pacific Fleet at war's end by Tom Freeman. Photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
MASSACHUSETTS BB-59 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. Robert A Grimes
Address: PO Box 456, Waltham, MA, 02254-0455
Phone: 617-890-7289
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
U.S.S. Massachusetts
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To The Battleship Photo Index Page

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All Pages Copyright & copy 1996-2012 Paul R. Yarnall © 1996-2012 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.