USS Maryland ( BB - 46 ) USS " Maryland " ( BB - 46 ) , also known as " Old Mary " or " Fighting Mary " to her crewmates , was a during World War II . She was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the seventh state . She was commissioned in 1921 and , serving as the flagship of the fleet , cruised to Australia , New Zealand and Brazil . She is most notable for her service in World War II . She was present on Battleship Row during the Attack on Pearl Harbor , and was lightly damaged by Japan ese bombs . Returning to duty in 1942 , she saw service in the Pacific War , first supporting the rest of the fleet at the Battle of Midway , and then patrolling the Fiji Islands to guard against Japanese incursion . Next , she went on the offensive , commencing shore bombardments in the Battle of Tarawa and later in the Battle of Kwajalein . During the Battle of Saipan she took torpedo damage to her bow , necessitating repairs and refits . She then participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where she was hit by a " kamikaze " . She took another " kamikaze " hit at the Battle of Okinawa , and was under repair at the end of World War II . After service in Operation Magic Carpet , she was decommissioned in 1947 and sold for scrap . She received seven battle stars for World War II service . Construction . " Maryland " was one of four dreadnought battleship s of the " Colorado " class to be constructed . Her keel was laid down on 24 April 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News , Virginia . She was launched on 20 March 1920 , and sponsored by Mrs . E . Brook Lee daughter - in - law of U . S . Senator from Maryland Blair Lee ; she was commissioned on 21 July 1921 , with Captain C . F . Preston in command . She was the third ship named for the state of Maryland , the first " Maryland was a sloop commissioned in 1799 and the second " Maryland " was an armored cruiser commissioned in 1905 . " Maryland " had an overall length of . She had an extreme beam of and a mean draft of . She displaced . Her armor was at its maximum thickness . Her designed speed was 21 knots . Her crew complement consisted of 58 officers and 1 , 022 men . " Maryland " ' s main battery consisted of eight 16 in ( 406 mm ) / 45 caliber Mark 5 guns in four double turret s ( two in a superfiring pair forward , two in a superfiring pair mounted aft of the main superstructure ) that were capable of firing armor - piercing ( AP ) Mark 3 shells , later upgraded to Mark 5 . Her secondary battery consisted of twelve 5 " / 51 caliber gun s as well as eight 3 " / 50 caliber gun s . She was also armed with a pair of submerged torpedo tube s . She was outfitted with a new type of seaplane catapult and the first guns mounted on a U . S . ship . Service history . Inter - war period . Following her commissioning , " Maryland " undertook an East Coast shakedown cruise . Shortly thereafter , " Maryland " was made flagship of Admiral Hilary P . Jones . " Maryland " found herself in great demand for special occasions . She appeared at Annapolis , Maryland , for the 1922 United States Naval Academy graduation and at Boston , Massachusetts , for the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill and the Fourth of July . From 18 August to 25 September , she paid her first visit to a foreign port transporting Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes to Rio de Janeiro for Brazil ' s Centennial Exposition . The next year , after fleet exercises off the Panama Canal Zone , " Maryland " transited the canal in the latter part of June to join the battle fleet stationed on the west coast . She continued to be a flagship until 1923 when the flag was shifted to " Pennsylvania " . She made another voyage to a foreign port in 1925 , this time to Australia and New Zealand . Several years later , in 1928 , she transported President - elect Herbert Hoover on the Pacific leg of his tour of Latin America . She was overhauled in 1928 – 1929 , and the eight anti - aircraft guns were replaced by eight / 25 cal gun s . Throughout these years and the 1930s , she served as a mainstay of fleet readiness through tireless training operations . She conducted numerous patrols in the 1930s . In 1940 , " Maryland " and the other battleships of the battle force changed their bases of operations to Pearl Harbor . She was present at Battleship Row along Ford Island during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941 . Attack on Pearl Harbor . On the morning of 7 December , " Maryland " was moored along Ford Island , with " Oklahoma " to port , connected by lines and a gangway . To her fore was " California " , while " Tennessee " and " West Virginia " were astern . Further aft were " Nevada " and " Arizona " . The seven battleships , in what is now known as " Battleship Row , " had recently returned from maneuvers . Many of " Maryland " ' s crew were preparing for shore leave at 09 : 00 or eating breakfast when the Japanese attack began . As the first Japanese aircraft appeared and explosions rocked the outboard battleships , " Maryland " ' s bugler blew general quarters . Seaman Leslie Short — addressing Christmas cards near his machine gun — brought the first of his ship ' s guns into play , shooting down one of two torpedo bomber s that had just released against . Inboard of " Oklahoma " , and thus protected from the initial torpedo attack , " Maryland " managed to bring all her antiaircraft ( AA ) batteries into action . The devastating initial attack sunk " Oklahoma " , and she capsized quickly , with many of her surviving men climbing aboard " Maryland " to assist her with anti - aircraft defenses . " Maryland " was struck by two armor - piercing bombs which detonated low on her hull . The first struck the forecastle awning and made a hole about by . The second exploded after entering the hull at the water level at Frame 10 . The latter hit caused flooding and increased the draft forward by . " Maryland " continued to fire and , after the attack , sent firefighting parties to assist her compatriots , especially attempting to rescue survivors from the capsized " Oklahoma " . The men continued to muster the AA defenses in case the Japanese returned to attack . In all , two officers and two men were killed in the attack . The Japanese erroneously announced that " Maryland " had been sunk , but on 30 December , the damaged ship entered Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs just behind " Tennessee " . Two of the original twelve 5 in / 51 cal guns were removed and the 5 in / 25 cal guns were replaced by an equal number of 5 in / 38 cal dual purpose gun s . Over the course of several months , she was repaired and overhauled , receiving new fighting equipment . Repairs were complete on 26 February 1942 . She then underwent a series of shakedown cruises to West Coast ports and the Christmas Islands . She was sent back into action in June 1942 , the first ship damaged at Pearl Harbor to return to duty . Supporting patrols . During the important Battle of Midway , " Maryland " played a supporting role . Like the other older battleships , she was not fast enough to accompany the aircraft carriers , so she operated with a backup fleet . " Maryland " stood by on security , awaiting call from other ships if she was needed , until the end of the battle . At the end of the action around Midway , " Maryland " was sent to San Francisco . Thereafter , " Maryland " engaged in almost constant training exercises with Battleship Division 2 , Battleship Division 3 , and Battleship Division 4 until 1 August , when she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs , her first time in the harbor since the Japanese attack . She departed Pearl Harbor in early November with " Colorado " , bound for the forward area . On 12 November , the pig mascot King Neptune came aboard " Maryland " to initiate her " pollywogs " for the line - crossing ceremony . " Maryland " steamed for the Fiji Islands where she patrolled against Japanese incursion . The two battleships acted as sentinels to guard against Japanese advance to prevent Japanese forces from threatening Australia . During this duty , the two battleships conducted frequent sweeps for Japanese forces . In early 1943 , with the success of the Solomon Islands campaign , Allied forces went on the offensive . In February 1943 , " Maryland " and " Colorado " moved to New Hebrides , operating off of Efate . Intense heat there proved difficult and unpleasant for the crew . She then moved to Espiritu Santo to guard against Japanese incursion , but heat and heavy rains plagued this tour of duty . " Maryland " and " Colorado " stood out of Aore Island Harbor in August . During a five - week overhaul at Pearl Harbor ' s shipyard , several AA guns were installed on the top decks and foremast as protection against anticipated Japanese air raids in future operations . Battle of Tarawa . Departing the Hawaiian Islands on 20 October for the South Pacific , " Maryland " became flagship for Rear Admiral Harry W . Hill ' s V Amphibious Force and Southern Attack Force in the Gilbert Islands Invasion . Also aboard her were Major General Julian C . Smith , commander of 2nd Marine Division , General " Howling Mad " Smith , commander of the Marine landing forces , and Colonel Evans Carlson , commander of Carlson ' s Raiders . " Maryland " returned to Efate Island staging area , where she joined a large task force preparing for an assault on Tarawa . The battle of Tarawa commenced on 20 November . In her first offensive action of the war , " Maryland " ' s guns opened fire at 05 : 00 , destroying a shore battery with five salvos on the southwestern point of Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll . At 06 : 00 she commenced a scheduled shore bombardment to soften up Japanese defenses ahead of the landings . " Maryland " moved closer to shore to attract Japanese fire and locate artillery emplacements , in the process raking Japanese gun emplacements , control stations , pillbox es and any Japanese installations she could spot . At 09 : 00 as Marine landing forces encountered heavy Japanese resistance and began taking casualties to emplaced crossfire , " Maryland " provided covering fire to eliminate several Japanese machine gun nests . Her scouting plane then began to cover the progress of the Marines ' assault , with " Maryland " providing artillery support . The plane was damaged and pilot wounded in this action . After three days of covering the offensive on Betio Island , she moved to Apamama Island to guard Marine landings there . Marines met with only light resistance from 30 Japanese soldiers there , and two prisoners were brought to " Maryland " . On 7 December , " Maryland " left Apamama Island for Pearl Harbor . After a brief stopover there , " Maryland " left for San Francisco for repairs . Battle of Kwajalein Atoll . " Maryland " steamed from San Pedro , California on 13 January 1944 , rendezvoused with Task Force 53 at Lahania Roads for two days of loading ammunition , refueling , and provisioning ahead of a new operation supporting the Marshall Islands campaign . On 30 January 1944 , she moved to support landings on Roi Island , along with " Santa Fe " , " Biloxi " , and " Indianapolis " , which formed the Northern Support Group of TF 35 . In the predawn hours of 31 January , the ships began a bombardment of Kwajalein Atoll , the opening moves of the battle of Kwajalein . " Maryland " destroyed numerous Japanese stationary guns and pillboxes . In the course of the battle , she fired so much that she split the liners in the guns of Turret No . 1 , putting it out of action for the rest of the day . On 1 February , she continued her attack on Japanese positions as the U . S . landing forces advanced . She became the flagship for Admiral Connally for the next two weeks , resupplying and refueling many of the smaller ships in the operation until she departed with a task unit of carriers and destroyer s on 15 February 1944 , steaming for Bremerton Navy Yard , where she underwent another overhaul , with her guns being replaced . Battle of Saipan . Two months later , " Maryland " sailed westward on 5 May , joining Task Force 52 headed for Saipan . Vice Admiral Richmond K . Turner allotted TF 52 three days to soften up the island ' s defenses ahead of the assault . Firing commenced at 05 : 45 on 14 June . They quickly destroyed two coastal guns , then began bombarding Garapan , destroying ammunition dumps , gun positions , small boats , storage tanks , blockhouses and buildings . She then turned her guns to Tanapag , leveling it in heavy bombardment . The invasion commenced 17 June , and " Maryland " provided fire support for the landing forces . The Japanese attempted to counter the battleships through the air . On 18 June , the ship ' s guns shot down their first Japanese aircraft , but on 22 June , a Mitsubishi G4M3 " Betty " medium bomber flew low over the still - contested Saipan hills and found " Maryland " and " Pennsylvania " . The Japanese plane dropped a torpedo , opening a large hole in " Maryland " s portside bow . The attack caused light casualties , and in 15 minutes she was underway for Eniwetok , and from there she steamed for the repair yards at Pearl Harbor ( in reverse the whole time so as not to do further damage to her bow ) , escorted by two destroyers . Two men were killed in the attack . With an around - the - clock effort by the shipyard workers , " Maryland " was repaired in 34 days , departing on 13 August . She then embarked for the Solomon Islands with a large task force , anchoring in Purvis Bay off Florida Island for two weeks before steaming for the Palau Islands on 6 September . She then joined Rear Admiral Jesse B . Oldendorf ' s Western Fire Support Group ( Task Group 32 . 5 ; TG 32 . 5 ) . Firing first on 12 September to cover minesweeping operations and underwater demolition teams at the opening of the Battle of Peleliu , " Maryland " again conducted shore bombardment supporting the landing craft as they approached the beaches on 15 September . Four days later , organized resistance collapsed , permitting the fire support ships to retire to the Admiralty Islands at the end of the month . Battle of Leyte Gulf . " Maryland " steamed for Seeadler Harbor , Manus where she was assigned to the 7th Fleet under Admiral Kincaid . The fleet sortied 12 October and " Maryland " joined Task Group 77 . 2 , which was the gunfire and covering force for the invasion of Leyte . She , along with four other battleships and numerous cruisers and destroyers , steamed into Leyte Gulf on the morning of 18 October . " Maryland " took position between Red and White Beaches and began bombarding them ahead of the invasion , which began at 10 : 00 20 October . Securing the beaches quickly , " Maryland " then took up a sentinel position in Leyte Gulf to guard the beaches against Japanese counterattack by sea . For the next several days , Japanese forces launched air raids to counter the incursion . These included the first widespread use of the " kamikaze " suicide attack . Several days later , U . S . submarines in the South China Sea spotted two Japanese forces on approach : five battleships steaming toward San Bernardino Strait , and another force of four Japanese carriers in northern Luzon . On 24 October , " Maryland " , " California " , " Tennessee " , " Pennsylvania " , and " West Virginia " sailed to the southern end of Leyte Gulf to protect Surigao Strait with several cruisers , destroyers , and PT Boat s . Early on 25 October , Japanese battleships and , with their screens , led the Japanese advance into the Strait . At 03 : 55 , the waiting Americans ships launched an ambush of the two Japanese battleships , pounding them with torpedoes and main guns . Torpedoes from the destroyers sunk " Fusō " . Continued attacks by the task force also claimed " Yamashiro " . A few of the remaining Japanese ships then fled to the Mindanao Sea , pursued by Allied aircraft . Following the victory , " Maryland " patrolled the southern approaches to Surigao Strait until 29 October ; she then steamed for the Admiralty Isles for brief replenishment and resumed patrol duty around Leyte on 16 November , protecting the landing forces from continued Japanese air attacks . On 29 November , during another Japanese air attack , a " kamikaze " aircraft surprised and struck " Maryland " as she was covering " Denver " . The aircraft crashed into " Maryland " between Turrets No . 1 and 2 , piercing the forecastle , main , and armored decks and blowing a hole in the 4 inch steel , causing extensive damage and starting fires . In all , 31 men were killed and 30 wounded in the attack , and the medical department was destroyed . The battleship continued her patrols until relieved on 2 December , when she sailed with two heavily damaged destroyers for repairs . She reached Pearl Harbor on 18 December , and was extensively repaired and refitted over the next several months . Battle of Okinawa . After refresher training , " Maryland " headed for the western Pacific on 4 March 1945 , arriving Ulithi on 16 March . There she joined the 5th Fleet and Rear Admiral Morton Deyo ' s Task Force 54 ( TF 54 ) , which was preparing for the invasion of Okinawa . The fleet departed on 21 March , bound for Okinawa . " Maryland " was assigned targets on the southern coast of Okinawa to support a diversionary landing , which would distract Japanese forces away from the main landing on the west coast . Japanese forces responded with several air raids , with two of " Maryland " ' s radar picket destroyers being struck by " kamikaze " planes , with " Luce " sinking . On 3 April , she was moved to the west coast invasion beaches to assist " Minneapolis " in destroying several shore batteries . Following the land invasion , she remained with the support force off Bolo Point providing artillery support for the invading troops . " Maryland " continued fire support duty until 7 April , when she steamed north to intercept a Japanese surface force with TF 54 . The Japanese ships , including the , came under constant U . S . air attacks that day , and planes of the Fast Carrier Task Force sank six of the 10 ships in the force . At dusk , a " kamikaze " loaded with a bomb crashed the top of Turret No . 3 from starboard . The explosion wiped out the 20 mm mounts and caused a large fire . The 20mm ammunition ignited from the heat , causing further casualties . In all , 10 were killed , 37 injured and 6 missing following this attack . " Maryland " remained on station for the next week and continued her artillery support mission through several more air raids . Turret No . 3 , damaged but usable , remained silent for the remainder of this mission . On 14 April , " Maryland " left the firing line at Okinawa and escorted several retiring transports . They steamed via the Mariana Islands and Guam to Pearl Harbor , and she reached the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton on 7 May for extensive overhaul . All of her 5 in guns were removed and replaced by sixteen 5 inch / 38 cal guns in new twin mounts . Turret No . 3 was repaired and the crew quarters were improved . She completed repairs in August , leaving for tests and training runs just as Japan surrendered , ending the war . She next entered Operation Magic Carpet fleet . During the remaining months of 1945 , " Maryland " made five voyages between the west coast and Pearl Harbor , returning more than 8 , 000 servicemen to the United States . Post - war . Arriving at Seattle , Washington on 17 December , " Maryland " completed her Operation Magic Carpet duty . She entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 15 April 1946 , and was placed in commission in inactive reserve on 16 July . She was decommissioned at Bremerton on 3 April 1947 , and remained there as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet . " Maryland " was sold for scrapping to Learner Company of Oakland , California on 8 July 1959 . On 2 June 1961 , Governor of Maryland J . Millard Tawes , dedicated a monument to the memory of " Maryland " and her men . Built of granite and bronze and incorporating the bell of " Fighting Mary " , this monument is located on the grounds of the State House in Annapolis , Maryland . Awards . The " Maryland " received seven battle star s for World War II service .