USS Pennsylvania ( BB - 38 ) USS " Pennsylvania " ( BB - 38 ) was the lead ship of the Pennsylvania class of a United States Navy super - dreadnought battleship . She was the third Navy ship named for the state of Pennsylvania . She was laid down on 27 October 1913 , by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company , Newport News , Virginia . She was launched on 16 March 1915 , sponsored by Elizabeth Kolb of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and commissioned on 12 June 1916 , with Captain Henry B . Wilson in command . World War I . Upon commissioning , " Pennsylvania " was attached to the Atlantic Fleet . On 12 October 1916 , she became flagship of Commander in Chief , Atlantic Fleet , when Admiral Henry T . Mayo shifted his flag from to " Pennsylvania " . In January 1917 , " Pennsylvania " steamed for Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea . She returned to her base at Yorktown , Virginia on 6 April , the day of the American declaration of war against Germany . She did not sail to join the British Grand Fleet since she burned fuel oil rather than coal , and tankers could not be spared to carry additional fuel to the British Isles . In the light of this circumstance , only coal - burning battleships were selected for this mission . Based at Yorktown , she kept in battle trim with Fleet maneuvers , tactics , and training in the areas of the Chesapeake Bay , intervened by overhaul at Norfolk and New York City , with brief maneuvers in Long Island Sound . While at Yorktown , on 11 August 1917 , " Pennsylvania " manned the rail and rendered honors as , with President Woodrow Wilson aboard , stood in and anchored . At 12 : 15 , President Wilson returned the call of Commander , Battle Force , aboard " Pennsylvania " and was given full honors . Inter - war period . On 2 December 1918 , " Pennsylvania " steamed to anchor off Tompkinsville , New York . On 4 December , she got underway for Brest , France . At 11 : 00 , the transport , flying the flag of the President of the United States , stood out with an escort of 10 destroyer s . " Pennsylvania " manned the rail and fired a 21 - gun salute . She took position ahead of " George Washington " as guide for the President ' s escort . Arriving in Brest on 13 December , the crew manned the rail and cheered as " George Washington " passed and proceeded to her anchorage . On 14 December , " Pennsylvania " departed for New York , arriving on 25 December . In February 1919 , " Pennsylvania " steamed for Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea , returning to New York in the late spring . While at New York on 30 June , Admiral Mayo was relieved as Commander in Chief , Atlantic Fleet , by Vice Admiral Henry B . Wilson , the first captain of the ship . At Tompkinsville on 8 July , " Pennsylvania " embarked Vice President Thomas R . Marshall , Cabinet Secretaries Daniels , Glass , Wilson , Baker , Lane , and Senator Champ Clark , and then put to sea . At 10 : 00 , was sighted with " George Washington " flying the President ' s flag and accompanied by her ocean escort . " Pennsylvania " fired a presidential salute , then took position ahead of " Oklahoma " and steamed to New York , stopping " en route " to disembark her distinguished guests before proceeding to her berth . On 7 January 1920 , she departed New York for Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea , returning to New York on 26 April . She resumed a schedule of local training operations until 17 January 1921 , when she departed New York for the Panama Canal . She arrived at Balboa , Panama on 20 January to join units of the Pacific Fleet and become flagship of the combined fleets , the Commander in Chief , Atlantic Fleet assuming command of the Battle Fleet on orders of the Navy Department . On 21 January , the Fleet sailed from Balboa , " en route " to Callao , Peru , arriving on 31 January 1921 . Departing on 2 February , " Pennsylvania " returned to Balboa on 14 February , and then conducted brief exercises while based at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . Upon her return to Hampton Roads on 28 April , she rendered a 21 - gun salute as she passed " Mayflower " . The Secretary of the Navy , the Chief of Naval Operations , and the Assistant Secretary of the Navy came aboard for a reception for the President of the United States . At 11 : 40 , President Warren Harding came aboard and his flag was broken at the main mast . On 22 August 1922 , " Pennsylvania " departed Lynnhaven Roads to join the Pacific Fleet . Arriving at San Pedro , California on 26 September 1922 , her principal area of operations until 1929 was along the coast of California , Washington , and Oregon , with periodic maneuvers and tactics off the Panama Canal , in the Caribbean Sea , and Hawaiian operating areas . She departed with the Fleet from San Francisco on 15 April 1925 , and after war games in the Hawaiian area , departed Honolulu , Hawaii on 1 July , " en route " to Melbourne , Australia . After a visit to Wellington , New Zealand , she returned to San Pedro on 26 September . In January 1929 , " Pennsylvania " cruised to Panama , and after training maneuvers while based at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , steamed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard , arriving on 1 June 1929 , to undergo overhaul and modernization . She remained in the yard for nearly two years . The secondary battery was reduced to 12 / 51 cal gun s and the anti - aircraft guns were replaced by eight / 25 cal gun s . On 8 May 1931 , she departed for a refresher training cruise to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and then returned . On 6 August , she again sailed for Guantanamo , and later continued on to San Pedro , where she again joined the Battle Fleet . From August 1931 – 1941 , " Pennsylvania " engaged in Fleet tactics and battle practice along the west coast and participated in Fleet maneuvers which were held periodically in the Hawaiian area as well as the Caribbean Sea . " Pennsylvania " was one of 14 ships to receive the early RCA CXAM - 1 radar . After overhaul in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard ( increasing the number of / 25 cal guns to 12 ) , on 7 January 1941 , she again sailed for Hawaii where she carried out scheduled operations with units of Task Forces 1 and 5 ( TF 1 and 5 ) , throughout that year , making one brief voyage to the west coast with TF 18 . In February 1941 , the Pacific Fleet ' s senior officers and the crew of the " Pennsylvania " watched the Kimmel / Richardson change - of - command ceremony in Hawaii . World War II . At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 , " Pennsylvania " was in drydock in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard . She was one of the first ships in the harbor to open fire as enemy dive and torpedo bomber s roared out of the high overcast . They did not succeed in repeated attempts to torpedo the caisson of the drydock , but " Pennsylvania " and the surrounding dock areas were severely strafed . The crew of one 5 inch ( 130 mm ) gun mount was wiped out when a bomb struck the starboard side of her boat deck and exploded inside Casemate 9 . Destroyers and , just forward of " Pennsylvania " in the drydock , were seriously damaged by bomb hits . " Pennsylvania " was pockmarked by flying fragments . A part of a torpedo tube from " Downes " , about in weight , was blown onto the forecastle of " Pennsylvania " . She had 15 men killed ( including her executive officer ) , 14 missing in action , and 38 wounded . On 20 December , " Pennsylvania " sailed for San Francisco , arriving on 29 December . She underwent repairs until 30 March 1942 . 1942 . From 14 April to 1 August 1942 , " Pennsylvania " conducted extensive training operations and patrol along the coast of California , punctuated by overhauls at San Francisco . On 4 June , Admiral Ernest J . King , Chief of Naval Operations , held brief ceremonies aboard " Pennsylvania " to present the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Chester W . Nimitz for exceptionally meritorious service as Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet since 31 December 1941 . She then sailed as one of seven battleships under Vice Admiral William S . Pye to intercept Japanese forces should they try to attack the West Coast of the United States . After the Battle of Midway ended in an American victory , the force sailed to San Pedro . On 1 August , " Pennsylvania " departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor , arriving on 14 August . She conducted gunnery exercises and took part in carrier task force guard tactics in the Hawaiian area . On 4 October , " Pennsylvania " returned to San Francisco for a major overhaul and refit at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard . The ship ' s anti - aircraft capabilities were enhanced , with ten Bofors 40 mm quad mounts and fifty - one Oerlikon 20 mm single mounts . The tripod mainmast was removed , with the stump replaced by a deckhouse above which the after main battery director cupola was housed . One of the new CXAM - 1 radars was installed above the cupola . In addition the secondary 5 inch armament was replaced with the rapid fire 5 inch ( 130 mm ) / 38 cal guns in eight twin mounts for a total of 16 new dual purpose guns . These guns could elevate to 85 degrees and fire at a rate of one round every four seconds . They replaced the older 5 inch ( 130 mm ) / 51 cal and 5 inch ( 130 mm ) / 25 cal anti - ship guns . The overhaul was completed on 5 February 1943 . She then conducted refresher training and air defense patrol off the coast of California . 1943 . On 23 April , " Pennsylvania " left for Alaska to take part in the Aleutian Campaign . On 30 April , " Pennsylvania " arrived at Cold Bay , Alaska . On 11 – 12 May , she engaged in a shore bombardment of Holtz Bay , Attu and Chicago Harbor , in support of the landings . As she retired from Attu on 12 May , a patrol plane warned that a torpedo wake was headed for " Pennsylvania . " She maneuvered at full speed as the torpedo passed safely astern . Destroyers and teamed to hunt down the attacker . After 10 hours of relentless depth charge attack , the was forced to the surface and was shelled by gunfire from " Edwards " . Severely damaged , the enemy survived until 13 May , then was sunk by the destroyer . Torpedo wakes were again sighted on the morning of 14 May , and destroyers conducted a fruitless search for the enemy . That same morning , " Pennsylvania ' s " OS2U Kingfisher seaplane s were launched to operate from seaplane tender in making strafing attacks on enemy positions on Attu . On the afternoon of 14 May , " Pennsylvania " conducted her third bombardment mission , this time in support of the infantry attack on the west arm of Holtz Bay . She then operated to the north and east of Attu until 19 May , when she steamed for Adak . She departed Adak on 21 May and arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard , Bremerton , Washington on 28 May . She returned to Adak on 7 August , and departed on 13 August as the flagship of Rear Admiral Francis W . Rockwell , commanding the Kiska Attack Force . On 15 August , assault troops landed without opposition on the western beaches of Kiska . By the evening of 16 August , it became apparent that the Japanese had evacuated under cover of fog prior to the landing . She patrolled off Kiska for a time then returned to Adak on 23 August . On 16 August , " Pennsylvania " steamed for Pearl Harbor , arriving on 1 September . There she took aboard 790 passengers and departed on 19 September for San Francisco where she arrived on 25 September . She returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 October , and , after debarking passengers , took part in rehearsal and bombardment exercises in the Hawaiian area . She became the flagship of Rear Admiral Richmond K . Turner , Commander Fifth Amphibious Force , and formed part of the Northern Attack Force , departing Pearl Harbor on 10 November , for the assault on Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands . The Task Force , comprising four battleships , four cruiser s , three escort carrier s , transports , and destroyers , approached Makin Atoll from the southeast on the morning of 20 November . " Pennsylvania " opened fire on Butaritari Island with her main battery at the initial range of and then opened with her secondary battery . Just before general quarters on the morning of 24 November , a tremendous explosion took place off the starboard bow as " Pennsylvania " was returning to a screening sector off Makin . At almost the same instant , a screening destroyer reported sound contact and disposition , and immediately executed a course change . For several minutes after the explosion , a large fire lighted up the entire area . Word soon came that escort carrier had been torpedoed . She sank with tremendous loss of life , including the commander of the squadron , Rear Admiral Henry M . Mullinnix . Determined night air attacks were made by enemy torpedo planes on the nights of 25 – 26 November but were repelled without damage to ships of the Task Force . 1944 . On 31 January 1944 , " Pennsylvania " commenced a bombardment of Kwajalein Island which was continued throughout the day . Landings were made on 1 February , with " Pennsylvania " joining in bombardment support before and after the landing operations . On the evening of 3 February , she anchored in the lagoon near Kwajalein . The success of the Kwajalein operation was ensured and " Pennsylvania " retired to Majuro Atoll to replenish her ammunition . On 12 February , " Pennsylvania " got underway for operations against Eniwetok . On 17 February , " Pennsylvania " steamed boldly through the deep entrance into Eniwetok Lagoon with her batteries blazing away . She steamed up a swept channel in the lagoon to a position off Engebi Island and commenced a bombardment of enemy installations . On the morning of 18 February , " Pennsylvania " bombarded Engebi before and during the approach of the assault waves to the beach . When Engebi had been secured , " Pennsylvania " steamed southward through the lagoon to the vicinity of Parry Island , where she took part in a bombardment on 20 – 21 February , preparatory to the landing assaults . At the commencement of the bombardment , the island had been covered with a dense growth of palm trees extending to the waters edge . At conclusion of the bombardment , not a single tree remained standing . On the morning of 22 February , she gave bombardment support prior to the landing on Parry Island . " Pennsylvania " retired to Majuro on 1 March , and then steamed south to Havannah Harbor , Efate Island , New Hebrides . She remained at Efate until late April . On 29 April , " Pennsylvania " arrived in Sydney , Australia . She returned to Efate on 11 May , and then sailed to Port Purvis , Florida Islands , from which she operated to conduct bombardment and amphibious assault exercises . She returned to Efate on 27 May , and after replenishment of her ammunition , departed on 2 June , arriving at Roi on 3 June . On 10 June , " Pennsylvania " formed with a force of battleships , cruisers , escort carriers , and destroyers " en route " for the assault and occupation of the Marianas Islands . That night , a destroyer in the screen reported sound contact and an emergency turn left 90° was ordered . As a result of this maneuver , " Pennsylvania " collided with the high - speed transport and sustained minor damage . " Talbot " put into Eniwetok for emergency repairs . On 14 June , " Pennsylvania " took part in the bombardment of Saipan preparatory to the assault landings made the next day while she cruised off the northeastern shore of Tinian , conducting heavy bombardment of that island to neutralize any enemy batteries which might have opened fire on the landing beaches of Saipan . On 16 June , she conducted a bombardment of targets on Orote Point , Guam , and then retired to cover the Saipan area . " Pennsylvania " departed the Mariana Islands on 25 June , and after a brief stay at Eniwetok , departed on 9 July to resume support of the Marianas Campaign . From 12 – 14 July , " Pennsylvania " conducted a bombardment of Guam in preparation for the assault and landings on that island . On completion of firing the evening of 14 July , she returned to Saipan to replenish ammunition . She returned to Guam on 17 July , and delivered protective fire support for demolition parties . At the same time she continued deliberate destructive fire on designated targets through 20 July . During the Guam campaign , she fired more ammunition than any other warship in history during a single campaign . She in fact earned one of her nicknames , " Old Falling Apart " ; because she expelled so much metal , she appeared to be falling apart . On the early morning of 21 July , " Pennsylvania " took a position between Agat Beach and Orote Peninsula , and commenced a bombardment of beach areas in immediate preparation for the assault while troops and equipment were loaded into landing craft and landing waves were being formed . After the beachhead was established , she stood by for fire support missions as might be called for by shore fire control parties , continuing this duty until 3 August . She steamed to Eniwetok , then to the New Hebrides Islands , and after rehearsal of landing assaults on Cape Esperance , Guadalcanal , arrived at Port Purvis , Florida Island . She departed on 6 September as part of the Palau Bombardment and Fire Support Group . From 12 – 14 September , " Pennsylvania " took part in the intensive bombardment of targets on the island of Peleliu . On 15 September , she also furnished gunfire support for the landings on that island . She then delivered a devastating fire on enemy gun emplacements among the rocks and cliffs flanking Red Beach on Angaur Island . On 25 September , " Pennsylvania " steamed for emergency repairs at Manus , Admiralty Islands , entering a floating drydock on 1 October . She departed on 12 October , one of six powerful battleships in Rear Admiral Jesse B . Oldendorf ' s Bombardment and Fire Support Group which formed a part of the Central Philippine Attack Force under command of Vice Admiral Thomas C . Kinkaid , en route to the Philippine Islands . " Pennsylvania " reached fire support station on the eastern coast of Leyte on 18 October , and commenced a covering bombardment for beach reconnaissance , underwater demolition teams , and minesweeping units operating in Leyte Gulf and San Pedro Harbor . She conducted bombardment missions the next day and supported the landings on Leyte on 20 October . Gunfire support missions continued through 22 October , including harassing and night illumination fire . On 24 October , all available United States vessels prepared for action as units of the Japanese Fleet closed the Philippines , preliminary to the Battle of Leyte Gulf . " Pennsylvania " and five other battleships , with cruisers and destroyers of Rear Admiral Oldendorf ' s force , steamed south and by nightfall were steaming slowly back and forth across the northern entrance of Surigao Strait , awaiting the approach of the enemy . That night , American motor torpedo boats stationed well down in Surigao Strait made the first encounter with torpedo attacks . Destroyers of the force , on either flank of the enemy ' s line of approach , followed with torpedo and gun attacks . At 03 : 53 on 26 October , opened fire , joined shortly thereafter by other battleships and cruisers . The Japanese had run head on into a perfect trap . Rear Admiral Oldendorf had executed the dream of every naval tactician by " crossing the T " of the enemy formation . The Japanese lost two battleships , and , and three destroyers in the Battle of Surigao Strait . The cruiser " Mogami " in company with a destroyer were the only ships that managed to escape . Rear Admiral Oldendorf ' s Force did not suffer the loss of a single vessel . " Mogami " was sunk the next day by aircraft carrier planes . " Pennsylvania " , sailing at one end of the battle line , was unable to find a target , partly because of her older fire control systems , but also because she was blocked by friendly ships sailing in her line of fire . On 26 October , ten enemy planes made a simultaneous attack on a destroyer close aboard " Pennsylvania " which assisted in shooting down four planes and driving off the others . On the night of 28 October , she shot down a bomber as it attempted a torpedo run . She remained on patrol in Leyte Gulf until 25 November , and then steamed to Manus , Admiralty Islands , and thence to Kossol Passage where she loaded ammunition . 1945 . She departed on 1 January 1945 with Vice Admiral Oldendorf ' s Lingayen Bombardment and Fire Support Group , steaming for Lingayen Gulf . The Group came under heavy air attacks on 4 – 5 January , and the escort carrier was hit by a " kamikaze " and destroyed by the resulting fire . Many other ships were damaged . On the morning of 6 January , " Pennsylvania " commenced a bombardment of target areas on Santiago Island at the mouth of Lingayen Gulf . That afternoon she entered the Gulf to conduct counter - battery fire in support of minesweeping forces , retiring at night . At daybreak on 7 January , the entire bombardment force entered Lingayen Gulf to deliver supporting and destructive fire . Preliminary assault bombardment was continued the next day . On 9 January , " Pennsylvania " provided gunfire support for the protection of the waves of landing troops . Enemy aircraft attacked the force in Lingayen Gulf on 10 January . Four bombs landed close by , but " Pennsylvania " was not hit . That afternoon she executed her last call fire mission in support of the operation by firing twelve rounds to destroy a concentration of enemy tanks which had been located inland by a shore fire control party . From 10 – 17 January , " Pennsylvania " conducted a patrol in the South China Sea , off Lingayen Gulf , with other ships of the task group . On 17 January , she anchored in Lingayen Gulf , where she remained until 10 February , when she sailed for temporary repairs at Manus , Admiralty Islands . Departing on 22 February , she steamed via the Marshall Islands and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco arriving on 13 March . She entered the Hunter ' s Point Shipyard and underwent a thorough overhaul . Her main battery turrets and secondary battery mounts were regunned ; some of the new guns that she received were salvaged off of " Oklahoma " that was sunk at Pearl Harbor . Additional anti - aircraft weapons as well as improved radar and fire control equipment were installed . Upon completion of this overhaul , " Pennsylvania " conducted trial runs out of San Francisco , followed by refresher training while based at San Diego . She departed San Francisco 12 July for Pearl Harbor , arriving on 18 July . She sailed for Okinawa on 24 July . " En route " , she took part in the bombardment of Wake Island on 1 August ; and , after loading ammunition at Saipan the next day , resumed her voyage . She anchored in Buckner Bay alongside . On 12 August , a Japanese torpedo plane slipped in over Buckner Bay without detection and launched a torpedo at " Pennsylvania " which lay at anchor . Hit well aft , " Pennsylvania " suffered extensive damage . The torpedo ' s impact caused a hole of approximately in diameter in her stern . Twenty men were killed and 10 injured , including Admiral Oldendorf , who broke several ribs . Many compartments were flooded and " Pennsylvania " settled heavily by the stern . The flooding was brought under control by efforts of " Pennsylvania ' s " repair parties and with the prompt assistance of two salvage tug s . The following day , she was towed to shallower water where salvage operations continued . Post - war . On 18 August , " Pennsylvania " departed Buckner Bay , Okinawa , under tow by two tugs . She arrived Apra Harbor , Guam on 6 September and entered drydock where a large sheet steel patch was welded over the torpedo hole and repairs to permit her to return to the United States under her own power were made . On 4 October , she sailed for home in company with the destroyer and the cruiser . On 17 October , her No . 3 shaft suddenly carried away inside the stern tube and the shaft slipped aft . It was necessary to send divers down to cut through the shaft , letting the shaft and propeller drop into the sea . Shipping water and with only one screw turning , " Pennsylvania " limped into Puget Sound Navy Yard on 24 October . Repairs were made to enable " Pennsylvania " to steam to the Marshall Islands where she was used as a target ship in the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini atoll during July 1946 . She was then towed to Kwajalein Lagoon where she decommissioned on 29 August . She remained in Kwajalein Lagoon for radiological and structural studies until 10 February 1948 , when she was sunk stern first off Kwajalein . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 February . During her five years of World War II service , USS " Pennsylvania " travelled and fired 6 , 854 14 in ( 360 mm ) rounds at the enemy , with 31 , 678 shells from her 5 in ( 130 mm ) guns and 97 , 327 rounds from her antiaircraft battery . Awards . All personnel attached to the " Pennsylvania " and actually present and serving during the period of 4 May 1943 through 10 February 1945 in the Pacific , or any part thereof , earned a Navy Unit Commendation . The commendation awarded USS " Pennsylvania " reads as follows . " Pennsylvania " also was awarded 8 Service stars for her World War II service .