New York class battleship
Encyclopedia
The New York class battleship
was the fifth series of two super-dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy
which served during World War I
and World War II
. The class represented the first use of the 14" naval gun
by the U.S. Navy. The ships were designed in 1910, keels laid down in 1911, and launched in 1912.
During World War I, both New York-class battleships saw service in the Atlantic Ocean
escorting Allied convoys. In the interwar period, both underwent overhauls which improved their anti-aircraft batteries
, and they were active in the Pacific Ocean training naval personnel. During World War II both ships served in the Atlantic and Pacific, escorting Allied convoys to Europe
, bombarding beachheads ahead of Allied amphibious assaults
, and providing naval artillery support for US Army and Marine Corps
personnel involved in ground operations. Decommissioned after World War II, the two ships of the class met different fates: was used as a target for atomic testing during Operation Crossroads
and was ultimately sunk as a target, while was donated to her namesake state for use as a museum ship.
of greater than 12 in (304.8 mm) guns in just a few years. However, they kept the smaller gun because a 14 in (355.6 mm) weapon had not been fully constructed and tested; if the new gun did not function properly, the ships would not be able to receive their main armament, and the General Board wanted to avoid any sort of delay in commissioning the ships.
. The German Navy's shift from 28 cm (11 in) to 30.5 cm (12 in) guns had also been noted. The New York class was the 5th class of battleship design created with a 6th design already starting on the Nevada class
. At this time no U.S. dreadnought
class battleship had yet hit the water as all were either at some stage of building or in design. Virtually the entire U.S. Navy battle line was being designed by drawing on experience from pre-dreadnought designs or from observation of foreign battleship design.
These two powerful battleships were improved versions of the Wyoming class
ships, the main difference being that the New York class had five twin-turret 14 inches (356 mm) guns rather than six twin-turret 12 inches (305 mm) guns. Four guns were placed in two superfiring
turrets in the front, four in a similar arrangement in the back. The fifth gun turret was located amidship, facing rearwards, and could only fire abeam. The amidships turret and magazines were difficult to properly cool as the machinery arrangement in the design had high-pressure steam lines running around the area. The New York class was the last full class to use Vertical Triple Expansion (VTE) engine equipment. The inclusion of forced lubrication of the bearings seemed to promise the reliability that VTE engines had lacked at full power and offered superior cruising range to the direct drive turbines that existed at this point in naval engineering. Use would prove that the choice was not a wise one as the VTE proceeded to give problems in use and while the U.S. Navy desired to revert to steam turbines this was never done.
The New York class was the first US battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, with 3 in (76.2 mm) guns mounted atop 's turrets. Texas was also the first US battleship with flying off platforms for aircraft.
with minor improvements. The deck armor scheme would continue to remain distinctly inferior to the succeeding Nevada class
with their all or nothing armor scheme. However the leap forward in range provided by improved fire control was not yet envisioned and had it been there would not have been time to include it within the current design. The ship provided a 12 inches (304.8 mm) belt tapering to 10 inches (254 mm) and 6.5 inches (165.1 mm) casement armor with internal partitioning.
in New York City
. She was launched
on 30 October 1912 sponsored by Elsie Calder, and commissioned
on 15 April 1914. During her career New York was involved in escorting Allied convoys to Europe, and was frequently visited by European aristocracy during the war. In World War II she again escorted Allied convoys en route to Europe, and shelled beachheads for Allied forces in Africa and in the Pacific. Decommissioned at the end of Word War II she was designated a target for the upcoming Operation Crossroads
. After withstanding nuclear explosions above and below the water in the atoll she was towed to Pearl Harbor for study. In 1948 she was towed out to sea where she was expended as target and sunk.
was laid down on 17 April 1911 at Newport News, Virginia
. She was launched
on 18 May 1912, and commissioned
on 12 March 1914 with Captain Albert W. Grant
in command. During her career Texas saw action in Mexican waters following the "Tampico Incident
" and escorted Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean
during World War I
. When the United States formally entered World War II
in 1941, Texas resumed her role of escorting war convoys across the Atlantic, and she later shelled Axis-held beaches for the North African campaign
and the Normandy Landings
before being transferred to the Pacific Theater late in 1944 to provide naval gunfire support
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
and Battle of Okinawa
. Decommissioned in 1948, Texas was donated to her namesake state, and opened as a museum ship in Houston that same year.
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
was the fifth series of two super-dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
which served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The class represented the first use of the 14" naval gun
14"/45 caliber gun
The 14"/45 caliber gun, known initially as the Mark 1, 2, 3, and 5, and later as the Mark 8, 9, 10, and 12, were the first 14-inch guns to be employed with the United States Navy. They were installed aboard the United States Navy's New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania-class battleships as the primary...
by the U.S. Navy. The ships were designed in 1910, keels laid down in 1911, and launched in 1912.
During World War I, both New York-class battleships saw service in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
escorting Allied convoys. In the interwar period, both underwent overhauls which improved their anti-aircraft batteries
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
, and they were active in the Pacific Ocean training naval personnel. During World War II both ships served in the Atlantic and Pacific, escorting Allied convoys to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, bombarding beachheads ahead of Allied amphibious assaults
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
, and providing naval artillery support for US Army and Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
personnel involved in ground operations. Decommissioned after World War II, the two ships of the class met different fates: was used as a target for atomic testing during Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
and was ultimately sunk as a target, while was donated to her namesake state for use as a museum ship.
Background
"Battleship 1911", as the design that became the New Yorks was originally known, had its genesis in the , approved in the previous year. Based upon decisions made at the Newport Conference, the Wyomings were designed with the belief that foreign battleships would probably have a main batteryMain battery
Generally used only in the terms of naval warfare, the main battery is the primary weapon around which a ship was designed. "Battery" is in itself a common term in the military science of artillery. For example, the United States Navy battleship USS Washington had a main battery of nine guns...
of greater than 12 in (304.8 mm) guns in just a few years. However, they kept the smaller gun because a 14 in (355.6 mm) weapon had not been fully constructed and tested; if the new gun did not function properly, the ships would not be able to receive their main armament, and the General Board wanted to avoid any sort of delay in commissioning the ships.
Design
In 1910 the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ordnance had successfully designed and tested its 14 inches (356 mm) naval gun. The gun proved to have remarkable accuracy and uniformity of pattern. The expected move by other nation’s navies to greater calibers had begun with the British BL 13.5 in Mark V guns (343 mm) in its Orion class battleshipsOrion class battleship
The Orion class battleships were four super-dreadnoughts — the first ships of that type — of the Royal Navy. The lead ship, , was launched in 1910. They were the first Royal Navy dreadnoughts to have all their main guns in the centreline, although the U.S. South Carolina class had this advanced...
. The German Navy's shift from 28 cm (11 in) to 30.5 cm (12 in) guns had also been noted. The New York class was the 5th class of battleship design created with a 6th design already starting on the Nevada class
Nevada class battleship
The Nevada class battleships were the United States Navy's first battleship design equipped with triple gun turrets , as well as introducing the so-called "all or nothing" armor scheme, in which protection of vital areas was optimized against heavy caliber guns, leaving other parts...
. At this time no U.S. dreadnought
Dreadnought
The dreadnought was the predominant type of 20th-century battleship. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts...
class battleship had yet hit the water as all were either at some stage of building or in design. Virtually the entire U.S. Navy battle line was being designed by drawing on experience from pre-dreadnought designs or from observation of foreign battleship design.
These two powerful battleships were improved versions of the Wyoming class
Wyoming class battleship
The Wyoming class battleship was the fourth series of two battleships built for the United States Navy. The class comprised two ships: and . At the time of the design of this pair of dreadnoughts, not a single one of the previous designs had yet gone to sea...
ships, the main difference being that the New York class had five twin-turret 14 inches (356 mm) guns rather than six twin-turret 12 inches (305 mm) guns. Four guns were placed in two superfiring
Superfire
The idea of superfire is to locate two turrets in a row, one behind the other, but with the second turret located above the one in front so that the second turret could fire over the first...
turrets in the front, four in a similar arrangement in the back. The fifth gun turret was located amidship, facing rearwards, and could only fire abeam. The amidships turret and magazines were difficult to properly cool as the machinery arrangement in the design had high-pressure steam lines running around the area. The New York class was the last full class to use Vertical Triple Expansion (VTE) engine equipment. The inclusion of forced lubrication of the bearings seemed to promise the reliability that VTE engines had lacked at full power and offered superior cruising range to the direct drive turbines that existed at this point in naval engineering. Use would prove that the choice was not a wise one as the VTE proceeded to give problems in use and while the U.S. Navy desired to revert to steam turbines this was never done.
The New York class was the first US battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, with 3 in (76.2 mm) guns mounted atop 's turrets. Texas was also the first US battleship with flying off platforms for aircraft.
Armor
The ships continued the armor suite of the Wyoming classWyoming class battleship
The Wyoming class battleship was the fourth series of two battleships built for the United States Navy. The class comprised two ships: and . At the time of the design of this pair of dreadnoughts, not a single one of the previous designs had yet gone to sea...
with minor improvements. The deck armor scheme would continue to remain distinctly inferior to the succeeding Nevada class
Nevada class battleship
The Nevada class battleships were the United States Navy's first battleship design equipped with triple gun turrets , as well as introducing the so-called "all or nothing" armor scheme, in which protection of vital areas was optimized against heavy caliber guns, leaving other parts...
with their all or nothing armor scheme. However the leap forward in range provided by improved fire control was not yet envisioned and had it been there would not have been time to include it within the current design. The ship provided a 12 inches (304.8 mm) belt tapering to 10 inches (254 mm) and 6.5 inches (165.1 mm) casement armor with internal partitioning.
USS New York
was laid down on 11 September 1911 by the Brooklyn Navy YardBrooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 30 October 1912 sponsored by Elsie Calder, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 15 April 1914. During her career New York was involved in escorting Allied convoys to Europe, and was frequently visited by European aristocracy during the war. In World War II she again escorted Allied convoys en route to Europe, and shelled beachheads for Allied forces in Africa and in the Pacific. Decommissioned at the end of Word War II she was designated a target for the upcoming Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
. After withstanding nuclear explosions above and below the water in the atoll she was towed to Pearl Harbor for study. In 1948 she was towed out to sea where she was expended as target and sunk.
USS Texas
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 18 May 1912, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 12 March 1914 with Captain Albert W. Grant
Albert W. Grant
Albert Weston Grant was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War I.-Biography:Grant was born on April 14, 1856 at East Benton, Maine. He grew up at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with his pioneer family and won a competitive appointment to the United States Naval Academy, from which he...
in command. During her career Texas saw action in Mexican waters following the "Tampico Incident
Tampico Affair
The Tampico Affair started off as a minor incident involving U.S. sailors and Mexican land forces loyal to General Victoriano Huerta during the guerra de las facciones phase of the Mexican Revolution...
" and escorted Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When the United States formally entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1941, Texas resumed her role of escorting war convoys across the Atlantic, and she later shelled Axis-held beaches for the North African campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and the Normandy Landings
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
before being transferred to the Pacific Theater late in 1944 to provide naval gunfire support
Naval gunfire support
Naval gunfire support is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the term Naval Fires...
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
and Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. Decommissioned in 1948, Texas was donated to her namesake state, and opened as a museum ship in Houston that same year.
Unincorporated
During their careers,- 1916-1917: Both ships served in 6th Battle Squadron of the Anglo-US Grand Fleet
-
- During this time, the became the first US battleship to be fitted with an aircraft platform.
- 12 November 1918: Both ships are present for the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow.
- Mid 1920s: Both ships went through a refit which included the installation of new boilers, the removal of one stack, the installation of 3 in. Anti Aircraft guns, the replacing of their cage masts with tripod masts, and the installation of catapults and facilities for three aircraft. The old coal boilers were replaced with oil boilers.
- 20 May 1937: present at the Coronation of King George VI.
- 1940s (World War II): Both ships saw heavy action. Both served with the Atlantic Fleet, their duties included escorting convoys, fire support for the landings in Casablanca. Texas then went on to provide fire support for the landings in Normandy and Southern France. After the Normandy landings, the two battleships were transferred to the Pacific Fleet to provide fire support for the landings on Okinawa and Iwo JimaIwo JimaIwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
, where the was hit by a kamikazeKamikazeThe were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attack. After the war the New York was used to test atomic bombs and finally sunk during tests in 1948. Texas was given to the Lone Star State to be immortalized as a memorial where she remains today in San Jacinto State ParkSan Jacinto Battleground State Historic SiteThe San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site includes the location of the Battle of San Jacinto, and the USS Texas. It is located off the Houston Ship Channel in LaPorte, Texas. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960....
, near Houston. received three Battle Stars, while received five battle stars and the Navy Occupation Service Medal. is the last remaining example of a World War I battleship.
- During this time, the became the first US battleship to be fitted with an aircraft platform.