USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
Built at the Newport News Navy Yard in Virginia and commissioned in 1916, the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was the lead ship of her Class of United States Navy "super dreadnought" battleships. During WWII, she participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific, from Alaska to Okinawa. During WWII, she earned 8 battle stars and the US Navy Commendation Award for service.
After WWII, the "Pennsy" was used in two atomic bomb tests in July 1946. The ship was decommissioned in August 1946, but was kept at Kwajalein Lagoon for tests until February 1948. The Pennsy was found to have too much radiation and was not sea worthy. She was towed out to sea and sunk.
Two of the BB-38 guns, gun 22 (L3) and gun 28 (L2) were left on the ship during an overhaul in 1942 but were replaced in 1945. The guns were relined and sent to the gun barrel storage yard in Dahlgren, VA, where they remained for the past 50 years. They were "rediscovered" during a recent inventory, and the Museum acquired them for display in 2009.
Wartime Armament
12 - 14 inch/45 caliber guns
16 - 5 inch/38 caliber guns
40 - 40 mm/56 caliber guns
52 - 20 mm/70 caliber guns
8 - 50 caliber guns - PODS
Details
Builder: Newport News Navy Yard
Keel Laid: October 27, 1913
Launched: March 16, 1915
Commissioned: June 12, 1916
Decommissioned: August 29, 1946
Length: 608 feet
Beam: 97.1 feet
Max Draft: 28 feet 10 inches
Displacement: 34,000 tons
Max Speed: 20 knots
Crew: 1750 to 2000
Bringing the Guns to the Military Museum
Preparing the grounds at the Museum.
Rigging at the US Navy Yard.
Arriving at Boalsburg, PA
Rigging at Museum for cleaning.
Lifting second barrel into place.
Cleaning the guns at the Museum.
The guns of the USS Pennsylvania.
Lifting first barrel into place.
Guns data plate.