This Ferocious War Ship Helped Win WWII — Children Now Play on Her Peaceful Decks

The USS Massachusetts (BB-59)

The USS Massachusetts didn’t just survive World War II. She owned it.

This 35,000 ton beast fought in every major Pacific battle, hammered German positions in North Africa, and still had time to become the most accurate shooting battleship in the fleet.

Here’s the amazing story of Big Mamie.

First American 16-inch Shells Against Axis Powers

On November 8, 1942, USS Massachusetts fired the first American 16-inch shells against Axis forces during Operation Torch. She shot back at the French battleship Jean Bart at 0740, silencing its guns within minutes with five direct hits.

The ship then sank two French destroyers and destroyed shore batteries and an ammunition dump.

Massachusetts fired 786 rounds of 16-inch shells during this battle. Her crew had been commissioned just six months earlier on May 12, 1942. Captain Francis E.M. Whiting commanded her during this first combat mission.

The battleship had sailed from Casco Bay, Maine on October 24 to join the invasion force.

After the cease-fire with French forces, she headed back to the US on November 12.

Dueling with the Jean Bart

The Massachusetts faced off against the incomplete French battleship Jean Bart in Casablanca Harbor.

Though moored at a pier, Jean Bart fired its working quad 15-inch turret, with shots landing close to Massachusetts.

This rare battleship duel happened just as Allied forces were landing on Moroccan beaches. Massachusetts outgunned her opponent with nine 16-inch guns against Jean Bart’s four 15-inch guns.

The French battleship was under Vichy French control, which cooperated with Nazi Germany. Jean Bart had only been 75% complete when France fell in 1940. The American shells struck Jean Bart’s single operational turret, putting it out of action.

This successful attack helped secure the beachhead for the 35,000 American troops landing nearby.

Battling in the Solomon Islands

In early 1943, Massachusetts transferred to the Pacific theater. She reached Nouméa, New Caledonia on March 4 and began operations in the Southwest Pacific.

She protected vital supply convoys bringing troops and equipment to Guadalcanal and other contested islands. Her presence deterred Japanese surface ships from attacking vulnerable transport vessels.

Massachusetts operated alongside other battleships in Task Force 53. She conducted regular patrols throughout the Solomon Sea during this period.

The battleship’s radar systems proved valuable in detecting approaching Japanese aircraft and ships.

Her crew adapted quickly to Pacific operations after their Atlantic service. This assignment marked her permanent shift to Pacific operations for the rest of the war.

Bombardment of Nauru

On December 8, 1943, Massachusetts joined five other battleships in bombing Nauru Island. The six modern battleships unleashed a massive 54-gun 16-inch salvo that covered the island in explosions.

They started firing from 30,000 yards out and continued as they got closer. Massachusetts fired approximately 70 rounds from her main guns during this attack.

The island contained valuable phosphate deposits that Japan had been mining, and the operation helped isolate Japanese forces on the island.

Marshall Islands Campaign

In January 1944, Massachusetts joined the Marshall Islands invasion force with Rear Admiral Lee in command.

She bombarded Kwajalein on January 30 and covered the Marine landings there on February 1. Her 16-inch guns destroyed Japanese bunkers and gun positions before troops landed.

She fired over 300 shells during this operation, alongside USS Washington, North Carolina, and Indiana.

The capture of Kwajalein provided American forces with another airfield and harbor. The operation was part of Operation Flintlock, the broader campaign to secure the Marshall Islands.

This successful invasion represented another step in the island-hopping strategy toward Japan.

The Strike on Truk Lagoon

Massachusetts played a key role in Operation Hailstone on February 17, 1944.

As part of Task Group 58.3, she supported a massive carrier strike against Japan’s major naval base at Truk in the Caroline Islands.

It’s been called “Japan’s Pearl Harbor” because of its importance as a fleet anchorage.

The operation sank over 50 Japanese ships and destroyed hundreds of aircraft. Massachusetts provided anti-aircraft protection for the carriers launching the strikes.

Vice Admiral Spruance led this operation while commanding from USS New Jersey.

The raid effectively neutralized Truk as a threat to American advances, and was never again used by Japanese naval forces as a major base.

Defending Against Japanese Air Attacks

Massachusetts proved her worth as a carrier protector during raids on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.

On February 21-22, 1944, she helped fight off heavy Japanese air attacks while her task group bombed these islands.

Her anti-aircraft batteries shot down several enemy planes.

By this time, Massachusetts had been upgraded with additional 40mm and 20mm guns specifically for air defense. Her fire control radar helped direct accurate anti-aircraft fire.

The ship’s gunners worked in coordinated teams to track and shoot down incoming aircraft. Massachusetts protected the fleet carriers that formed the backbone of American naval power.

Supporting the Battle of Leyte Gulf

Massachusetts contributed to the largest naval battle in history in October 1944 as part of Task Group 38.3.

On October 25, she joined the Battle off Cape Engaño during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, protecting carriers that sank four Japanese carriers.

Massachusetts provided anti-aircraft coverage as Japanese planes tried to attack American ships, and pursued retreating Japanese ships.

This engagement marked a decisive victory that crippled Japan’s remaining naval power and paved the way for General MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.

Massachusetts continued supporting Philippine operations through December 1944, including bombarding shore positions on Luzon.

Surviving Typhoon Cobra

Massachusetts displayed remarkable seaworthiness during a natural disaster in December 1944.

On December 18, she survived Typhoon Cobra, which sank three destroyers and killed nearly 800 sailors from Task Force 38.

Winds reached 120 knots during the storm, and waves towered over 60 feet high, battering ships in the fleet. Many ships reported rolls exceeding 70 degrees, but Massachusetts stayed upright.

Captain Ruddock maintained control of the vessel throughout the typhoon. Admiral Halsey faced criticism for not avoiding the typhoon, but a formal inquiry assigned no negligence.

Operations in the South China Sea

In early 1945, Massachusetts joined bold raids into Japanese-controlled waters.

Between December 30, 1944, and January 23, 1945, she sailed with Task Force 38 into the South China Sea, destroying Japanese shipping from Saigon to Hong Kong.

This operation sank over 40 enemy vessels, allowing the American fleet to penetrate waters previously considered safely under Japanese control.

The raids interrupted vital oil shipments from Southeast Asia to Japan.

Task Force 38 struck targets in Indochina, China, and Formosa during this period, and American forces faced minimal losses while delivering devastating blows to Japanese logistics.

The operation concluded with additional strikes against Formosa and Okinawa before the fleet withdrew.

Bombarding the Japanese Home Islands

As Allied forces closed in on Japan, Massachusetts attacked the Japanese mainland as part of a battleship force that included USS Indiana and South Dakota.. On July 14, 1945, she bombarded Kamaishi, Honshu, targeting Japan’s second-largest iron and steel center.

Two weeks later, she bombed industrial facilities at Hamamatsu.

Massachusetts fired approximately 800 shells during these bombardments.

These attacks directly damaged Japan’s war production capabilities.

Firing the Last Battleship Salvo of WWII

Massachusetts earned a special place in naval history with her final combat action.

On August 9, 1945, she returned to Kamaishi and fired what was likely the last 16-inch shell of World War II.

This bombardment occurred the same day the second atomic bomb hit Nagasaki. The shell was part of a 2,400-round barrage from the battleship force.

Massachusetts’ guns targeted the steel works that had partially recovered from the July attack.

The bombardment lasted from 1300 to 1423 hours. Japanese officials later listed 14 people killed and 111 wounded in this final attack.

This mission occurred just six days before Japan announced its surrender.

Massachusetts thus fired both the first American 16-inch shells against European Axis forces and the last battleship shells of the war.

Perfect Combat Safety Record

Despite fighting from 1942 to 1945 in major naval operations, no American sailors or Marines died in combat while serving on Massachusetts across 35 engagements.

Over 5,000 sailors served aboard during her active duty.

The ship earned 11 battle stars for her World War II service and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation among other honors.

After the war, she was decommissioned on March 27, 1947, and later preserved as a memorial in Fall River, Massachusetts, where she remains today.

Exploring Big Mamie Today

At Battleship Cove in Fall River, you can explore all nine decks of the USS Massachusetts.

As you walk through “Big Mamie,” you’ll see the massive 16-inch gun turrets that fired the first and last American battleship shells of World War II.

Discover the crew quarters where sailors lived, the bridge where officers commanded the ship, and the engine rooms that powered this floating city.

You can see actual battle damage and historic artifacts throughout the vessel.

Volunteer veterans sometimes share firsthand stories about naval service.

Explore the Rest of Battleship Cove

Battleship Cove houses the world’s largest collection of WWII naval vessels.

Besides the USS Massachusetts, it’s also home to the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., which served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the submarine USS Lionfish.

The site also features two rare PT boats similar to the one commanded by President Kennedy. Visit the Maritime Museum nearby to see exhibits on the Titanic and Fall River’s maritime history.

For families with children, there’s a historic carousel from 1920 adjacent to the museum. There’s also a “Spend the Night” program where you can sleep in the actual bunks sailors once used.

The gift shop offers souvenirs including ship models and maritime books.

Visiting USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove

Battleship Cove is located at 5 Water Street, Fall River, Massachusetts.

In 2025, general admission costs $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (65+), $15 for children 4-12, while children under 3 enter free. Active military and veterans with ID pay $16.

Spring/summer hours (March 28-October 19, 2025) are 9AM-5PM daily. Fall hours (October 20-November 30) are 9AM-4PM daily.

Winter hours (December-March) are Friday through Sunday, 9AM-4PM, plus Monday holidays and school vacation weeks.

The last admission is always 1½ hours before closing.

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