What was the hardest battleship to sink?
More details. Running trials, circa early 1916. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Rediscovery of the Illustrious USS Nevada: A Story of Survival and Valor
In a testament to the advancements of marine exploration, the final berth of the storied USS Nevada, a battleship that withstood the tests of war and time, has been located. Joint efforts by Search Inc. and Ocean Infinity have brought to light the resting place of this venerable vessel, renowned for its resilience and distinguished service across the breadth of the 20th century’s conflicts.
A Battleship’s Odyssey
The USS Nevada (BB-36) “In Dry Dock Number 1 at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, circa 1935. Note men painting her boot topping from stages rigged over the side, and outline of her anti-torpedo blister where it merges with her forward hull. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command”
Commissioned in the pivotal year of 1916, as global tensions foreshadowed the United States’ involvement in the Great War, the USS Nevada was destined for a storied naval career. The ship, steadfast through the interbellum period, found itself in the maelstrom of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite suffering damage from an air-launched torpedo, the USS Nevada endeavored to break for open waters, a gallant attempt cut short by further aerial assaults that led to her being intentionally grounded to prevent sinking in the channel.
Resurrection and Reinforcement
The Nevada’s saga did not end with Pearl Harbor. Salvaged and restored to her former glory, the battleship received modernizations that allowed her to rejoin the fleet and serve valiantly from the cold waters of the Aleutians to the shores of Southern France and the Pacific’s Okinawa. Her guns, relics of an era when dreadnoughts ruled the seas, found new purpose in supporting ground forces during key amphibious assaults of World War II.
A Witness to the Atomic Age
More details. Battleship USS Nevada (BB-36) painted in orange as target ship for the Operation Crossroads Able Nuclear weapons test. USNavy – USNavy Photo via http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/36g.htm
Surviving two world wars, the USS Nevada was fated to play a role in the dawn of the nuclear era. Moreover, bearing witness to the formidable power of atomic weaponry at Bikini Atoll. Adorned in a vivid hue to stand out amidst the fleet assembled for Operation Crossroads, she withstood not one, but two nuclear detonations. The second, an underwater blast, left her damaged and contaminated, signaling an end to her operational life.
The Final Voyage
In 1948, the once-mighty battleship, now obsolete in the face of modern naval warfare, was relegated to serve as a target for naval artillery practice. It was in the waters southwest of Honolulu, that the USS Nevada met her end. Slipping beneath the waves to a silent, watery grave three miles deep, 65 nautical miles from the Hawaiian coast.
Preservation and Legacy
The rediscovery of the USS Nevada’s wreck, with its visible anti-aircraft gun and identifiable markings, does not herald any intent of disturbance. Protected under the Sunken Military Craft Act, the site remains a historical artifact. In addition, a solemn reminder of the sacrifices of those who served aboard her.
The USS Nevada’s enduring legacy is that of indomitable spirit and service. Additionally, a floating fortress that, despite the scars of battle and the ravages of time, remained unbowed until her last day above the depths.
More details. A U.S. Government document showing the length and appearance of the Nevada.
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