BB-36 USS Nevada

The USS Nevada (BB-36) was a battleship of the United States Navy and holds a prominent place in naval history. Commissioned in 1916, the USS Nevada was the lead ship of her class and played a significant role in both World War I and World War II.

The construction of the USS Nevada began on November 4, 1912, at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on July 11, 1914, and commissioned into service on March 11, 1916. As a member of the Nevada-class battleships, she was the first U.S. Navy ship to be powered by oil-fired boilers, providing her with greater range and speed than previous battleships.

During World War I, the USS Nevada primarily operated in the Atlantic Ocean, conducting patrols and escorting convoys. She also made a voyage to Britain in 1918 to protect Allied shipping. While the war ended before the Nevada saw significant combat, she served as a deterrent against German naval threats and demonstrated the growing importance of battleships in modern warfare.

In the interwar years, the USS Nevada underwent several modernization and refit programs to enhance her combat capabilities. She received improved anti-aircraft defenses and additional armor protection. These upgrades ensured that the Nevada remained a formidable battleship, ready to face the challenges of the rapidly changing naval warfare environment.

However, it was during World War II that the USS Nevada truly made her mark. On December 7, 1941, she was moored at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese launched a surprise attack. The Nevada quickly became a primary target, suffering multiple hits from torpedoes and bombs. Despite the extensive damage, the crew valiantly fought to save their ship. The commanding officer, Captain Francis W. Scanland, made the decision to get the ship underway and attempt to reach the open sea to prevent it from blocking the harbor entrance.

Under intense enemy fire, the Nevada managed to move out of the harbor and continued to fight back. She was later struck by additional bombs and torpedoes, causing further damage and casualties. Eventually, the crew deliberately grounded the ship to prevent her from sinking and obstructing the channel.

Following repairs and an extensive refit, the USS Nevada returned to service in 1942. She participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, providing fire support for the amphibious landings at Utah Beach. The Nevada’s guns pounded German positions, helping to secure the beachhead.

The Nevada continued to serve in the Pacific theater until the end of the war. She supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, providing naval gunfire support and escorting aircraft carriers. The USS Nevada was present in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, when Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri.

After the war, the Nevada was deemed surplus to the Navy’s needs and was used as a target ship during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946. Despite enduring two atomic blasts, the battleship survived, albeit heavily damaged. The USS Nevada was decommissioned on August 29, 1946, and eventually sunk as a target during gunnery exercises in 1948.

The USS Nevada’s service during both World Wars and her resilience in the face of enemy attacks cemented her place in naval history. She played a vital role in advancing naval technology, demonstrating the power and versatility of battleships in a rapidly changing world. Today, the memory of the USS Nevada lives on, reminding us of the bravery and sacrifices made by her crew and serving as a symbol of the strength and resilience of the United States Navy.