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USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for

Uss arizona bb39 16

and by the United States Navy, commissioned in 1916. It did not see action during World War I, and for most of its existence, it was used for training exercises between the wars. In April 1940, she and the rest of the Pacific Fleet were transferred from California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a deterrent to Japanese imperialism.

Arizona was directly bombed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She exploded and sank, killing 1177 officers and crewmen. Unlike many of the other ships sunk or damaged that day, Arizona could not be fully salvaged, though the Navy removed parts of the ship for reuse. The wreck still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, dedicated in 1962 to all those who died during the attack, straddles the ship's hull.

USS Arizona in The War That Came Early[]

The USS Arizona temporarily served as the flagship of the United States Navy's Pacific fleet in early 1941, after Japan attacked the United States. During the first battle between the Japanese and American fleets, Japan proved triumphant. The Arizona was sunk, and the American fleet's commander, Admiral Husband Kimmel, opted to go down with her.[1]

References[]

  1. Coup d'Etat, pg. 295.
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