"Battery Arizona?"

wilconqr · #1 (**permalink**) May 12th, 2007, 02:02 AM

I learned something new today regarding the USS Arizona. While at BooksAMillion I was going through the WWII section and came upon an Osprey book about fortifications on Pearl Harbor (can't remember the title). There was a nice color drawing of "Battery Arizona"; one of the 14" gun turrets from the stricken battleship built into the ground at Kahe Point as a shore battery. The drawing gave details of the underground part of the battery, e.g., the projectile room, powder room, elevators, etc.. I always wondered what happened to the turrets when viewing the sunken hulk in all those "memorial" pictures. I just figured that they, along with other parts of the superstructure, were just removed and turned into scrap for the war effort. Everything I've been able to find on the net says that two of the aft turrets were used. What about the other two? Were they too damaged? Also, can anyone turn up any photos of this on the net? Pretty interesting!

John Dudek · #2 (**permalink**) May 12th, 2007, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilconqr

I learned something new today regarding the USS Arizona. While at BooksAMillion I was going through the WWII section and came upon an Osprey book about fortifications on Pearl Harbor (can't remember the title). There was a nice color drawing of "Battery Arizona"; one of the 14" gun turrets from the stricken battleship built into the ground at Kahe Point as a shore battery. The drawing gave details of the underground part of the battery, e.g., the projectile room, powder room, elevators, etc.. I always wondered what happened to the turrets when viewing the sunken hulk in all those "memorial" pictures. I just figured that they, along with other parts of the superstructure, were just removed and turned into scrap for the war effort. Everything I've been able to find on the net says that two of the aft turrets were used. What about the other two? Were they too damaged? Also, can anyone turn up any photos of this on the net? Pretty interesting!

Number 1 Turret and its guns are still intact and rest in its place on the wreck of the Arizona. The guns of Number 2 Turret were removed and if memory serves, they were used as replacement guns for the USS Pennsylvania. The sides and remainder of Number 2 turret are still intact, although all the guns are missing.

T. A. Gardner · #3 (**permalink**) May 12th, 2007, 02:49 AM

Number 3 and 4 turrets (the rear ones) were removed to make the coastal defense batteries called Arizona and Pennslyvania. Only battery Arizona was finished and just shortly before VJ day. It was test fired once then declared obsolete and scrapped after the war. Battery Pennslyvania was never completed.

wilconqr · #4 (**permalink**) May 12th, 2007, 02:55 AM

I'm a little confused here. While the USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania Class Battleship, one of the aft turrets was used to create Battery Arizona and another aft turret was used to create Battery Pennsylvania. And you say that the gun (tubes) from forward number 2 were used on the USS Pennsylvania proper?
T.A., I just scrolled down to make sure of something and your post appeared. I just left another site that says that Pennsylvania was the only battery completed, contrary to your response. Lets see if I can pull it back up...

wilconqr · #5 (**permalink**) May 12th, 2007, 03:01 AM

O.K., here is the site. Bear in mind that I'll remain somewhat skeptical about things I find on the net. This may be wrong.
http://www.privatehenrykalinowski.or.../salvaged.html

wilconqr · #6 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2007, 06:57 AM

Maybe a more reliable site.....
http://www.pastfoundation.org/Arizon...aHistory_3.htm