mass31.jpg (28749 bytes)

USS MAssachusetts
BB 59
Photo Gallery.gif (8444 bytes)

Photographed  by Rob Mackie at
Battleship Cove
Fall River, Massachusetts
August 1997/98

Click here for recent photos of the USS Massachusetts in drydock in Boston.
These photos courtesy of Mark McKellar and Wayne Gephardt. Thank you!

Class: South Dakota
Type: Battleship
Launched: September 23, 1941
At: Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts
Commissioned: May 12, 1942

Length: 680 feet
Beam: 108 feet, 2 inches
Draft: 36 feet
Displacement: 35,000 tons
Armament: Nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns;
twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns;
eighteen 40mm quad Bofors

The NavSource BB Massachusetts page has many WW2 era photos of Big Mamie

Click thumbnail image to view full size picture

Recent Drydock photos November '98
(These photos courtesy of Mark McKellar and Wayne Gephardt. Thank you!)
USS_Mass_Prop.JPEG (35667 bytes) USS_Mass4.jpg (21924 bytes) USS_Mass#7.jpg (18359 bytes) USS_Mass11.jpg (18593 bytes) USS_Mass9.jpg (22346 bytes)

 

mass53.jpg (37482 bytes)
Starboard side looking forward


mass03.jpg (63211 bytes)
Looking towards stern from aft
of 16" turret

mass05.jpg (52371 bytes)
Looking fwd from aside
16" 45 caliber turret

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Deck level starboard side
mass04.jpg (55505 bytes)
Dense with guns and equipment		 mass57.jpg (39964 bytes)
Profile view of central citadel. Note compact, cluttered appearance characteristic of S. Dakota class.		 mass58.jpg (41246 bytes)
Conning tower details		 mass59.jpg (50573 bytes)
Directors, tubs, fittings and details too numerous to mention
mass60.jpg (45850 bytes)
Midship details, 5" mounts		 mass61.jpg (34355 bytes)
"B" turret details		 mass62.jpg (48797 bytes)
Conning tower from bow		 mass68.jpg (38278 bytes)
View from quarterdeck looking fwd
mass64.jpg (38526 bytes)
Mk 8 "comb" fire control radar atop Mk 38 16" gun director 		mass54.jpg (35810 bytes)
Mk 37 and Mk 8 "comb" gun directors		 mass52.jpg (43797 bytes)
SK-3 air search radar
 mass51.jpg (44303 bytes)
Mk 37 5" director with Mk 12 and Mk 22 "orange peel" radar used against low fliers
mass70.jpg (50510 bytes)
Breakwater & paravanes		 mass71.jpg (35368 bytes)
Forecastle details		 mass63.jpg (48424 bytes)
Forecastle looking aft		 mass67.jpg (39484 bytes)
5" practice loaders
mass66.jpg (50846 bytes) mass65.jpg (42563 bytes) mass50.jpg (21580 bytes)
Bridge		 mass55.jpg (39553 bytes)
mass72.jpg (44176 bytes)
Good view of masts		 mass69.jpg (23103 bytes)
Mast view		 mass07.jpg (47470 bytes)
Quarterdeck AA mount and 16" gun		 mass08.jpg (61484 bytes)
16" turrets
mass10.jpg (43476 bytes)
View from bridge		 mass11.jpg (74769 bytes)
Another bridge view		 mass15.jpg (32875 bytes)
Central citadel details		 mass13.jpg (45107 bytes)
Central citadel underside details
mass14.jpg (65818 bytes)
Deck mounted quad 40mm		 mass12.jpg (44383 bytes)
40mm Bofors quad mount details		 mass17.jpg (31779 bytes)
Mk 51 director used to aim 40mm AA guns		 mass81.jpg (36148 bytes)
Quarterdeck quad 40mm Bofors mount w/Mk 51 director in tub
mass16.jpg (42607 bytes)
5"/38 caliber dual purpose gun, twin mount		 mass32.jpg (42301 bytes)
5"/38 mount.  Note shrapnel damage from Battle of Casablanca		 mass80.jpg (34433 bytes)
Rear of 5"/38 caliber twin mount		 mass34.jpg (53075 bytes)
Crane
mass35.jpg (46569 bytes)
Citadel 		mass36.jpg (39011 bytes)
Good shot of citadel details for modelers		 mass37.jpg (44111 bytes)
Looking up at citadel		 mass38.jpg (48633 bytes)
Search light, flag bells, 5" mounts
mass39.jpg (42586 bytes)
Midship details		 mass40.jpg (47695 bytes)
Crane, more midship details		 mass41.jpg (22568 bytes)
Profile view aft		 mass02.jpg (46366 bytes)
Profile view aft
mass44.jpg (37062 bytes)
Starboard side fwd		 mass45.jpg (25745 bytes)
Starboard side fwd		 mass06.jpg (36227 bytes)
Stern quarter		 mass30.jpg (37076 bytes)
Looking forward from shore
mass46.jpg (32205 bytes)
Nice view of 16" turret		 mass43.jpg (40446 bytes)
Rangefinder "ears" on main turret		 mass42.jpg (40887 bytes)
Turret from rear		 mass48.jpg (31252 bytes)
Turret details
mass49.jpg (34444 bytes)
Blast sleeves		 mass47.jpg (26550 bytes)
Turret details		 mass56.jpg (48390 bytes)
Quarterdeck winch		 mass82.jpg (40453 bytes)
Forecastle 20mm mount
mass01.jpg (56855 bytes)
Nice view of "Big Mamie"