USSColorado(BB-45)

For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Colorado.

USSColorado(BB-45)was a battleship of theUnited States Navythat was in service from 1923 to 1947. She was thelead shipof theColoradoclassofbattleships.Her keel was laid down on 29 May 1919, by theNew York Shipbuilding Corporation.She waslaunchedon 22 March 1921, andcommissionedon 30 August 1923. She was armed with eight 16-inch (406 mm) guns and fourteen 5-inch (127 mm) deck guns; two 5-inch guns were removed in an overhaul.

USSColoradovisiting New York City in 1932.
History
United States
Name	Colorado
Namesake	Colorado
Ordered	29 August 1916
Builder	New York Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down	29 May 1919
Launched	22 March 1921
Commissioned	30 August 1923
Decommissioned	7 January 1947
Stricken	1 March 1959
Fate	Sold for scrap, 23 July 1959
General characteristics
Class and type	Colorado-classbattleship
Displacement	32,600long tons(33,100t) (unloaded)
Length	624 ft 3 in (190.27 m)
Beam	97.5 ft (29.7 m)
Draft	30.5 ft (9.3 m)
Speed	21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Armament	8 ×16 in (406 mm)/45calMark 1 guns 14 ×5 in (127 mm)/51 caliber guns 4 ×3 in (76 mm)/23 caliber guns 2 ×21 inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes
Armor	Belt:8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) Barbettes:13 in (330 mm) Turretface: 18 in (457 mm) Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm) Turret top: 5 in (127 mm) Turret rear 9 in (229 mm) Conning tower:11.5 in (292 mm) Decks:3.5 in (89 mm)
Aircraft carried	Vought OS2U Kingfisher

Coloradotook her maiden voyage in 1923, to Europe. She later operated with theBattle Fleetand sailed through the Pacific during the interwar years. She also underwent a further refit, during which her four 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns were replaced with an equal number of5 in (127 mm)/25 cal guns.

During World War II, in May 1942, soon after USA's entry into the war,Coloradoundertook a defensive patrol near theGolden Gate Bridgeto stop a possible Japanese invasion. She then sailed toFiji,to stop any further Japanese advance into the Pacific. Next, she supported the landings onTarawa,theMarshall Islands,Saipan,Guam,andTinian.On 24 July 1944, during the shelling of Tinian,Coloradoreceived 22 shell hits from shore batteries, but continued to support the invading troops until 3 August. She later arrived inLeyte Gulfon 20 November 1944, to support American troops fighting ashore. On 27 November, she was hit by twokamikazeswhich caused moderate damage.

After that,Coloradosailed toLuzonon 1 January 1945, where she participated in the preinvasion bombardments inLingayen Gulf.She returned toOkinawaon 6 August and sailed from there toJapanfor the occupation of the country, arriving inTokyoon 27 August. Departing Tokyo Bay on 20 September, she arrived at San Francisco on 15 October. She was placed out of commission in reserve in Pearl Harbor on 7 January 1947, and sold for scrapping on 23 July 1959. She won sevenbattle starsduring her service. Many ofColorado's anti-aircraft guns are in museums across the state of Colorado (her bell and teak decking are also in museums and the USO in the Seattle-Tacoma airport) or mounted on themuseum shipOlympia.

Design

Main article:Colorado-class battleship

In 1916, design work was completed on the next class of battleships to be built for theUnited States Navybeginning in 1917. These ships were nearly direct copies of the precedingTennesseeclass,with the exception of themain battery,which increased from twelve 14-inch (356 mm) guns to eight 16 in (406 mm) guns. TheColoradoclass proved to be the last class of battleships completed of thestandard type.

Coloradowas 624 ft (190 m)long overalland she had abeamof 97 ft 6 in (29.72 m) and adraftof 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m). Shedisplaced32,693long tons(33,218t) as designed and up to 33,590 long tons (34,130 t) at full load. The ship was powered by fourGeneral Electricturbo-electricdrives with steam provided by eight oil-firedBabcock & Wilcox boilers.The ship's propulsion system was rated at 28,900shaft horsepower(21,600kW) for a top speed of 21knots(39 km/h; 24 mph), though on speed trials she reached 31,268 shp (23,317 kW) and a speed of 21.09 kn (39.06 km/h; 24.27 mph). She had a normal cruising range of 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph), but additional fuel space could be used in wartime to increase her range to 21,100 nmi (39,100 km; 24,300 mi) at that speed. Her crew numbered 64 officers and 1,241 enlisted men.

She was armed with a main battery of eight16 in /45 caliber Mark 1 gunsin four twin-gun turretson the centerline,two forward and two aft insuperfiring pairs.Thesecondary batteryconsisted of sixteen5-inch (127 mm)/51 caliber guns,mounted individually incasematesclustered in the superstructureamidships.She carried ananti-aircraftbattery of eight3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber gunsin individual high-angle mounts. As was customary forcapital shipsof the period, she had a 21 in (533 mm)torpedo tubemounted in her hull below thewaterlineon eachbroadside.Colorado's mainarmored beltwas 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) thick, while the main armored deck was up to 3.5 in (89 mm) thick. The main battery gun turrets had 18 in (457 mm) thick faces on 13 in (330 mm)barbettes.Herconning towerhad 16 in (406 mm) thick sides.

Service history

Inter-war period

Coloradosteams through rough seas, circa 1932

Herkeelwaslaid downon 29 May 1919 by theNew York Shipbuilding CorporationofCamden, New Jersey.Named forthe 38th state,she waslaunchedon 22 March 1921 andcommissionedon 30 August 1923 for her initialsea trialsand training. The ship's first commanding officer wasCaptainReginald R. Belknap.On 29 December 1923,Coloradodeparted New York, bound forPortsmouthin the United Kingdom. She thereafter sailed south to visitCherbourgand thenVillefranche-sur-Mer,France. She also stopped inNaples,Italy, and the British naval base atGibraltar.She arrived back in New York on 15 February 1924. There, the ship underwent repairs and further testing before getting underway on 11 July for theWest Coast of the United States.She reachedSan Francisco,California on 15 September, where she joined theBattle Fleet.She remained a part of this unit for the next fifteen years.

Over the course of the 1920s and 1930s,Coloradotook part in the series ofFleet Problems,which were large-scale training exercises held annually. These took place in the Pacific and theCaribbean Sea.During this period, she also took part in various ceremonies andnaval reviewswith the rest of the fleet. From 8 June to 26 September 1925, the ship participated in a voyage to visitAmerican Samoa,Australia, and New Zealand with several other battleships of the fleet.She ran aground on the Diamond Shoals offCape Hatteras,North Carolina,on 1 May 1927,but was refloated on 2 May 1927.Coloradowas overhauled in 1928–1929, during which her four 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns were replaced by eight5-inch (130 mm)/25 caliber guns.From 10 to 11 March 1933, the ship went toLong Beach,California, to assist in relief efforts following an earthquake.

In the summer of 1937Coloradowas the training ship forNROTCstudents from theUniversity of WashingtonandUniversity of California, Berkeley.She embarked the University of Washington students inPuget Soundon 15 June, and the University of California students four days later inSan Francisco Bay.The ship arrived inHilo, Hawaii,on 26 June and sailed two days later forLahaina Roads,where the students practiced firing the 5 "/51 caliber guns in whose casemates they were berthed inhammocks.LibertyinHonolulubegan on 1 July, but was interrupted the following day soColoradocould join the search forAmelia Earhart.She rendezvoused with theUnited States Coast Guard cutterItascaon 7 July; and launched seaplanes to search thePhoenix Islands.After holding aline-crossing ceremonyon 9 July, she returned the NROTC students to their schools on the west coast.

World War II

USSColoradooff Tinian, on 24 July 1944, with hull damage, the result of 22 hits from shore batteries

PennsylvanialeadingColorado,Louisville,Portland,andColumbiaintoLingayen Gulfin January 1945.

From 27 January 1941,Coloradowas based in Pearl Harbor undergoing intensive training exercises and taking part in several war games until 25 June, when she departed Hawaii for the West Coast. Undergoing overhaul at thePuget Sound Navy Yard,she was not present for the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December. During the refit, her 5in/51 battery was reduced to 8, both to create space for more anti-aircraft guns and to free up some to arm merchant ships against surface raiders.

After refitColoradocarried out extensive training maneuvers along the West Coast. On 31 May, she andMarylandpatrolled nearGolden Gate Bridgeto protect San Francisco from any Japanese attack. Some time after this she returned to Pearl Harbor to complete her final preparations for action. She operated in the vicinity of theFiji IslandsandNew Hebridesfrom 8 November 1942 to 17 September 1943 to prevent any further Japanese expansion in the Pacific. She sailed from Pearl Harbor on 21 October 1943 to provide pre-invasion shelling and fire support for the invasion ofTarawa,returning to port on 7 December 1943. After another overhaul on the West Coast,Coloradoreturned to Lahaina Roads, in theHawaiian Islands,on 21 January 1944 and sortied the next day for theMarshall Islands.She provided the pre-invasion bombardment and fire support for the invasions ofKwajaleinandEniwetokuntil 23 February, when she headed for the Puget Sound Navy Yard for another overhaul.

She joined other units going for theMariana Islandsat the harbor at San Francisco. She departed on 5 May passing Pearl Harbor and Kwajalein to the pre-invasion shelling atSaipan,Guam,andTinianafter 14 June. During the shelling of Tinian on 24 July she was damaged, 43 men were killed, and 198 wounded by 22 shell hits from 150mm Japanese shore batteries; she continued shelling the island and providing fire support for the invasion troops. After undergoing extensive repairs along the West Coast, she arrived inLeyte Gulfto begin the invasion of Leyte. A week after her arrival she was struck by twokamikazebombers, which killed 19 crewmembers, injured 72, and moderately damaged the ship. Despite the damage, she bombardedMindoroon schedule from 12 to 17 December 1944. She then proceeded toManus Islandfor urgent repairs.

She returned toLuzonon New Year's Day 1945 to participate in the pre-invasion shelling ofLingayen Gulf.She was hit by accidental gunfire eight days later. The gunfire hit her superstructure, and caused 69 casualties (18 killed, 51 wounded). After a few repairs at the island ofUlithi,she joinedTask Force 54(TF 54), the pre-invasion shelling group for theinvasion of Okinawa,atKerama Retto.She stayed at Okinawa until 22 May, providing anti-aircraft cover and fire support for the invasion troops.On 6 August, she returned to the occupiedOkinawato sail to Japan for its occupation. On 27 August, she covered the airborne occupation ofAtsugi Airfield.Coloradowas awarded seven battle stars for her World War II service.

Post war

ColoradodepartedTokyo Bayon 20 September 1945 for San Francisco. She arrived there on 15 October, and then sailed forSeattleforNavy Day(27 October). She was part of theOperation Magic Carpetforce, making three runs to Pearl Harbor to transport 6357 soldiers home, before returning toBremerton Navy Yardfor her deactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve on 7 January 1947 and was sold for scrap on 23 July 1959.

Artifacts on display

Boards from the deck of USSColoradoform a wall in the Legends Room of the Washington Athletic Club

The ship's bell and helm is currently on display in theUniversity of ColoradoNavy Reserve Officer Training Corps, Wardroom. A 5 in (130 mm)/51 cal deck gun fromColoradowas donated to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society in 1959, and is displayed at theMuseum of History and Industryin Seattle. It was one of eight such guns onColorado.

Six ofColorado's 5/51 cal guns were put aboard the protected cruiserUSSOlympia,after she became a museum in Philadelphia in 1957. Boards from her teak-wood deck were re-purposed to form a wall in the main lounge ofHaggett Hallat the University of Washington. A plaque commemorates the source.Deck boards are also used in a wall in the Legends Room of theWashington Athletic Club,having originally been preserved within the club at the behest of two former officers of the ship who were club members.

On 7 February 2014,Boeingdonated some decking fromColoradoto the USO Northwest SeaTac Center to serve as the new center's entry flooring.Her helm is in the collection of the Colorado Springs Museum. It was donated to the museum in 1961 by Rear Admiral G. R. Luker and other naval officers. Admiral Luker served onColorado.The donation also included a bronze plaque and other historical materials.

Footnotes

References

• Breyer, Siegfried (1973).Battleships and Battle Cruisers 1905–1970.New York City:Doubleday and Company.ISBN0-385-07247-3.
• "Colorado".Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.Navy Department,Naval History and Heritage Command.Retrieved15 September2011.This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
• Dye, Ira (1997). "Liberty Lost Pursuing a Legend".Naval History.11(3).United States Naval Institute:42–45.
• Friedman, Norman (1985).U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN0-87021-715-1.
• Friedman, Norman (1986). "United States of America". In Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (eds.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921.London: Conway Maritime Press. pp.105–133.ISBN978-0-85177-245-5.
• Goldstein, Donald M. & Dillon, Katherine V. (1997).Amelia: The Centennial Biography of an Aviation Pioneer.Washington, D.C.: Brassey's Publishing.ISBN1-57488-134-5.
• Martin, Robert J. (1997).USS West Virginia (BB-48).Nashville, Tennessee:Turner Publishing Company.ISBN978-1-56311-341-3.
• Schaefer, Scott (7 February 2014)."Ceremony held for transfer of the USS Colorado's teak decking".The SeaTac Blog.SeaTac, Washington: South King Media. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2014.Retrieved22 July2015.
• Sturton, Ian (2008).Conway's Battleships: The Definitive Visual Reference to the World's All-Big-Gun Ships(Revised and Expanded ed.). London: Conway Maritime Books.ISBN9781844860685.

External links

• MaritimeQuest USS Colorado BB-45 photo gallery
• Photo galleryofColoradoat NavSource Naval History
• DANFS photograph collection of USSColorado(BB-45)