USSArizona(BB-39)

The USS Arizona in 1931

The USS Arizona burning at Pearl Harbor in 1941

The USS Arizona Memorial

TheUSSArizona(BB-39)was anAmericanbattleshipfrom the Pennsylvania Class. The building of the ship was started in 1913 and it wascommissionedin 1916. It fought inWorld War I.The USSArizonais best known for its sinking during theJapaneseattack on Pearl HarboronDecember 7,1941.The attack was the event that caused theUnited Statesto join the fighting inWorld War II.The wreck is still at the floor of theharbor.It is the site of amemorialto those who died that day.

Other ships

USSArizona(BB-39) was one of threeshipsin the history of theUnited States Navyto be named USSArizona.It was the only one of the three to be named that afterArizonabecame aU.S. state.

• The firstArizonawas built in 1858. It was made ofiron.It served in theAmerican Civil War.The ship was destroyed when it caught on fire in 1865.
• The second USSArizonawas a 3850tonfrigate.It was built in 1865 and originally named the USSNeshamny.The ship was renamed twice. It used the name USSArizonafor less than three months during 1869 before becoming USSNevada.The Navy stopped using the ship in 1874.