U.S. Battleships of World War Two Calendar

During World War II, the U.S. battleship fleet played a pivotal role in securing Allied victories across the Pacific and Atlantic theatres, despite the increasing dominance of air power. One of the first major engagements for American battleships occurred during the attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941. Although several battleships, including the USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma, were sunk or heavily damaged, others, such as the USS Pennsylvania and USS Tennessee, were able to return to action after repairs. This attack galvanised the United States' resolve to expand and modernise its fleet, and the battleships would soon be central to pivotal naval engagements across the Pacific. The most significant battleship action occurred during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, where U.S. carriers, supported by battleships, decisively defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy. While aircraft played the primary role in sinking the Japanese carriers, battleships like the USS South Dakota and USS North Carolina provided essential fire support in the fight. These ships, along with others, participated in various operations throughout the war, including the naval campaigns of Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and the Philippine Sea, where the battleships contributed to suppressing enemy shore defences and providing artillery support for amphibious landings. The battleship fleet's most famous engagement came during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, the largest naval battle of World War II. The USS Missouri, among others, played a critical role in the defeat of the Japanese Navy, which had launched a desperate attempt to retake the Philippines. The Missouri famously hosted the Japanese surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945, marking the end of the war. By the time the war ended, battleships had proven crucial in both offensive and defensive operations, providing heavy firepower in support of ground forces, engaging enemy fleets, and securing dominance over key naval routes. Despite the rise of aircraft carriers as the dominant force in naval warfare, battleships like the USS Iowa and USS New Jersey remained symbols of American naval strength throughout the conflict.