USS South Dakota (BB-57) 206164 217747692 2008-06-07T13:56:26Z Colonies Chris 577301 sp, date & link fixes, Replaced: Noumea → Nouméa (6) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Otherships|USS South Dakota}} {|{{Infobox Ship Begin}} {{Infobox Ship Image |Ship image=[[Image:Uss south dakota bb.jpg|The USS South Dakota|300px]]| |Ship caption=The USS ''South Dakota'' anchored in [[Iceland]] }} {{Infobox Ship Career |Hide header= |Ship country=US |Ship flag={{USN flag|1912|43}} |Ship name= |Ship namesake= |Ship owner= |Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship route= |Ship ordered=[[15 December]] [[1938]] |Ship awarded= |Ship builder= |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down=[[5 July]] [[1939]] |Ship launched=[[7 June]] [[1941]] |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=[[20 March]] [[1942]] |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned=[[31 January]] [[1947]] |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport= |Ship identification= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship honors= |Ship captured= |Ship fate=sold for scrap / Part of the ship are in [[Sioux Falls]] |Ship status= |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox Ship Characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=[[South Dakota class battleship (1939)|''South Dakota''-class (1939)]] [[battleship]] |Ship type= |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement=35,000 long tons (35,600 metric tons) |Ship tons burthen= |Ship length={{convert|680|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|108.2|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft={{convert|36.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion= |Ship sail plan= |Ship speed=27.8&nbsp;knots (50.2&nbsp;km/h) |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=2,364 officers and men |Ship crew= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=9 × 16&nbsp;in (406&nbsp;mm) guns, 16 × 5&nbsp;in (127&nbsp;mm) guns, 68 × 40&nbsp;mm guns, 76 × 20&nbsp;mm guns |Ship armour= |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |} '''USS ''South Dakota'' (BB-57)''' was a [[battleship]] in the [[United States Navy]] from 1942 until 1947. The [[lead ship]] of [[South Dakota class battleship (1939)|her class]], ''South Dakota'' was the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of [[South Dakota|the 40th state]]. ==Birth of the Ship== Her keel was laid down on [[5 July]] [[1939]] at [[Camden, New Jersey]], by the [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on [[7 June]] [[1941]] sponsored by Mrs. Harlan J. Bushfield, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on [[20 March]] [[1942]] with Captain [[Thomas Leigh Gatch|Thomas L. Gatch]] in command. After fitting out at [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], ''South Dakota'' held shakedown training from [[3 June]] to [[26 July]]. She stood out of [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]] on [[16 August]] and headed for [[Panama]]. ''South Dakota'' served two tours in the Pacific Theater, with one tour with the British Home Fleet in between. ==First Tour in the Pacific== The battleship transited the [[Panama Canal]] on [[21 August]] and set course for the [[Tonga Islands]], arriving at [[Nukuʻalofa|Nuku{{Okina}}alofa]], [[Tonga]], on [[4 September]]. Two days later, she struck an uncharted coral pinnacle in [[Lahai Passage]] and suffered extensive damage to her hull. On [[12 September]], the ship sailed for the [[Pearl Harbor Navy Yard]] and repairs. ''South Dakota'' was ready for sea again on [[12 October]] and began training with Task Force (TF) 16 which was built around [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|3}}. The task force sortied from [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[16 October]] to join TF&nbsp;17, which was centered on carrier {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|3}}, northeast of [[Espiritu Santo]]. The rendezvous was made on [[24 October]]; and the combined force, now operating as TF&nbsp;61 under Rear Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, was ordered to make a sweep of the [[Santa Cruz Islands]] and then move southwest to block any Japanese forces approaching [[Guadalcanal]]. [[PBY]] "Catalina" patrol bombers sighted a Japanese carrier force at noon on [[25 October]], and TF&nbsp;61 steamed northwest to intercept it. Early the next morning, when all carrier forces were within striking range, a Japanese snooper spotted the American force, triggering the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands|Battle of Santa Cruz]]. ''South Dakota'' and the ''Enterprise'' group were approximately 10&nbsp;miles (20&nbsp;km) from the ''Hornet'' group when the air battle began. [[Image:USS South Dakota and jap torpedo plane-Bat Santa Cruz.jpg|thumb|''South Dakota'' defending against Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Santa Cruz.]] The first enemy attack was concentrated against ''Hornet''. At 10:45, ''South Dakota'' was operating near ''Enterprise'' to provide protective fire from her numerous antiaircraft guns when their group was attacked by dive bombers. Approximately an hour later, about 40 torpedo planes struck at the two ships. A third aerial assault, made by dive bombers and torpedo planes; came in at 12:30. ''South Dakota'' sustained a 500&nbsp;pound (250&nbsp;kg) bomb hit on top of her number one turret. When the action was broken off that evening, the American forces retired toward [[Nouméa]], [[New Caledonia]], with the battleship credited with downing 26 enemy planes. At 04:14 on [[30 October]], while avoiding a [[submarine]] contact, ''South Dakota'' and {{USS|Mahan|DD-364|3}} collided, causing damage to both ships. ''Mahan's'' bow was turned to port and crumpled to frame 14, and a fire, soon brought under control, started in her forward hold. Both ships continued to Nouméa where {{USS|Vestal|AR-4|3}} repaired ''South Dakota'''s collision and battle damage. On [[11 November]], ''South Dakota'', as part of TF&nbsp;16, sortied from Nouméa for Guadalcanal. On [[13 November]], she joined battleship {{USS|Washington|BB-56|3}} and [[destroyer]]s {{USS|Preston|DD-379|3}}, {{USS|Walke|DD-418|3}}, {{USS|Benham|DD-397|3}}, and {{USS|Gwin|DD-433|3}} to form TF&nbsp;64 under command of Rear Admiral [[Willis A. Lee|W. A. Lee]]. The next evening at 23:30, the force was operating 50&nbsp;miles (90&nbsp;km) southwest of Guadalcanal when Lee learned that an enemy convoy was coming through the passage off [[Savo]] sometime between 00:30 and 02:30. This was Admiral [[Nobutake Kondo]]'s bombardment group consisting of the battleship {{warship|Japanese battleship|Kirishima}}, the heavy [[cruiser]]s {{warship|Japanese cruiser|Takao}} and {{warship|Japanese cruiser|Atago}}, and a destroyer screen. Admiral Kondo's forces were divided into three sections: the bombardment group; a close screen of the cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Nagara|''Nagara'']] and six destroyers; and a distant screen of the cruiser {{warship|Japanese cruiser|Sendai}} and three destroyers in the van of the other forces. A quarter moon assured good visibility. Three ships were visually sighted from the bridge of ''South Dakota'' at a range 18,100&nbsp;yards (16.6&nbsp;km). ''Washington'' fired on the leading ship, thought to be a battleship or heavy cruiser; and, a minute later, ''South Dakota'''s main battery opened on the ship nearest to her. Both initial salvos started fires on the targets. ''South Dakota'' then fired on another target and continued firing until it disappeared from her [[radar]] screen. Turret No. 3, firing over her stern and demolishing her own planes in the process, opened on another target and continued firing until the target was thought to sink. Her secondary batteries were firing at eight destroyers close to the shore of [[Savo Island]]. A short lull followed after which radar plot showed four enemy ships, just clear of the left tangent of Savo, approaching from the starboard bow; range 5,800&nbsp;yards (5.3&nbsp;km). Searchlights from the second ship in the enemy column illuminated ''South Dakota''. ''Washington'' opened with her main battery on the leading, and largest, Japanese ship. ''South Dakota'''s secondary batteries put out the lights; and she shifted all batteries to bear on the third ship, believed to be a cruiser, which soon gushed smoke. ''South Dakota'', which had been under fire from at least three of the ships, had taken 42 hits which caused considerable damage.<ref name="Tread">{{cite book|last=Crocker III|first=H. W.|title=Don't Tread on Me|publisher=Crown Forum|date=2006|location=New York|pages=301|isbn=9781400053636}}</ref> Her radio communications failed; radar plot was demolished; three fire control radars were damaged; there was a fire in her foremast; and she had lost track of ''Washington''. As she was no longer receiving enemy fire and there were no remaining targets, she withdrew; met ''Washington'' at a prearranged rendezvous; and proceeded to Nouméa. Of the American destroyers, only ''Gwin'' returned to port. The other three had been severely damaged early in the engagement. ''Walke'' and ''Preston'' were sunk. ''Benham'' had part of her bow blown off by a torpedo and, while en route to Nouméa with the damaged ''Gwin'' as her escort, had to be abandoned. ''Gwin'' then sank her by gunfire. On the Japanese side, hits had been scored on ''Takao'' and ''Atago''; ''Kirishima'' and the destroyer [[Japanese destroyer Ayanami (1929)|''Ayanami'']], were both severely damaged by gunfire, and were abandoned and scuttled. [[Image:USS South Dakota.jpg|thumb|left|300px|''South Dakota'' off Norkolk Navy Yard in 1943]] {{USS|Prometheus|AR-3|3}} repaired some of the damage inflicted on ''South Dakota'' at Nouméa, enabling the battleship to sail on [[25 November]] for [[Tongatapu]] and thence for home. ''South Dakota'' arrived at [[New York City]] on [[18 December]] [[1942]] for an overhaul and the completion of repairs to her battle damage. She was back at sea on [[25 February]] [[1943]] and, following sea trials, operated with {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|3}} in the North Atlantic until mid-April. ==Tour in Europe== The battleship next operated with the [[British Home Fleet]], based at [[Scapa Flow]], until [[1 August]] when she returned to [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. ==Second Tour in the Pacific== On [[21 August]] [[1943]], ''South Dakota'' stood out of Norfolk en route to [[Efate Island]], arriving at [[Havannah Harbor]] on [[14 September]]. She moved to [[Fiji]] on [[7 November]] and sortied from there four days later with Battleship Divisions (BatDiv) 8 and 9 in support of Task Group (TG) 50.1, the Carrier Interceptor Group. for [[Operation Galvanic]], the [[Gilbert Islands]] assault. The carriers launched attacks against [[Jaluit]] and [[Mili]] atolls, [[Marshall Islands]], on [[19 November]], to neutralize enemy airfields there. The force then provided air support for the amphibious landings on [[Makin (islands)|Makin]] and [[Tarawa Atoll|Tarawa]], Gilbert Islands. ''South Dakota'', with five other battleships, formed another task group on [[8 December]] to bombard [[Nauru Island]]. A joint aerial attack and shore bombardment severely damaged enemy shore installations and airfields there. ''South Dakota'' retired to Efate on [[12 December]] [[1943]] for upkeep and rearming. Her next action occurred on [[29 January]] [[1944]] when the carriers launched attacks against [[Roi-Namur|Roi and Namur]], Marshall Islands. The next day, the battleship moved in to shell enemy positions on Roi and Namur and then rejoined the carriers as they provided air support for the amphibious landings on [[Kwajalein]], [[Majuro]], Roi, and Namur. ''South Dakota'' departed the Marshall Islands on [[12 February]] with the [[Truk]] striking force which launched attacks against that Japanese stronghold on [[17 February]] and [[18 February]]. Six days later, she was in the screen for the carriers which launched the first air attacks against the [[Mariana Islands]]. The force was under constant enemy air attack, and ''South Dakota'' splashed four Japanese planes. She returned to Majuro from [[26 February]] until [[22 March]] when she sailed with the fast carrier forces of the Fifth Fleet. Air strikes were delivered from [[30 March]] until [[1 April]] against [[Palau]], [[Yap]], [[Woleai]], and [[Ulithi]] in the Western [[Caroline Islands]]. ''South Dakota'' returned to Majuro on [[6 April]] and sailed the following week, again accompanying the fast carriers. On [[21 April]], strikes were launched against [[Hollandia, New Guinea]], and the following day against [[Aitape Bay]], [[Tanahmerah Bay]], and [[Teluk Yos Sudarso|Humboldt Bay]] to support the Army landings. On [[29 April]] and [[30 April]], the carriers, with ''South Dakota'' still in the screen, returned to Truk and bombed that base. The next day, the battleship was part of a surface bombardment group that shelled [[Ponape Island]] in the Carolines. She returned to Majuro for upkeep from [[4 May]] to [[5 June]] when she got underway with TF&nbsp;58 to participate in [[Operation Forager]], the landings on [[Saipan]] and [[Tinian]]. The carriers began launching attacks on [[11 June]] against enemy installations throughout the islands. On [[13 June]], ''South Dakota'' and six other battleships were detached from the fast carrier groups to bombard Saipan and Tinian, ''South Dakota'' shelled the northwest coast of Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, for over six hours with both her primary and secondary batteries. On the evening of [[15 June]], eight to 12 enemy fighters and bombers broke through the combat air patrol and attacked the task group. ''South Dakota'' fired at four bringing down one; the remaining 11 were shot down by fire from other ships. On [[19 June]], the battleship was again operating with the fast carriers. It was known that a major Japanese force was approaching from the west, and the American capital ships were placed so that they could continue to support the ground forces on Saipan and also intercept this enemy force. At 10:12, a large group of bogies was reported coming in from the west. At 10:49, a [[Yokosuka D4Y|D4Y "Judy"]] dropped a 500&nbsp;pound (250&nbsp;kg) bomb on ''South Dakota'''s main deck where it blew a large hole, cut wiring and piping, but inflicted no other serious material damage. However, personnel losses were heavy: 24 killed and 27 wounded. The ship continued to fight throughout the day as air attacks were continuous. This was the first day of the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]] and was called the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" as the Japanese lost over 300 aircraft. The air battle continued throughout [[20 June]]. When it ended, the badly mauled Japanese fleet no longer posed a threat to the American conquest of the Marianas. The task group returned to Ulithi on [[27 June]], and ''South Dakota'' sailed via Pearl Harbor to the west coast, arriving at [[Puget Sound]] on [[10 July]]. The battleship was overhauled at the navy yard there; and, after sea trials, sailed on [[26 August]] for Pearl Harbor. ''South Dakota'' was routed to Ulithi and, upon her arrival, was attached to TG&nbsp;38.3; one of four task groups of formed Task Force 38, the Fast Carrier Task Force. The task force sortied on [[6 October]] and, four days later, launched air attacks against [[Okinawa]]. On [[12 October]] and [[13 October]], attacks were flown against shipping and installations in [[Taiwan|Formosa]]. Three of the groups, including ''South Dakota'''s, retired and operated east of the [[Philippine Islands]] until [[24 December]]. During the operation, carriers of the group flew strikes against targets on [[Manila]] and [[Luzon]] to support the landings on [[Mindoro]]. From [[30 December]] [[1944]] through [[26 January]] [[1945]], the fast carriers alternated strikes between Formosa on [[January 3]], [[January 4]], [[January 9]], [[January 15]], and [[21 January]] January; Luzon on [[6 January]] and [[7 January]]; [[Cape San Jacques]] and [[Camranh Bay]] on [[12 January]]; [[Hong Kong]] and [[Hainan]] on [[16 January]]; and against Okinawa on [[22 January]]. ''South Dakota'' operated with the fast carriers in their strikes against the [[Tokyo]] area on [[17 February]] [[1945]] and against [[Iwo Jima]] on [[19 February]] and [[20 February]] in support of amphibious landings there. Tokyo again was the target on [[25 February]], and Okinawa's turn came on [[1 March]]. After rearming at Ulithi, the task groups sailed toward [[Japan]] again and pounded targets in the [[Kobe]], [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], and [[Kyūshū]] areas on [[18 March]] and [[19 March]]. They launched strikes against Okinawa on [[23 March]]; and, on [[24 March]], the battleship joined a bombardment group which shelled southeastern Okinawa. She rejoined her task group which, after bombing Okinawa, struck enemy airfields in southern Kyūshū on [[29 March]] and then, from [[31 March]] through [[3 April]], again pounded targets on Okinawa. On [[7 April]], all fast carriers launched attacks against an enemy fleet off southwest Kyūshū, sinking Japan's fast super battleship [[Japanese battleship Yamato|''Yamato'']], two cruisers, and four destroyers. ''South Dakota'' once more participated in shore bombardment on southeastern Okinawa on [[19 April]] in support of an all-out offensive by the XXIV Army Corps against enemy lines. While rearming from {{USS|Wrangell|AE-12|3}} on [[6 May]] [[1945]], a tank of high capacity powder for the 16&nbsp;inch (406&nbsp;mm) guns exploded, causing a fire and exploding four more tanks. Turret No. 2 magazines were flooded and the fires put out. The ship lost three men killed instantly; eight more died of injuries; and 24 others suffered non-fatal wounds. The ship retired to [[Guam]] from [[11 May]] to [[29 May]] when she sailed for [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]], arriving on [[1 June]]. [[Image:USS-SOUTH-DAKOTA-2.jpg|thumb|300px|left|[[July 1]], [[1944]], Chaplain Lindner reads the benediction held in honor of fellow shipmates killed in the air action off Guam]]''South Dakota'' departed Leyte on [[1 July]], supporting the carriers of TG&nbsp;38.1 which attacked the Tokyo area on [[10 July]]. On [[14 July]], as part of a bombardment group, she participated in the shelling of the [[Kamaishi Steel Works]], [[Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi]], [[Honshū]], Japan. This was the first gunfire attack on the Japanese home islands by heavy warships. From [[15 March]] through [[28 March]], ''South Dakota'' again supported the carriers as they launched strikes against Honshū and [[Hokkaidō]]. On the night of [[29 July]] and [[30 July]], she participated in the shore bombardment of [[Hamamatsu]], Honshū, and, on [[9 August]], again shelled Kamaishi. The battleship supported the carriers in strikes against northern Honshu on [[10 August]], and in the Tokyo area on [[13 August]] and [[15 August]]. The latter was the last strike of the war for, later that day, Japan capitulated. She anchored in [[Sagami Wan]], Honshu, on [[27 August]] [[1945]] and entered Tokyo Bay on [[29 August]]. ''South Dakota'' steamed out of Tokyo Bay on [[20 September]] and proceeded, via Okinawa and Pearl Harbor, to the west coast of the United States. On [[29 October]], she moved down the coast from [[San Francisco, California]], to [[San Pedro, California]]. == Summary == ''South Dakota'' received 13 [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] service. == Post-World War II == ''South Dakota'' sailed from the west coast on [[8 January]] [[1946]] for Philadelphia and a yard overhaul. In June, she was attached to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On [[31 January]] [[1947]], she was placed in reserve, out of commission. The battleship remained in that status until she was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Registry]] on [[1 June]] [[1962]]. On [[25 October]] [[1962]], she was sold to Lipsett Division, Luria Brothers and Company, Incorporated, for scrap at a cost of $446,000<ref>http://www.ussnewjersey.org/thejerseyman/2007-4q.pdf Helvig, Tom (Ed.). (2007, 4th Quarter). USS ''South Dakota'' (BB-57) Memorial, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. ''The Jerseyman'', ''56'', 7. </ref>. Part of the sale agreement required Luria Brothers and Company to return approximately two million dollars of equipment from the USS ''South Dakota'' back to the government, including 6,000 tons of [[armor plate]] for the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission]]<ref>http://www.ussnewjersey.org/thejerseyman/2007-4q.pdf Helvig, Tom (Ed.). (2007, 4th Quarter). USS ''South Dakota'' (BB-57) Memorial, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. ''The Jerseyman'', ''56'', 7. </ref>. She is memorialized at [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], where memorabilia and parts of the ship are displayed within an outline of the main deck. {{Commonscat|USS South Dakota (BB-57)}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/uss_south_dakota_bb57.htm Maritimequest USS South Dakota BB-57 Photo Gallery] *[http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/cgi-bin/WarGallery.cgi?page=1&category=57&cols=3&PgConst=9 U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), GUNFIRE DAMAGE - Battle of Guadalcanal, November 14–15, 1942] *[http://members.aol.com/ussdakota/ussdakota.htm USS South Dakota Home Page] {{South_Dakota_class_battleship}} {{DEFAULTSORT:South Dakota (BB-57)}} [[Category:South Dakota class battleships (1939)]] [[Category:Battleships of the United States]] [[Category:World War II battleships of the United States]] [[Category:Ships at the Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] [[Category:United States Navy South Dakota-related ships]] [[fr:USS South Dakota (1941)]] [[ms:USS South Dakota (BB-57)]] [[ja:サウスダコタ (戦艦)]] [[pl:USS South Dakota (BB-57)]]