Battleship USS Tennessee and World War 2 

There was a gentleman who volunteered at the blood drives when I donated who wore a Pearl Harbor Survivor cap. I chatted with him while drinking juice and learned he'd been on Tennessee. When she went in for the major refit he became a submariner for the rest of the war. He passed away a few years ago at around 105.

My grandfather, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Will Colbert was serving as a mess steward aboard U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB 43) on December 7, 1941. He told my mother that when he rushed to a 5 inch 51 caliber gun mount to help pass ammo, he saw his best friend get killed by machine gun fire fro a Japanese Zero. Thanks for uploading the video.

Never clicked so fast on one of your videos. My Grand Uncle James Lewis Robie was on the USS Tennessee. He was not on it during the attack on Pearl Harbor as he just enlisted a few days before. I have all of his momentos including a post card of the USS Tennessee he sent to his mother. From the note on the postcard you can tell how proud he was of his ship. He was killed along with 7 others on June 15, 1944 in the Battle of Saipan and buried at sea. I have the sad telegram telling my great grandma of her sons death. I wish I could have met him. Thank you for covering the remarkable battleship that my Grand Uncle was so proud of.

A friend's ancient grandfather, Artie, after living in the States for decades, still referred to us in conversation as "the colonies". He was serving on a collier ferrying coal to a U.S. capital ship on the day that somebody decided that the U.S. Fleet was larger than the British Fleet. The American O.O.D. yelled down to Artie through a megaphone (not a bullhorn, a megaphone) "How's life in the world's second largest navy?" Artie yelled back, "Just fine, Leftenent. How's life in the world's second best?" What a wag 'ol Artie was. Two world wars. Enthralling as a kid to sit at his knee & hear stories of ordinary men doing extraordinary things.

Thank you for mentioning the USS Tennessee Museum in Huntsville in Scott County, Tennessee. It sits on the campus of Scott High School, where I had my first teaching job. I was able to tour it a few times, and I'm proud of the ship that carried the name of my home state.

I very much appreciate this one. My father was a 5" gun crewman on the Tennessee. He liked to retell the story of how he cam to serve on her. Dad grew up in northeast TN but the nearest recruiting station was in Virginia. He was told by the recruiter that if he signed on for the Navy there he would serve in the Atlantic. The thought of being attacked by Uboats caused Dad to ask the recruiter where he could enlist to ensure he wouldn't have to face that threat. So he took a bus to Nashville where he enlisted and after basic was assigned to the Tennessee on which he served throughout all the ship's campaigns in the Pacific and earned a Purple Heart at Surigao Strait. But he missed the Uboats.

Born and raised in Chattanooga, I'm very proud of my Volunteer state heritage. The Tennessee did her state proud in her long service. Wish she could have been saved.

History ... "Freedom is realized when Facts are Known." Appreciate the History Guy. Beth Tennessee, USA Degrees: Sociology, Journalism, and *History!*

The post Pearl refit of Tennessee, California and the WeeVee were some of the most visually impressive and distinctive warships ever put to sea.

I'm a Georgia fan but I can't help but say "Go Vols!" after this video. Thanks for great video.

My Grandfather served on The Big Ten from 42 to 45 as a Gunner’s Mate. He was so proud since he was from Tennessee. I have the dice he used to gamble on the ship. Greatest Man I’ve ever known.

The Tennessee with a clipper bow and shapely hull weight 32,000 tons, could do 22 knots with only 23,000 shaft horse power. She had electric drive propulsion. In this type of marine propulsion, two turbines were directly connected to two 4,242-volt, two-phase generators, which in turn fed four 5,200-kilowatt, slow-turning motors directly coupled to the propeller shafts in place of gearing. With electric drive, warships could dispense with the separate reverse turbine, would enjoy greater watertight subdivision (the turbogenerator did not have to be directly connected to the drive shafts).

The entire ship's complement came from Tennessee. Nifty!

The West Virginia was sunk at Pearl Harbor _and_ was in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered four years later. What an amazing journey…

Thank you so much, HG, for recognizing our beloved USS Tennessee! No sirree bobolinko, would I ever trade my BB43 cap from Pearl Harbor, but if I ever get another one, you'll get it! USS Tennessee history deserves to be remembered!

12:34 Small little nitpick for accuracy. The Japanese battleships at the Battle of Surigao Strait were both Fuso-class: the Fuso and Yamashiro which were both destroyed. The Mogami was a Mogami-class converted heavy cruiser which escaped the battle with heavy damage. Great video. Always good to hear about naval history from different people and other Standard-class battleships, since my home state of Arizona did not get a chance.

My brother served on USS Missouri during the first Gulf War and USS Midway CV 41 in the late 80s. I held my first re-enlistment on USS Arizona Memorial in 1986

What a Great Episode, as always on a Very Great Warship. The USS Tennessee was a totally Awesome Navel Vessel, with a Glorious Record too Boot 👢👢. Although She was Eventually Scraped Out like so Many Other's we're. She did leave a Lasting & Glorious Legacy behind. May She & Her Crew's RIP Eternally.

Im a Retired Marine from East Tennessee. Never knew that the Tennessee had done all that. NEver knew in all my travels through Scott county that they had the Bell from the ship. Semper FI !

I served in the USN from 1990-96 aboard a Spruance Class Destroyer, USS John Rodgers (DD-983) and feel a real kinship with all those sailors who served before and after me. It makes me proud to learn about the bravery, service and sacrifice of these sailors from WWII.

It was absolutely crucial that the Tennessee survived pearl harbor. The loss of her naval gunfire support. Would have certainly resulted in more casualties onshore. You simply can't replace a floating, armoured, mobile, 14in gun platform.

Thank you for this episode. My dad served in USS Tennessee, joining the ship at Bremerton during the modernization. He was a radioman and sailed in her until after the Kamikaze attack at Okinawa. He was there for all her battles except Pearl Harbor. He never spoke of his experiences until shortly before his passing in 2001. He approached me to ask if I’d write down his memories so they could be included in the archives of the World War Two museum at New Orleans. I never knew till then what it was like to be a battleship sailor in wartime. He said when he first saw her, she was the biggest thing he’d ever seen. A wall of steel that went on and on and on. He spoke of Kiska and Attu, Tarawa, and Saipan. He described how shore bombardment worked with spotter planes relaying target information and how at one point five battleships fired at a single Japanese soldier who was unfortunate enough to be seen by the spotter plane. He told me of watching the Marines’ landing craft get hung up crossing the reef and many Marines drowning during that long walk to the beach. He told me all he could remember, sometimes with tears in his eyes. Sometimes with a smile remembering old shipmates. Anyway, thank you for remembering the USS Tennessee. My dads old ship was worth remembering.

As a Tennessee native and naval history buff, I wish she could have made it up the Mississippi.

My great uncle from east Tennessee was a enlisted seamen on board.

My grandfather was a machinist on the Tennessee! Great video

My father served on the USS TENNESSEE during WWII. He passed away 4 years ago. Still very proud of my father.

Semi-related: there's a book by Edward Raymer called "Descent into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941―A Navy Diver’s Memoir" that tells the truly harrowing work done by the salvage divers to raise and repair the ships in the days/weeks/months after the attack. Of course everyone's fav naval histriographer, Drachinfel, has a great 3-part series on it.

My Uncle Jack Bohnstedt was a Merchant Marine welder about the Vestal repair ship that day. The next morning everyone on the Vestal joined the Navy and he spent the remainder of the war repairing Navy ships in the South Pacific. He spent two weeks cutting men out of ships. He only talked of it once, he described to my Dad in 1947 how they could hear men hitting the bulkheads with wrenches and how the tapping would get weaker and weaker and he knew that he would not be successful at pulling out live men this time. He told the tale with tears in his eyes and I tell the tale now with tears in my own eyes. Let us as a People be worthy of such men as these. God Bless America!

My favorite WWII warship, bar none. Thanks for the vid.

Thanks from a Tennessean. My dad served from ‘43-45, on the Langley, a new carrier. He was proud of both ships.

The sheer scale of the salvage efforts at Pearl are spectacular to read about. Looking at the damaged/sunk listing you have to wonder if any other navy in the world could have made the comeback ours managed. Out of all the damage and carnage among the big ships, only Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma could not be brought back to service. The rest were raised, repaired, and sent out to avenge their sisters' and their own savage beatings. A testament to men and machine, and to the industrial might of their country.

A dear neighbor of mine was from Tennessee and was a Gunners Mate on the Battleship Tennessee. He was one of the three people visible in the "fighting tops" in the iconic photo of the Tennessee and Maryland during the attack. He would have been in a card game on the Arizona had he not paused to write a letter home. He said that they had to dynamite the mooring piers to have enough room to get away from the Maryland. Being a retired Chief Gunners Mate, his is the first name in my charge book when I made Chief. I also had the honor of presenting his widow with the flag at his funeral.

Her memory, and success stand as testament to the brave men who faced the world at war aboard her. Freedom rings for their effort, and sacrifice!

14:21 A battleship sailing up the Mississippi River would have been quite a sight. Thank you, History Guy; your RU-vid contributions are always fascinating.

Proud to be a Tennessean-! Thanks for this History Guy!

What a wonderful history of one of the most important ship's of World War II. Thank you very much!!!

I live in Ridgecrest Ca. I had the honor to meet a Veteran of WWII who served on the Tennessee in a 5 inch gun mount at the Battle Leyte Gulf.

My Uncle Jack served on the Tennessee from 1943 until the end of the war. He was in one of the 5" turrets. He kept a diary while onboard which no one knew about until he died. His comment about the kamakaze was, "Yesteday I was never so scared in my life". He was fairly close to where it hit. There is a short RU-vid video that was taken by a Navy photographer that shows the hit. Wish I had asked him questions while he was around but he never talked about the war in front of us kids.

Tennessee forever! If you couldn't tell, this PROUD adopted son of the Volunteer State is stoked to hear of a battleship bearing the name of Home, and of said battleship's history. THANK YOU

My Dad served abord the USS California. He was a switchboard operator R Division damage control. He survived the attack and stayed with the ship throughout the rebuild. He was sent to shorthand school just prior to the Okinawa Invasion. He retired in 1960.

My grandfather served on Tennessee from September 41 through the end of the war. I have a picture from the ship's yearbook showing him carrying litters across the deck in the aftermath of the attacks on December 7th. R.I.P. S1C Tommy Thompson, and R.I.P. USS Tennessee.

Drachinafel did a very in-depth deep dive of the salvage efforts after the Pearl Harbor attack. As well as has a video about the Tennessee class. Also, Brother Muruo is doing a ship v ship battleship league. The Tennessee class is in the currently going 3rd Division with the Nelson, Queen Elizabeth, Ise, Nagato, and Strasbourg (the Division 4 winner). She is currently towards the top of the leader board after quickly dispatching both Strasbourg and Ise in 1v1 match ups.

I met a WW2 Navy Veteran and Sams Club last week. He also served in Korea. As a navy veteran myself, I was honored to meet him. I served back when there were a few WW2 veterans still on active duty. I met a warrant who has been at Pearl Harbor. The heroes of the War are getting few. We are diminished as a nation with their passing.

Thank you very much for this video about the USS Tennessee. My father in law (RIP) told me he left on board the USS Tennessee from San Francisco and engaged in sea battles in the Pacific campaign. He was the sole native (Navajo) on this crew and he and a Latino friend were only minority people on the ship and thinks there was another native but never got to get acquainted and never saw him again after Saipan. His Latino friend was almost shot when mistaken for a Japanese at one of their R & R when going back aboard the ship. He thinks his friend's name was Lopez and he was from Texas. I only got to hear his story when he was near death. He always wore a baseball cap with USS Tennessee embroidered on the cap and I asked him about his cap and that's when he opened up about his Pacific adventures. I wish I'd asked him earlier and learned later he never talked about his military life other than he served in the US Navy. He may have confused Philadelphia with New York City where he disembarked and hitch hiked all the way back to New Mexico.

A now deceased friend Al Nordhues served on the Surigao Straits Tennessee during WWII. He was a part of the battle with the Surigao Straits in which the small fleet ambushed the Japanese Navy fleet of Battleships and Heavy Cruisers. Al treasured his time on board the Tennesse. He was on board when it was modernized in 1941.

THANK YOU for this story...I grow up seeing the bell at our courthouse but never knew of her history. Makes me proud to be from this small county that now that we care for this GREAT part of history.

You've done the Tennessee, the Nevada and the Pennsylvania, I think the old WeeVee deserves its own episode

My dad always said he got his good luck all at 1 time. He was assigned to the USS ARIZONA in WW2. He arrived in Hawaii on or about December 14th 1941 and was supposed to report to his ship on Monday morning December 18th 1941. He was there and he lost part of a finger. But, that was all, and spent his entire tour working at cleaning the harbor. He never saw any sea duty at all.

My dad served onboard the USS California from it's rebuild until the end of the war. I'd like to point out that the Tennessee and the California collided on on 23 August 1944. Tennessee suffered a steering malfunction that caused her to turn out of line and collide with California, tearing a hole in the latter's bow. Seven crewmen aboard California were killed. There was a lot of rivalry between the crews of the two battleships. My father spoke of many fights that broke out when the two crews found themselves ashore at the same time.

I have always loved listening to the stories of my Navy. Thank you THG, much appreciated. Keep 'em coming! BM2 USN 1977-84

My uncle was a navy diver who helped re-float the ships that could be salvaged. Nasty work.

Captain Mervyn Bennion was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, while in command of the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48). He was mortally wounded by a shrapnel shard from the nearby USS Tennessee after she was hit by a bomb.

Just a small piece of historical trivia. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the commander of the Pacific fleet was designated as "Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet", which was abbreviated as "CinCUS". (Pronounce that phonetically to understand.) Shortly after the attack, the designation was changed to "Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet" (CinCPac), which is still used today. Gee, I wonder why they made the change? Another small piece of history that should be remembered.

What a shame that the most decorated battleship in US HISTORY was scraped

This is the first I'm learning about this!!! Awesome stuff!!! My hat's off to the brave sailors and, marines of the Big Ten!!! Y'all definitely rock and, kick major @$$!!!!

Thank you THG. I get emotional when I hear these stories… the incredible bravery and execution under the worst conditions. We owe those men (ship yard workers, sailors, support personnel) everything.

Your presentations are absolutely the finest, most accurate, and best researched of any that I view( and I watch A Lot of historic videos). I learn something new and thought provoking every time I watch your work, which is not a statement I could make about any other presenter. Thank you for your exceptional efforts; please keep up the good work!

5:10 I love the contrast of colours!

The Tennessee is one of my favorite warships. As built she was both sleek and powerful with those massive Cage Masts. after her upgrade she wasn't quite as sleek but was all the more powerful looking with the massive number of guns covering her decks. Definitely a major warship in either configuration. Her speed is often maligned but, as shown, racing around was not what she was made for, she was made to go wherever she wanted and dare anyone to oppose her being there, and that's what she did, plenty fast enough to keep up with the amphibious forces, which was what was important. She was a great ship.

It's a shame we couldn't get anymore use out of Tennessee. She was modernize and came out of WWII as a brand new ship.

My next door neighbor was a gun captain on the Tennessee during WWII. He never talked about it much to us kids, so I'm glad for you presenting this video about her. Thank you.

My great grandfather, Rear Admiral Harley F Cope, captained the USS Tennessee (BB43) from September '45 to December 46.

For exclusive content and behind-the-scenes fun, join our community of fans and supporters at thehistoryguyguild.locals.com! A viewer mentioned that Mogami was a heavy cruiser, not a battleship. I apologize for the error. A few viewers have taken issue with Sgt. Major Emmons’ claim that a bomb had gone down the funnel of USS Arizona. That is a direct quotation from a witnesses to the battle, and represents his perception at the time.

Again, thank you Lance! You should have your own history Channel show by now!

Sweet Yessus... great intro and content. The Strategic, doctrine and logistical concepts are illustrative of the US adaptability of hulls and technology that isn't appreciated... adapt, improvise and overcome.

I am a navy ship enthusiast, although I served in the Army. I'm delighted to find a fellow Navy ship maven.

As a Tennessean you should know we are sick and tired of all the nice things we hear about ourselves and our state (we are very humble people). Now we have to hear about what great sailors we can be even though we are landlocked from the ocean. We have enough people moving here and now there will just be more. It all started with that Alamo thing in Texas and we just volunteer here, there and everywhere. I was strangely proud every time you said Big Ten. I bet they played the Chattanooga Cho Cho over the loud speakers of the ship (if it was written at that time). Love you channel. Much love from Tennessee!

Ive wrote this once before. The largest non nuclear explosion that took place in western Canada in the early 1950's to get rid of a rock that sank many ships, It's one heck of a story you'd find it fascinating. I remember it as I was about 10yrs old at the time

At PH, BB-43 had 5"/51 rapid fire anti-ship guns in casemates, and 5"/25 AA guns, common for the era. These were replaced in the 1942-1943 rebuild with two-gun turret mounted 5"/38 dual purpose guns (much like classmate USS California). The 5"/38s, plus the radar controlled directors plus proximity fused shells made this the best AA suite in the war, while still usable for fighting smaller craft or bombarding shore targets not requiring 14" shells.

The history of 'Silly String' deserves to be remembered.

My Dad and his twin brother were on the Tennessee joining in Bremerton, Washington. His mother had to sign to allow them to serve. They served through all the campaigns before being discharged in Philadelphia. He was on the 5 inch guns while his brother was on the forward 14 inch gun. I have the Tennessee's annual and have looked at the battle campaigns since I was a child. My father is still alive at 99 ,but sadly his twin passed away two years ago. They used to go to the reunions, but got to old to travel. It would be interesting to see if anyone who served on the ship is still alive. His older brother served on the Alabama.

I always enjoy stores about my favorite USN ships: Battleships.

At the end of the video the drydock showing Tennessee in Phillie also contained the California. The two sisters were scrapped side by side with California going first.Dad went back to California after losing the Yorktown at Midway and rode it fo the rest of the war then went to the brand new Midway.

Didn't know the Tennessee got hit by two defective bombs like the one that sunk the Arizona. Too bad the ship was not saved as a museum. Thanks for a wonderful history lesson.

What an absolute beast of a ship she was.

BB 43 was to be the California, but there was objection of a the California being built on the east coast. Hence, Tennessee BB-43 was laid down and finished for sea trials first and cited as The Tennessee Class. Her all "Volunteer" crew was by Volunteer request as the Lady's first compliant and crew. As the first Super-dreadnought, she had a few issues with her propulsion system that was never corrected till her refit. It is rare that the citing of the same bob load that struck the Arizona struck The Rebel too. The splinters from that near-miss killed the skipper of the West Virginia. Her AAR is a study on what happened to the Arizona. Being patched up and sailed to Washington, she reemerged as a whole new Lady ready, able and wanting to fight; and fight she did... The lessons of low angle skip/ricochet lessons of Tarawa were learned. As stated, she provided fire support for numerous invasions of Nimitz's island hopping and is praised for actions at Iwo Jima where the skipper took her in close so that all guns could bear against Suribachi and laid heavy fire that enabled the marines to ascend the mount and raise the flag with all of the distraction. She also received returning fire from the Mount and sailed to safer waters. As to the Southern Battle of the Philippines Campaign, Battle of Surigao Straits she and her mates put hard, sinking shots on the last of Battleship Surface action. Her actions during the invasion of Okinawa are renown for taking hits, giving fire and protecting her fleet.... The sail home of the Ole Rebel was sad, and the film footage of her being to scrap sends me to tears. I attended a number of the ship's compliment reunions and they were a proud lt. The scrapbooks were filled with smiling faces and the 10 Battle-stars were earned in the hearts of her sailors. The Tennessee State Museum hosts a fine collection of fittings, ephemera, and belongings. Her ship's Silver Service is displayed in Nashville and the tea/coffee service is aboard the current USS Tennessee, SSBN 734. Her shoulder patch and guidon honors BB43 and the legacy of being the 4th ship to be named in Honor of the Volunteer State.... The People of Tennessee are Honored by the service of her namesake ships and know the sacrifice of the sailors her serve and compliment her....!! David Farragut's Rocky Top Sailors are always ready to serve the People, the Nation and Their Constitution... For the record, her real nickname was "The Ole Rebel" as a nod to York and Crockett for her all but total domination of firing exercises during the 1930's. There is a famous postcard of 4 bed sheet target with 8 main gun holes; one rifle missed. It is a record to this day....

It always saddens me when an historic craft of any kind is broken up for scrap. I know it's the circle of life, so to speak, but it is a depressing thing.

Amazing that something built to fight a totally different, earlier war, turned out to be so nice to have around in the next totally different war. Great video, I enjoyed this a lot!

Thank you for the facts I am from Tennessee and I never knew that the first crew was all tennesseans it does my heart proud to know that these men stood and fought during the attack on Pearl harbor and held a cool head while fighting I am so proud that it almost brings me to tears to know that my fellow Tennessee is had stood up and fought for America and I did not know that they had fought in so many battles and campaigns and it just goes to show you what a few good Tennessee's can do tennesseans have been the first to volunteer for many wars we had Tennessee volunteers that went to the Alamo and I really believe if it hadn't been for Tennessee since being there that Texas would be speaking Spanish

I love that you done a story about the Tennessee I has a friend that was aboard her he told me many stories of his travels aboard her and all the battles he was in a great bunch of Americans they all were indeed Thank you history guy one of your best👍👍

One of the Big Five battleships Tennessee, California, Colorado, Maryland, and West Virginia.

It’s gratifying to hear someone say a battleship played a decisive role in the outcome of the war. American battleships of that era looked so “right” and functioned as mobile launch platforms for the most terrifying bombardments imaginable. As it turned out, their killing power was not directed at other battleships, truly an exercise in futility, but at land-based enemy assets as well as anything afloat, even if too far away to see. And another element in the battleship’s favor: its sheer malevolence could, merely by the ship’s presence in a disputed area, served as a deterrent, effectively laying claim to a strategic asset without firing a shot.

The Dreadnought battleships from 1906 to 1946 (the span of commissioning of the Dreadnought-type battleships) were truly awesome, their big guns devastating in their power. But they were so soon eclipsed by carrier-borne aircraft. There's never been anything quite like a salvo from a 20th Century capital ship.

81 years after Pearl Harbor. The Tennessee Titans' home stadium is Nissan Stadium.Nashville's hockey team the Predator s play at Bridgestone Arena another Japanese company.

Proud Tennessean here. GO BIG TEN! I'd say she embodies the idea of "The Volunteer State".

I can dig how her girth would make it impossible to navigate a river, even one as mighty as the Miss, but at the very least they should have removed a turret to send to Tennessee.

Oh oh! Drachinifel has some serious competition!

Ooops. Ran all the way to my computer but another viewer already caught the Mogami error. No biggie, your work is still the BEST!

Those fancy, varied intros much cost Lance more than a few bucks. But business is clearly good because people love little known history as well as pirate-related tales.

There was no country in the world that could have did what we did after Pearl Harbor . Not only did we repair our ships , we built so many that by the end of the war one of our fleets was bigger than any countries Navy .

It's too bad that all the surviving battlewagons from WWII couldn't be preserved as museums, they each had a story to tell. Thankfully there are some left to keep us aware of what a war that was. I'm a North Carolinian and have been to my state's namesake many times. I always see something I missed the time before, and a new lesson learned.

I am on sailboat as I watch this, mere yards away from Bremerton Naval Base. History is brought alive again.

Love those Big five rebuilts, wish at least one was a museum along with CV 6, damn Navy.

Another epic episode! Thanks THG!

Thank you for this brief history of USS Tennessee. I was born in Tennessee and just now learned of the service of "Big Tenn." It was also interesting to hear that her initial crew came from her namesake state. Have been subscribed for a few years now and you always enlighten with your content - even on more widely covered topics. I'm glad you extended your format. I congratulate you on your success. Take care.

Thank you for the lesson. You haved covered several ships histories. This one like the others is outstanding.

Thanks for another great vid. The history you reveal is indeed worth remembering. Respect to all the matelow's who served on this great vessel.

I think this is the most interesting History Guy I remember watching ever. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

Once again, excellent presentation. Thank you! ❤

Best show on RU-vid! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍❤️💯🔥