USS Maryland Specifications and History

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The USS Maryland (Hull BB-46) was laid down on the 24th of April 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 20 March 1920; sponsored by Mrs. E. Brook Lee, wife of the Comptroller of the State of Maryland; and commissioned on the 21st of July 1921, Capt. C. F. Preston In command.

Maryland was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the infamous attack, but received only two lightly damaging bomb hits, and made Puget Sound under her own power. She guarded several island chains in her pre-yard time, including Midway, the New Hebrides and Samao. She then supported Kinkaids 7th Fleet and it's amphibious groups in several landings and participated at the battle of Surigao Strait s.

With a new type seaplane catapult and the Brat 16-Inch guns mounted on a U.S. ship, Maryland was the pride of the Navy. Following an east coast shakedown she found herself in great demand for special occasions. She appeared at Annapolis for the 1922 Naval Academy graduation and at Boston for the anniversary of Bunker Hill and the Fourth of July. Between 18 August and 25 September she paid her first visit to a foreign port transporting Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes to Rio de Janeiro for Brazil's Centennial Exposition. The next year, after fleet exercises off the Panama Canal Zone. Maryland transited the canal In the latter part of June to join the battle fleet stationed on the west coast.

One thing to note: A gunner's mate striker, writing a letter near his machine-gun, brought the first of his ship's guns into play, shooting down one of two attacking torpedo planes. Inboard of Oklahoma and thus protected from the initial torpedo attack, Maryland managed to bring all her an tiaircraft batteries into action. Despite two bomb hits she continued to fire and, after the attack, sent firefighting parties to assist her sister ships. The Japanese announced that she had been sunk, but 30 December, battered yet sturdy, the ship entered the repair yard at Puget Sound Navy Yard. She had made the first shots of the war.

She emerged 26 February 1942 not only repaired but modernized and ready for great service. During the important Battle of Midway, the old battleships, not fast enough to accompany the carriers, operated as a backup force. Thereafter Maryland engaged in almost constant training exercises until 1 August, when she returned to Pearl Harbor.

Torpedoed 22 June 1944, extensive damage from kamikaze 29 Nov 1944, kamikaze 7 April 1945. Final armament was 8 16/45, 8 twin 5/38, 11 quad 40 mm, 1 quad, 29 twin 20 mm. To reserve 16 July 1946, decommissioned 3 April 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 8 July 1959, scrapped at Oakland August 1959.

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