The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship constructed for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. She measured 608 feet (185.3 meters) in length, with a beam of 97 feet (29.6 meters) at the waterline and a draft of 29 feet 3 inches (8.9 meters) at deep load. Displacing approximately 29,158 long tons (29,626 metric tons) at standard and over 31,900 long tons (32,429 metric tons) at deep load, Arizona was larger and more heavily armored than earlier battleships. Her propulsion system consisted of four Parsons steam turbines powered by twelve Babcock & Wilcox boilers, designed to produce 34,000 shaft horsepower, enabling her to reach a top speed of 21 knots (39 km/h). Her armament included twelve 14-inch (356 mm) guns in four triple turrets, and twenty-two 5-inch (127 mm) secondary guns, along with four 3-inch anti-aircraft guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes with 24 torpedoes. Constructed with an all-or-nothing armor scheme, her belt armor was 13.5 inches (343 mm) thick, covering vital areas such as magazines and machinery spaces. Her main turrets had 18 inches (457 mm) thick faces, and the conning tower was protected by 16 inches (406 mm) of armor. The deck armor was three inches thick, with increased protection over critical areas, and her armor system included bulkheads and a double bottom, designed to withstand significant explosive forces. Laid down on March 16, 1914, and launched on June 19, 1915, Arizona was commissioned in October 1916. During her early service, she remained in U.S. waters, participating in training, fleet problems, and diplomatic missions, including escorting President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Her service continued in the Pacific Fleet, where she conducted routine exercises and fleet maneuvers throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Refitted in 1929–1931, she received modernized fire-control systems, new masts, and additional anti-aircraft weapons. Her most notable event occurred during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when she was struck by multiple bombs, one of which caused a magazine explosion that sank the battleship, killing 1,177 crew members. The shipwreck remains at Pearl Harbor and serves as a memorial to those lost. The Arizona’s sinking marked a pivotal moment in U.S. naval history, emphasizing her maritime significance as a symbol of sacrifice and the tragic entry of the United States into World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.