USS Arkansas BB 33

The USS Arkansas BB 33 was a Wyoming-class battleship that was launched on January 14^th, 1911. She was commissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Yard on September 17^th, 1912 with Captain Roy C. Smith at the helm. Her first overseas cruise over the Atlantic occurred during late October 1913, where it visited multiple ports across the Mediterranean Sea. On November 11^th the ship even made a stop in Naples, Italy to celebrate the birthday of King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy.

During the spring of 1914 an incident occurred in a place called Veracruz, Mexico where a possible armament weapons shipment was being delivered, and President Woodrow Wilson who was already being cautious about these new developments learned about this and ordered the prevention of this shipment by means of taking over the customs house at the port there at Veracruz. Ordering the entire U.S. Atlantic Fleet to land at Veracruz under the command of Rear Admiral Charles D. Badger, and on April 22^nd the USS Arkansas BB 33 sent a battalion consisting of 17 officers and 313 enlisted men inland and into Mexico to secure the city of Veracruz by force. Two Arkansas sailors lost their lives during the fight.

World War I was declared, and the Arkansas was attached to the Battleship Division 7. She was deployed to patrol the U.S. eastern seaboard and protect our national waters. She then received orders to proceed to Scotland where on the night before arriving, opened fire on what was believed to be a German U-Boat. Her partnered destroyers dropped depth charges but achieved not contact and the Arkansas arrived at Rosyth, Scotland where the ship became a part of the allied forces of the British Grand Fleet along with the 6^th Battle Squadron. After the war, the USS Arkansas BB 33 became an honorary diplomatic vessel and traveled all over the world being visited by presidents and kings from many nations, and well as participating in a number of celebratory and memorial ceremonies.

World War II sent the Arkansas to the Atlantic to escort cargo ships, and on June 3^rd she participated in the allied invasion of France at Normandy where she supported ground forces by bombarding the German bunkers along the coast with cover fire as well as exchanging fire with enemy fighter planes. After Europe was relatively secure, the USS Arkansas BB 33 headed to the Pacific where the ship took part in the aggressive U.S. campaign at Iwo Jima bombarding Japanese strong holds along the coast. Then joining forces to participate in the invasion of Okinawa where she took positions and aided U.S. forces by delivering fire support for 46 days all the while fending off dozens of Kamikazes. Placed as a target for the nuclear test BAKER at Bikini Atoll, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Registry, August 15^th, 1946.

The USS Arkansas BB 33 and her crew faced many dangerous missions, but the threat of violent weather at sea or the possibilities of attack by the enemy were not their only dangers. Asbestos-laden material was widely utilized on submarines and ships during that time period, and members of the crew were at constantly at risk of inhaling deadly airborne asbestos fibers. Asbestos was usually placed within the insulation of the ship, specifically the insulation surrounding the pipes involved. Any crewmember who might be worried that they were exposed to asbestos while aboard the USS Arkansas BB 33 should monitor their respiratory health carefully. Asbestos is linked to the development of mesothelioma cancer, and any veteran who is diagnosed with this disease should meet with a doctor to discuss various mesothelioma treatment options.

Last modified: December 09 2009.