USS California BB 44

The USS California BB 44 was a Tennessee-class battleship launched from the Mare Island Naval Yard 25 miles northeast from San Francisco, November 20th, 1919. She was sponsored by Mrs. R. T. Zane, the daughter of California governor William D. Stephens. The ship was commissioned on August 10th, 1921 under the command of Captain H. J. Ziegemeier. The California immediately reported to the Pacific Fleet as flagship where she remained for 20 years, from 1921 until 1941. During those years, the California participated in training exercises with other divisions and leading the Battle Fleet on a good-will cruise to Australia and New Zealand in 1925. She took part in Presidential reviews in 1927, 1930 and 1934.

She competed with battleships such as the USS Lexington and USS Saratoga for the Iron Man Trophy, a coveted award that went to the ship with the best crew. The competitions included boxing, wrestling, football and baseball. The California won the trophy in 1925 and held it for 3 years, and then won it again in 1939 for the last time. After that, the contests lost their allure amid growing tensions between the U. S. and Japan.

The USS California BB 44 was moored with the Pacific Battle Fleet along the southernmost berth of Battleship Row on the morning of December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese launched their deadly aerial attack. It was a grueling fight and the California suffered countless bomb raid attacks by Japanese fighters and after 3 days of uncontrollable flooding she settled into the mud with only her upper deck remaining above water. At the end of the battle, 100 of her crewmembers had been lost, and 62 were seriously wounded.

Remarkably, the California was fully repaired and later participated in the invasion of Marianas at Saipan as well as the invasion of the Philippines and the Battle of Surigao Straight. On January 6th, 1945 while bombarding the enemy shore at Lingayan Gulf she was slammed by a kamikaze fighter and 44 of her crew were killed while 155 were wounded, but the California stayed until the mission was completed successfully. On June 15th she provided support to the U. S. Sixth Army occupation force landing on Japanese occupied Honshu. On February 14th, 1947 she was decommissioned and later sold for scrap metal.

The USS California BB 44 and her crewmen were threatened by many dangers during their service and the risks of violent weather and enemy attacks were not their only deadly threat. Asbestos-laden fibers were commonly used on submarines and ships during that time period and crewmembers were constantly at risk of the deadly inhalation of airborne asbestos materials. Asbestos was most widely utilized in the insulation of the ships and more specifically the insulation involved with piping. Crewmembers who may be concerned that they were exposed at all to this deadly asbestos while serving aboard the USS California BB 44 should carefully monitor their respiratory health, due to asbestos being linked to the development of mesothelioma, which is sometimes referred to as asbestos cancer.

Last modified: December 09 2009.