USS Tennessee BB 43

The USS Tennessee BB 43 was a Tennessee-class battleship that launched from the New York Navy Yard, later known as the Brookyln Navy Yard on April 30th, 1919 and was sponsored by Miss Helen Lenore Roberts, the daughter of Albert H. Roberts who was the Governor of Tennessee. The ship was commissioned June 3rd, 1920 and command given to Captain Richard H. Leigh. Tennessee conducted trials after fitting out and between 1920 and 1941 was stationed for some time along the eastern seaboard of the United States before being appointed to and deploying to the Pacific becoming the newest addition to the Battle Force in the Pacific theater where she served until World War II. During this time she also participated in many good-will voyages to Latin America as well as Australia and New Zealand.

On the morning of December 7th, 1941 the Tennessee was moored there along Battleship Row when the Japanese launched their massive assault on Pearl Harbor. During the fierce battle there, the Tennessee defended herself as best she could suffering multiple hits from aerial torpedoes and bombs smacking into her deck. Afterwards, she set out to Puget Sound Navy Yard on her own strength to receive complete major repairs. After successfully driving out the Japanese occupation force from the Aleutian Islands and getting it back under American command, she traveled back to San Francisco on August 31st to take part in further fleet training.

She took part in the invasion of the Marshall Islands and then sailed to Majuro joining a massive group of battleships under the command of Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin where she combined forces with two carriers and screened 15 destroyers. Their main objective was to topple the Japanese stronghold at Kavieng, New Ireland which was one of their vital air and navy bases. Their missions was a success, and on June 21st, 1945 she greatly assisted the invasion of Okinawa bombarding shorelines and taking out enemy supply depots stationed there all the while support U. S. ground forces that were landing there with cover fire that earned her exemplary honors in the years to come. After the war she earned a Navy Unit Commendation and received ten battle stars for World War II service. The USS Tennessee was officially decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on March 1st, 1959.

The USS Tennessee BB 43 faced many dangers during those years of war, but the turbulent weather and threats from enemy attack weren’t the only risks they had with them every day. Asbestos fibers were commonly used in submarines and ships of this type during that time period and any crewmembers that inhaled these deadly airborne fibers might have been seriously harmed. Asbestos was used mainly in the construction of insulation, specifically within the insulation used with piping. Crewmembers that were stationed aboard the USS Tennessee BB 43, and are concerned they may have been exposed to these deadly particles should watch their respiratory health carefully, as exposure to asbestos has been strongly linked to the development of mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer.

Last modified: December 09 2009.