Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 50232: USS New Mexico anchored in the Tokyo Bay area, circa late August 1945

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS New Mexico (BB-40), 1918-1947

USS New Mexico, lead ship of a class of three 32,000-ton battleships, was built at the New York Navy Yard. Commissioned in May 1918, she spent the rest of the First World War operating near the United States, but steamed to Europe early in 1919 to escort President Wilson home from the Versailles peace conference. Later in the year she became flagship of the Pacific Fleet. A regular participant in Battle Fleet exercises in the Pacific and Caribbean in the 1920s and 1930s, she visited Australia and New Zealand in 1925, also calling on South American ports during the '20s.

Extensively modernized at the Philadelphia Navy Yard beginning in March 1931, New Mexico's work, completed in January 1933, greatly altered her appearance. Her original "cage" masts were replaced by a then-modern tower superstructure, and many other improvements were made to her armament and protection. In 1940, her base was relocated to Pearl Harbor as a deterrent to Japan, but New Mexico was sent to the Atlantic in May 1941 to meet the menace presented by German successes in Europe.

New Mexico returned to the Pacific in early 1942 to help reinforce a Pacific Fleet that had been badly crippled by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During most of 1942 she operated off the U.S. west coast and in Hawaiian waters, then went to the southwest Pacific until May 1943, when she arrived in the Aleutians to take part in operations to recapture Attu and Kiska.

In late 1943 and early 1944, New Mexico provided heavy gunfire support to invasions in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. A bombardment of Japanese positions on New Ireland followed in March 1944, and in June and July the battleship helped in the conquest of Saipan, Tinian and Guam. Following a Stateside overhaul, New Mexico took part in the capture of Mindoro and Luzon. During the later operation, on 6 January 1945, she was hit by a suicide plane that killed and injured over a hundred of her crew. The ship was able to remain in action, however, for several more days.

After repairs, New Mexico participated in the Okinawa invasion in March-May 1945. She was again hit by a "Kamikaze" on 12 May, with her crew suffering over 170 casualties. Preparing for the Invasion of Japan during the War's last months, she was present in Tokyo Bay when Japan formally surrendered on 2 September. Transiting the Pacific and Panama Canal for a final time, New Mexico arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in mid-October 1945 and was decommissioned there in July 1946. She was sold for scrapping in October 1947.

This page features selected views concerning USS New Mexico (BB-40).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 59949

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Photographed from an airplane, while steaming in line with other battleships, 13 April 1919.
Note S.E.5A airplane atop the flying-off platform atop the battleship's second turret.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 45309

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Photographed during the early or middle 1920s.
Note anchors hanging from her bow.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50299

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Photographed by Tai Tsing Loo in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in about 1935.

Collection of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 153KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97414

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, following overhaul, 6 October 1943.
A barge and motor launch are alongside her port quarter, with Sailors coming on board from the latter.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 535 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50232

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Anchored in the Tokyo Bay area, circa late August 1945, at the end of World War II. Mount Fuji is in the background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 45320

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Sailor tightens an oil refueling coupling on board, circa 1919.
The original caption reads: "Coaling ship holds no terrors for the gobs on the New Mexico as on our latest oil burning types of super dreadnaught all that is necessary is to connect the hose and turn on the valve."

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 460 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-14162 (Color)

USS New Mexico (BB-40)

Ship's 5"/25 battery prepares to fire during the bombardment of Saipan, 15 June 1944.
Note time-fuze setters on the left side of each gun mount, each holding three "fixed" rounds of ammunition; barrels of 20mm machine guns at the extreme right; and triple 14"/50 guns in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 129KB; 585 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-14228 (Color)

USS New Mexico (BB-40)

14-inch projectiles on deck, while the battleship was replenishing her ammunition supply prior to the invasion of Guam, July 1944.
The photograph looks forward on the starboard side, with triple 14"/50 gun turrets at left. Note floater nets stowed atop the turrets.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 159KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-14233 (Color)

USS New Mexico (BB-40)

Firing her after 14"/50 guns during the pre-invasion bombardment of Guam, circa 14-20 July. Taken by a Combat Photo Unit Two (CPU-2) photographer, looking aft along the port side from the forward sky lookout position.
Ship identification is probable.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-3706 (Color)

USS New Mexico (BB-40)

At sea with two other battleships and an amphibious force command ship (AGC), probably at the time of the Iwo Jima or Okinawa operations, circa February-April 1945.
Battleship in the center background is USS Idaho (BB-42). The one further to the left is either Tennessee (BB-43) or California (BB-44).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-328653

USS New Mexico (BB-40)


Is hit by a "Kamikaze" at dusk on 12 May 1945, while off Okinawa.
Photographed from USS Wichita (CA-45).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-166247

Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6D


Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for battleships of the BB-40 class.
This plan, approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN, is dated 16 February 1944. It shows the ship's starboard side, superstructure ends and exposed decks.
Ships known or reported to have worn this camouflage design include USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Mississippi (BB-41).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 169KB; 1200 x 775 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-166246

Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6D


Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for battleships of the BB-40 class.
This plan, approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN, is dated 16 February 1944. It shows the ship's port side.
Ships known or reported to have worn this camouflage design include USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Mississippi (BB-41).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 141KB; 1200 x 745 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 31 October 2000
New images added 25 June 2007