Pennsylvania Class Battleship Summary

This is a 3D printed sculpt of the Pennsylvania class battleship by EBard Models. 

The Pennsylvania class consisted of two super-dreadnought battleships - Pennsylvania & Arizona - built just before the First World War. These were to draw the best design ideas from the innovative Nevada class while being significantly larger and carrying more firepower.

The preceding Nevada-class battleships represented a leap forward from previous American battleship technology and from most contemporary foreign designs. They were the first in the world to employ the "all or nothing" armor scheme that characterized every succeeding American battleship. Devised with the knowledge that engagement ranges between battle fleets was growing greater as main battery sizes increased, the system moved away from previous designs that used heavy, medium, and light armor, in favor of using only heavy armor to protect vital areas on the ship. The new system envisioned that, at long ranges, ships would be attacked with only armor-piercing projectiles, stoppable only by heavy armor. Medium or light armor would only serve to detonate the shells.

The decision was made to utilize triple gun turrets instead for 4 or 5 two gun turrets. Removing extra turrets reduced the overall protected length of the ship, and weight savings could be added as addtional belt and deck armor to protect against plunging shells. Triple gun turrets were new and unproven, but ultimately would become standard on future US battleships except for the Colorado class. 

In service, the Pennsylvania class saw limited use in the First World War due to a shortage of oil fuel in England. Both ships were present during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Arizona was sunk by a massive magazine explosion and was turned into a memorial after the war, while Pennsylvania, in dry dock at the time, received only minor damage. After a refit from October 1942 to February 1943, Pennsylvania went on to serve as a shore bombardment ship for most of the remainder of the war. Pennsylvania was present at the Battle of Surigao Strait, the last battle ever between battleships, but did not engage. Pennsylvania was severely damaged by a torpedo on 12 August 1945, two days before the cessation of hostilities. With minimal repairs, she was used in Operation Crossroads, part of the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll, before being expended as a target ship in 1948.

Ships of Class:

• BB-38 Pennsylvania
• BB-39 Arizona

Insignia can be added to each deck decal. Select from your choice of roundel images.

Early War	Mid War	ETO

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