These
ships were first to use the characteristic "clipper" bow, which was to
become a prime feature of US naval vessels. New Mexico served in
the Atlantic on Neutrality Patrol during the year 1941, thus being spared
the Pearl Harbor desaster.
She transfered to the Pacific
in early 1942, and in 1943 began with operations against the Aleutians,
then served the amphibious groups in the Central Pacific Campaigns, however
missing the Battle of Leyte due to the requirement to change her gun barrels.
Serving in the Lingayen Gulf in January 1945, she suffered a Kamikaze hit on January 6th with little damage. Then, she operated against Okinawa in April 1945, being hit again by a Kamikaze for moderate damage. Having been repaired she went back to the Pacific with little action and was scrapped in 1947.
Mississippi
was also in the Atlantic in 1941, and secured US convoys to England
for much of the year 1942, finally being send to the Pacific to guard the
island of Midway. She also participated in the Aleutians operations, and
afterwards in all major Central Pacific campaigns, including the Battle
of Surigao Strait. She was made a artillery trials ships in 1946/47, and
in 1952, a guided missile trials ship. She was wrecked four years ater.
Idaho shared virtually
the same career as New Mexico. If you want to know it more precisely,
send me an Email.
| Armament | (New Mexico, 1942):
12 x 356mm L/50, in four triple turrets, two each superfiring fore and aft. 8 x 127mm L/25 in open mounts, four on each ship side. 12 x 28mm in quadruple mounts |
| (Mississippi,
1945)
12 x 356mm L/50 as above 14 x 127mm L/25, seven on each side 48 x 40mm L/56 in quadruple mounts 9 x 20mm in single mounts |
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Displacement: 36000 tons
Length: 190.7 meters Beam: 32.4 meters Draught: 10.4 meters Height (Mast): ???? Crew: 2251 men Speed: 21.5 knots |
| Complement (Planes) | Three floatplanes |