USS South Dakota (BB 57)

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History coming soon....

Ship's Data
Where applicable, data is that of the modernized/reconstructed version and not that of the original as-built configuration.

Class:
Nickname:
Authorized:
Keel Laid:
Launched:
Commissioned:
Main Battery:
Secondary Battery:
Design Displacement:
Full Load Displacement:
Overall Length:
Waterline Length:
Draft:
Beam:
Design Speed:
Decommissioned:
WWII Battle Stars:
Final Fate:

South Dakota
Battleship X
27 March 1934 and 3 June 1936
5 July 1939
7 June 1941
20 March 1942
Nine 16in/45cal Mk.6 (3 x 3)
Sixteen 5in/38cal (10 x 2)
35,400 tons
45,200 tons
680 ft
666 ft
29 ft 3 in
108 ft 2 in
27 knots
27 March 1947
Thirteen
Sold for scrap to Lipsett (1962)

Camouflage
All the dates given may not be exact as to the month of repainting.
For more information about the different camouflage measures refer to the Camouflage page.

March? 1942 - 1945

Measure 21

Photos
These photos are arranged in chronological order and are believed to be all declassified official USN photos (unless otherwise noted.)
[Thumbnails are 15% of full image size.]

	Looking head-on with crew on the forecastle.	Unknown.
	Underway.	Unknown.
	Underway after commissioning.	1942
	As above.	1942
	The anti-aircraft battery pumping out shells at the Battle of Santa Cruz.	26 October 1942
	A Japanese Kate plane makes a torpedo run (unsuccessfully.)	26 October 1942
	Underway at high speeds during the battle of Santa Cruz.	26 October 1942
	Protecting the carrier USS Enterprise, which just had a near bomb hit. The Japanese Val bomber that made the bomb run falls victim to South Dakota's AA battery and is seen going down in the center of the image.	26 October 1942
	The repair ship USS Prometheus is seen moored between the battlship and two destroyers.	November 1942
	Surface and aerial victory marks painted on the conning tower. Note the direct vision slots in the thick armor.	1942/1943
	Seen from HMS Duke of York off Norway. Compare with an almost identical picture view of USS Alabama on that page.	June 1943
	Moored in Iceland.	June 1943
	At Norfolk Navy Yard following refit.	1943
	As above.	20 August 1943
	As above, showing the superstructure area. Note the four twin 5in/38cal guns (per side) while the sisterships had five, but South Dakota was the only one that had an extra conning tower level.	August 1943
	Underway off the east coast.	August 1943
	Underway near the Marshall Island wearing measure 21 camouflage.	25 January 1944
	Sailing to Ulithi Atoll as seen from the carrier Ticonderoga. (Note the packed deck with Avengers and Helldivers.) Battleships are from front to rear: Washington, North Carolina, South Dakota, followed by a cruiser.	October 1944
	Bow cutting through rough seas underway to Toyko.	February 1945
	The forward main battery firing on Kaimaishi during the last days of the war.	July 1945
	A post-war view, entering San Francisco Bay.	September 1945