Tour A Battleship
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List Of Battleships You Can Tour
Touring a battleship is an exciting experience that offers a glimpse of history and life aboard for the crews that sailed them. You'll also gain an appreciation for the naval engineering required to build and sail these massive warships. It's a fun and educational activity the whole family can enjoy...even if they won't let you fire the guns.
Image is the USS Iowa (BB-61). (image source)
What is a Battleship?
A battleship was a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a nation's naval power from about 1875 up until World War II. With the rise of air power, guided missiles, and guided bombs, large guns were no longer deemed necessary to establish naval superiority.USS New Jersey (BB-62)
Port: Camden, New Jersey, USA
The USS New Jersey is an Iowa class battleship that was launched in December 1942. She saw combat in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and during the Lebanese Civil War in the early 1980s.
USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial
Port: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA
You can't technically tour this battleship, but the list wouldn't be complete without the USS Arizona Memorial. This battleship was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The wreckage remains in place as a memorial to her 1,177 crew lost on that tragic day.
The wreck was designated as a national shrine in 1962. There is a beautiful memorial that straddles the wreckage which you can see through the water. Oil still seeps up and can be seen on the water's surface.
I had the privilege of visiting the Arizona memorial once. It was a very solemn and moving experience.
Have You Served On A Battleship?
USS Missouri (BB-63)
Port: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA
The USS Missouri was launched in 1944 and saw combat in World War II, the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm. She served as the site of the formal surrender of Japan that ended World War II. There is a bronze plaque on the deck of Mighty Mo marking the spot where the surrender documents were signed.
She is now permanently berthed and available to tour near the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor.
Help Keep A Battleship Afloat
Most battleship museums are owned and maintained by non-profit organizations. These ships require a lot of work and money to restore and keep afloat.Please remember that your admission ticket only covers a portion of these costs. There is usually a donation box on site or you can find donor information on the ship's website.
These organizations also depend on volunteers to help perform maintenance and/or guide tours. If you have experience working on ships or just want to help keep history alive, then consider volunteering. Check the website of the battleship you're interested in or ask when you visit for more information.
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
Port: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
The USS North Carolina was launched in June 1940 and saw extensive action in the Pacific during World War II. This included surviving a Japanese torpedo that struck her hull. She was decommissioned in 1947. In 1962, she began service as a museum ship and memorial to the World War II veterans of the state of North Carolina.
Battleship Movies & Documentaries
USS Alabama (BB-60)
Port: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
The USS Alabama was launched in 1942 and served in World War II. First protecting convoys in the North Atlantic and then in the Pacific Theater where she conducted strikes on several Japanese installations.
The ship was decommissioned in 1947 and has served as a museum ship in Mobile Bay since 1965. She was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
USS Texas (BB-35)
Port: LaPorte, Texas, USA
The USS Texas was launched in 1912 and is the oldest remaining battleship that fought in both World War I and World War II. During World War II, she saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters including bombardments of Omaha Beach on D-Day and Iwo Jima.
Check the ship's calendar of events for info on the guided hard hat tour. These tours are by reservation only and will take you into unrenovated areas of the ship not normally open to the public.
Books About Battleships
USS Massachusetts (BB-59)
Port: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
The USS Massachusetts is a South Dakota class battleship commissioned in 1942 and a sister ship of the USS Alabama. During World War II, "Big Mamie" served in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns where she earned 11 battle stars. She is also credited with firing America's first and last 16 inch shells of the war.
In 1965, she opened as a museum ship at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.
USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
Port: Norfolk, Virginia, USA
The USS Wisconsin was launched in 1943 and saw combat action in World War II, the Korean War and the Gulf War. She is currently available to tour at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Norfolk, VA. Admission to the ship and the museum is free!
Mikasa
Port: Yokosuka, Japan
The Mikasa is the last remaining pre-dreadnought battleship left in the world. First launched in 1900 in Great Britain, she was commissioned into the Japanese Imperial Navy in 1902. The Mikasa is most famous for serving as the flagship of Admiral Togo Haihachiro during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). She is now a land based museum ship in Yokosuka, Japan.
SCUBA Dive On A Battleship
USS Arkansas (BB-33)
Port: Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
Commissioned in 1912, the USS Arkansas served in both World War I and World War II. During WWII, she received four battle stars for her actions in the North Atlantic and Pacific theaters.Her last action was as a target in the nuclear test fleet during 1946 where she was sunk by the underwater atomic test Baker.
She now lies upside down at a depth of approximately 170 feet. You can find more info on diving the Arkansas and other nuclear test ships at the Bikini Atoll Dive Tourism site.
HIJMS Nagato
Port: Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands
The Japanese battleship HIJMS Nagato was commissioned in 1920 and served as Admiral Yamamoto's flagship for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. She was the first battleship to ever mount 16 inch guns and was the only battleship of the Japanese fleet to survive World War II.Nagato's last service was part of the nuclear test target fleet in 1946 and she eventually sank due to damage from the Baker underwater nuclear test. She is upside down with her props at 110 feet. You can find more info on diving the Nagato and other nuclear test ships at the Bikini Atoll Dive Tourism site.
Image of diver above is available at Art.com.
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Have you toured or served on a battleship? What do you think of these mighty ships?
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Edward Marciezyk
Sep 25, 2011 @ 7:35 pm | delete
- I toured the Battleship Cove, Since I live only like 30 to 45 minutes out, and I been to the North Carolina, Missouri / Arizona, Alabama, Wisconsin & New Jersey :D I'm hoping to go see the Texas, and Alabama in the Near future! Then go Diving down to go see the USS Arkansas, IJN Nagato, & USS Saratoga (:
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tdude234
Dec 4, 2010 @ 5:53 pm | delete
- Nice lens. I love battleships. I went on a tour of the USS North Carolina when I was young and I loved it. Hope I can tour more battleships!
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Brit303
Nov 12, 2009 @ 9:20 am | delete
- Nice review of the great warriers of old. I wish we still used battleships. There's something special about hurtling a one-ton projectile toward an enemy position more than 20 miles away. Good to learn that some are still around to tour. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to tour one, but if I do, I'll jump at it. Thanks for sharing.
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Ramkitten
Nov 9, 2009 @ 7:38 pm | delete
- Really nice lens! I've never toured a battleship, but I have seen them from the outside. What I'd really love to do is tour a submarine! You gonna make a lens for that? :) If so, be sure to let me know.
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KimGiancaterino May 8, 2009 @ 9:02 pm | delete
- I have visited the USS Arizona memorial. Thank you for putting this directory together.
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Battleship Photo Credits
USS Iowa (BB-61) in the public domain at the US DoD Media Center.
USS Missouri (BB-63) in the public domain at the US Naval Historical Center.
US Battle Fleet in the public domain at the US Naval Historical Center.
USS Arkansas (BB-33) in the public domain at the US Naval Historical Center.
Diver Swims Past the Stern of the Japanese Battleship Nagato available for purchase at Art.com.
Thanks for visiting!
by Mac33
Son of a sailor and a fan of touring battleships and other old ships since I was a kid.
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