New York

USS New York (BB-34, at right) during training in 1932.

History

Design

The New York class of battleship was a class of ships designed and constructed by the United States Navy between 1908 and 1914. The two ships of the class, USS New York (BB-34) and USS Texas (BB-35), each saw extensive service beginning in the occupation of Veracruz, World War I, and World War II.

Designed as a more heavily armed improvement over the previous Wyoming class, the New York class was the first battleship to feature the 14"/45 caliber gun, but was one of the last battleship classes designed with several features, including a five-turret layout and coal for fuel. The class also suffered several deficiencies such as a lack of anti-aircraft weaponry and armor layout, which were addressed with the subsequent Nevada class. Because of these deficiencies, both ships saw several extensive overhauls over the course of their careers which greatly changed their profiles.

Service

Both New York and Texas entered service in 1914 and immediately served in the occupation of Veracruz, and service reinforcing the Grand Fleet in the North Sea during World War I, during which time New York is believed to have sunk a U-boat in an accidental collision. Both ships undertook numerous training exercises and overhauls during the interwar era, and joined the Neutrality Patrol at the beginning of World War II. Outmoded by more advanced battleships in service, both ships served primarily as convoy escorts and naval artillery during the war. New York supported Operation Torch in North Africa, undertook convoy patrols and training in the Atlantic, and supported the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. Texas supported Operation Torch, Operation Overlord, the bombardment of Cherbourg, Operation Dragoon and the battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Following the war, New York was used as a target ship in Operation Crossroads and sunk as a target in 1948, while Texas was converted into a museum ship, and remains permanently moored near Houston at San Jacinto State Park today.

Historical Inaccuracies

• Permanent camouflage is actually the historical camouflage of USS Oklahoma, a Nevada-class battleship. It was an experimental pattern that was applied to the ship in 1917.
• New York’s Measure 31a camouflage is missing. The same pattern was also applied to her sister ship Texas.
• New York is depicted in modernized condition. As a result her original 1914 configuration is missing.
• New York’s aircraft catapult on turret number three is missing.
• OS2U Kingfisher spotter plane is missing.
• Two quadruple 1.1-inch (28 mm)/75 caliber AA guns that were fitted to New York in 1937 are missing.
• New York first received the 40mm Bofors in 1942 in six quadruple mounts (later increased to ten). She was never fitted with only four twin mounts.
• New York had a total of forty-two (42) 20mm Oerlikons. Thirty-four (34) of these are missing.

• 

  New York under construction in 1912.

• 

  The launching ceremony of New York, October 1912.

• 

  USS New York, the lead ship of the class, shortly after entering service in 1915.

• 

  New York in 1917.

• 

  Texas in Scapa Flow, 1918.

• 

  Texas undergoing reconstruction in 1926, with New York in the background.

• 

  Texas after modernization, 1926.

• 

  New York after modernization, April 1927.

• 

  Texas (left) and New York (right), side by side on the eve of World War II.