The USS Washington, a formidable North Carolina-class battleship with a displacement of 35,000 tons, was constructed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Pennsylvania. Commissioned in May 1941, it played a vital role in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II.

Initially, the USS Washington operated in the Atlantic during the period of escalating tensions and eventual wartime operations for over a year. From April to July 1942, the battleship collaborated with the British Home Fleet in the North Atlantic. After an overhaul, it was deployed to the South Pacific in September and joined U.S. forces participating in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Notably, on the night of November 14-15, 1942, it served as the flagship of Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee during the latter part of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The ship’s sixteen-inch guns played a decisive role in the crippling of the Japanese battleship Kirishima.

The USS Washington continued its service in the South and Central Pacific through 1944. It took part in the invasions of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943 and the Marshalls in early 1944. Unfortunately, on February 1, 1944, during the latter operation, it suffered damage to its bow in a collision with the USS Indiana (BB-58). After undergoing repairs, the USS Washington rejoined the fleet and participated in the Marianas invasion in June 1944, including the pivotal Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Over the following year, the battleship was involved in various operations, such as the capture of the Palaus, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. It also provided support for the fast carriers during their raids across the Western Pacific. The USS Washington was undergoing an overhaul during the final two months of the Pacific War and, in October 1945, transited through the Panama Canal to the Atlantic. Its last active duty involved transporting returning veterans from Europe.

In June 1947, the USS Washington was decommissioned and placed in “mothballs” until May 1961 when it was sold for scrapping.

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The Battleship Texas, officially known as the USS Texas (BB-35), is a historic battleship that has played a significant role in both World War I and World War II. Here’s a brief overview of its history:

1. Construction and Commissioning: The USS Texas was the second battleship of the New York-class, and its construction was authorized in 1910. It was laid down in 1911, launched in 1912, and commissioned in 1914. The ship was the most powerful weapon in the world at the time, armed with ten 14-inch guns.
2. World War I: During World War I, the Texas served as an escort for Allied convoys, helping to protect them from German U-boats. It also conducted several patrols in the North Sea.
3. Interwar Period: After World War I, the Texas underwent various refits and modernizations. It was primarily used as a training vessel and participated in several naval exercises.
4. World War II: When World War II broke out, the Texas was initially assigned to protect shipping lanes in the Atlantic. Later, it played a crucial role in the Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) in 1942 and the D-Day landings in Normandy (Operation Overlord) in 1944.
5. Post-World War II: After World War II, the Texas was used for various purposes, including serving as a training ship and a museum ship. It was decommissioned in 1948.
6. Museum Ship: In 1948, the USS Texas was donated to the state of Texas and became a museum ship. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
7. Restoration and Preservation: Over the years, the battleship has undergone extensive restoration efforts to preserve its historical significance. The ship is now a part of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, near Houston, Texas.
8. Current Status: The Battleship Texas is one of the few surviving dreadnought-era battleships and is open to the public for tours. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore and learn about naval history, as well as the role this battleship played in the world wars.

The USS Texas is a significant part of American naval history, and its preservation as a museum ship allows people to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and sacrifices made during both World War I and World War II.

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Length: 212 meters (695 ft) overall
Beam: 24 meters (80 ft)
Draft: 7,1 meters (23.3 ft)
Displacement: 18000 tons (full load)
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h), max.
Range: 12000 NM (22000 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement: 1050

Propulsion:
Parsons geared turbines
4 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers
40000 Hp (30000 KW)
2 shafts / 2 propellers

Aviation:
full flight deck & hangar for up to 52 aircraft

Armament:
6 x 4-barrelled 2-pounder AA guns
16 x twin 20mm Oerlikon AA guns
> all weapons later replaced by 40mm Bofors in varying configurations

The 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier, commonly known as the British Light Fleet Carrier, was a type of light aircraft carrier designed by the Royal Navy during World War II and utilized by multiple naval forces between 1944 and 2001. These carriers were created to bridge the gap between full-size fleet aircraft carriers, which were expensive, and escort carriers, which had limited capabilities.

Sixteen Light Fleet carriers were ordered, all based on the Colossus-class design, during 1942 and 1943. However, only eight were completed according to this design. Four of these entered service before the end of World War II, but none participated in front-line operations. Two more were converted to maintenance and repair carriers, providing support for aircraft maintenance. The remaining six were modified during construction to handle larger and faster aircraft and were later redesignated as the Majestic class. Construction on these six ships was suspended at the end of the war, with five eventually being completed and commissioned, while the sixth, Leviathan, was dismantled for spare parts and scrap.

Although these carriers were not completed in time to see combat during World War II, those in Royal Navy service played roles in the Korean War and the Suez Crisis. During the latter, two Colossus-class carriers performed the first ship-based helicopter assault in history. Additionally, four Colossus-class carriers and all five completed Majestic-class carriers were loaned or sold to seven foreign nations, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, and the Netherlands. These foreign-operated Light Fleet carriers participated in various conflicts, including the Korean War, the First Indochina War, the Vietnam War, the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, and the Falklands War.

Despite being initially considered “disposable warships,” all the completed Light Fleet carriers exceeded their planned three-year service life. The maintenance carriers were the first to be retired in the 1950s. By the 1960s, most Royal Navy carriers, with the exception of Triumph (which was later recommissioned as a repair ship), had been sold to other nations or scrapped. The carriers operated by other navies had longer service lives.

The design and construction of these carriers aimed to provide defensive air cover for Allied fleets and convoys during World War II. The ships were intended to be as simple as possible to minimize construction time and accommodate more shipyards, some with no prior naval construction experience. The Light Fleet carriers were designed to operate in fleet actions but were unarmored. Their initial armament included various anti-aircraft weapons, with a primary focus on their air groups. Eventually, the Bofors 40 mm gun became the main anti-aircraft armament for these carriers.

The Light Fleet carriers were a significant development in naval aviation and played a role in post-war conflicts, contributing to the history of aircraft carriers in the mid-20th century.

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The story of the Bismarck battleship is one of the iconic tales of World War II. The Bismarck, commissioned by Nazi Germany, was a formidable battleship named after Otto von Bismarck, the first Chancellor of the German Empire. Constructed in 1936, it was designed to be Germany’s most powerful warship.

In May 1941, the Bismarck set sail into the Atlantic Ocean, targeting British convoys. This posed a significant threat to the British Royal Navy. However, at the end of May 1941, the Bismarck came under heavy attack from British submarines and warships.

The Bismarck is perhaps most famous for the skirmish in which the British battlecruiser Hood was sunk, signifying the loss of one of the British Royal Navy’s pride. Although the Bismarck dealt substantial damage in this encounter, it also sustained significant harm. Subsequently, a relentless air and naval assault was launched on the Bismarck, leaving the battleship severely damaged.

On May 27, 1941, the decision was made to scuttle the Bismarck, and its own crew intentionally sank the ship. The sinking of the Bismarck marked a significant loss for the German Navy and a major victory for the British Royal Navy. The story of the Bismarck battleship is etched in the annals of naval history, representing a pivotal moment in World War II’s naval warfare.

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