USS Colorado BB 45 - "From Absent Survivor to Pacific Warrior"

USS Colorado (BB-45) was the lead ship of the final class of American Standard-type battleships, and she was among the most powerful warships of her day when she entered service in 1923. Armed with eight 16-inch guns—which were the largest ever mounted on a US battleship at the time—Colorado embodied the Navy’s emphasis on heavy armor and long-range firepower. She spent the interwar years training and operating with the Battle Fleet in the Pacific, and was undergoing an overhaul when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Between 1943 and 1945, she provided heavy gunfire support at Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte, and Okinawa. She endured several counter battery attacks and 2 kamikaze hits, remaining on station each time to provide support to the men ashore. After Japan’s surrender, she took part in occupation duties and returned troops home before being decommissioned in 1947 and scrapped in 1959. Colorado earned seven battle stars for her distinguished World War II service. Credits/Sources: Navsource, Naval History & Heritage Command, US Naval Institute, US National Archives, NavWeaps, USN Dazzle, https://usscoloradocommittee.org/ Check out my other videos on ships in the Colorado Class! USS West Virginia BB-48    • USS West Virginia BB 48 - "From Ashes to V...   #history #navalhistory #usnavy #unitedstatesnavy #worldwar2 #pacificwar #ww2 #battleship #worldofwarships #worldofwarshipslegends #colorado