Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Battleship

USS Idaho (BB-42) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Great War and before

1915

USS Idaho (BB-42)
Bain News Service,, publisher. Henrietta A. Simmons [between ca. 1915 and ca. 1920] 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. Notes: Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress). Format: Glass negatives. Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication. Repository: Library of C The Library of Congress — This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.24788 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

The fourth Idaho (Battleship No.42) was laid down on 1 January 1915 at Camden, N.J., by the New York Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 30 June 1917; sponsored by Miss H. A. Limons, granddaughter of the Governor of Idaho; and commissioned 24 March 1919, Capt. Carl T. Vogelgesang in command.

Interwar 1919–1938

1919

USS Idaho (BB-42)
Transcribed from photograph: "Pacific Fleet. Review, Sept. 12-14, 1919. Battleships in harbor. 1. Texas. 2. Idaho. 3. Mississippi." Unknown author — File URL IIIF manifest Catalog record — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Idaho sailed on 13 April 1919 for shakedown training out of Guantanamo Bay, and after returning to New York received President Pessoa of Brazil for the voyage to Rio de Janeiro. Departing on 6 July with her escort, the battleship arrived at Rio on 17 July 1919. From there she set course for the Panama Canal, arriving Monterey, Calif., in September to join the Pacific Fleet. She joined other dreadnaughts in training exercises and reviews, including a Fleet Review by President Woodrow Wilson on 13 September 1919. In 1920 the battleship carried Secretary Josephus Daniels and the Secretary of the Interior on an inspection tour of Alaska.

1920

Upon her return from Alaska on 22 July 1920, only five days after she was reclassified as BB-42, Idaho took part in fleet maneuvers off the California coast and as far south as Chile. She continued this important training until 1925, taking part in numerous ceremonies on the West Coast during the interim. Idaho took part in the fleet review held by President Warren G. Harding in Seattle shortly before his death in 1923. The battleship sailed on 15 April 1925 for Hawaii, participated in war games until 1 July, and then got underway for Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand. On the return voyage Idaho embarked gallant Cmdr. John Rodgers and his seaplane crew after their attempt to fly to Hawaii, arriving at San Francisco on 24 September 1925.

1931

For the next six years Idaho operated out of San Pedro, Calif., on training and readiness operations off California and in the Caribbean. She sailed from San Pedro 7 September 1931 for the East Coast, entering Norfolk Navy Yard, P{ortsmouth, Va., on 30 September for modernization. After completion on 9 October 1934 the ship conducted shakedown in the Caribbean before returning to her home port, San Pedro, on 17 April 1935.

Second World War 1939–1945

1940

As war clouds gathered in the Pacific, the fleet increased the tempo of its training operations. Idaho carried out fleet tactics and gunnery exercises regularly until arriving with the battle fleet at Pearl Harbor on 1 July 1940. The ship sailed for Hampton Roads on 6 June 1941 to perform Atlantic neutrality patrol, a vital part of U.S. policy in the early days of the European fighting. She moved to Iceland in September to protect American advance bases and was on station at Hvalfjordur, Iceland, when the Japanese attacked the Pacific Fleet and nearby defense installations at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and catapulted America into the war.

1942

Idaho and hewr sister ship Mississippi (BB-41) departed Iceland two days after Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet, and arrived at San Francisco, Calif., via Norfolk and the Panama Canal oin 31 January 1942. She conducted additional battle exercises in California waters and out of Pearl Harbor until October 1942, when she entered Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., to be regunned. Upon completion of this work Idaho again took part in battle exercises, and sailed on 7 April 1943 for operations in the bleak Aleutians. There she was flagship of the bombardment and patrol force around Attu, where she gave gunfire support to the Army landings on 11 May 1943. During the months that followed she concentrated on Kiska, culminating in an assault on 15 August. The Japanese were found to have evacuated the island in late July, thus abandoning their last foothold in the Aleutians.

1943 Gilbert Islands

Idaho returned to San Francisco 7 September 1943 to prepare for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Moving to Pearl Harbor, she got underway with the assault fleet 10 November and arrived off Makin Atoll 20 November. She supported the fighting ashore with accurate gunfire support and antiaircraft fire, remaining in the Gilberts until sailing for Pearl Harbor 5 December 1943.

1944 Marshalls

Next on the Pacific timetable was the invasion of the Marshalls, and the veteran battleship arrived off Kwajalein early 31 January to soften up shore positions. Again she hurled tons of shells into Japanese positions until 5 February, when the outcome was one of certain victory. After replenishing at Majuro she bombarded other islands in the group, then moved to Kavieng, New Ireland, for a diversionary bombardment 20 March 1944.

Idaho returned to the New Hebrides 25 March, and after a short stay in Australia arrived Kwajalein with a group of escort carriers 8 June. From there the ships steamed to the Marianas, where Idaho began a preinvasion bombardment of Saipan 14 June. With this brilliantly executed landing assault underway 15 June, the battleship moved to Guam for bombardment assignments. As the American fleet decimated Japanese carrier air power in the Battle of the Philippine Sea 19 to 21 June, Idaho protected the precious transport area and reserve troop convoys. After returning briefly to Eniwetok 28 June to 9 July the ship began preinvasion bombardment of Guam 12 July, and continued the devastating shelling until the main assault eight days later. As ground troops battled for the island, Idaho stood offshore providing vital fire support until anchoring at Eniwetok 2 August 1944.

The ship continued to Espiritu Santo and entered a floating dry dock 15 August for repairs to her "blisters." After landing rehearsals on Guadalcanal in early September, Idaho moved to Peleliu 12 September and began bombarding the island, needed as a staging base for the invasion of the Philippines. Despite the furious bombardment, Japanese entrenchments gave assault forces stiff opposition, and the battleship remained off Peleliu until 24 September providing the all-important fire support for advancing Marines. She then sailed for Manus and eventually to Bremerton, Wash., where she arrived for needed repairs on 22 October 1944. This was followed by battle practice off California.

1945 Iwo Jima

USS Idaho (BB-42)
The U.S. Navy battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) fires the 14"/50 guns of turret Three at nearly point-blank range, during the bombardment of Okinawa, 1 April 1945. Photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3844 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Idaho's mighty guns were needed for the next giant amphibious assault on the way to Japan. She sailed from San Diego on 20 January 1945 to join a battleship group at Pearl Harbor. After rehearsals she steamed from the Marianas on 14 February for the invasion of Iwo Jima. As Marines stormed ashore on 19 February Idaho was again blasting enemy positions with her big guns. She remained off Iwo Jima until 7 March, when she got underway for Ulithi and the last of the great Pacific assaults, Okinawa.

Idaho sailed on 21 March 1945 as part of Rear Adm. Morton L. Deyo's Gunfire and Covering Group and flagship of Bombardment Unit 4. She arrived offshore on 25 March and began silencing enemy shore batteries and pounding installations. The landings began on 1 April, and as the Japanese made a desperate attempt to drive the vast fleet away with suicide attacks, Idaho's gunners shot down numerous planes. In a massed attack on 12 April the battleship shot down five kamikazes before suffering damage to her port blisters from a near-miss. After temporary repairs she sailed on 20 April and arrived Guam five days later.

The veteran of so many of the landings of the Pacific quickly completed repairs and returned to Okinawa on 22 May to resume fire support. Idaho remained until 20 June 1945, then sailed for battle maneuvers in Leyte Gulf until hostilities ceased on 15 August 1945.

Idaho made her triumphal entry into Tokyo Bay with occupation troops on 27 August 1945, and witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender on board battleship Missouri (BB-63) on 2 September. Four days later, she began the long voyage to the East Coast of the United States, steaming via the Panama Canal to Norfolk on 16 October 1945.

Post-war 1946–1949

1946

Decommissioned on 3 July 1946 and stricken from the Navy Register on 16 September 1947, she was sold for scrap on 24 November 1947 to Lipsett Inc., of New York City.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

USS Idaho (BB-42)
USS Idaho Department of the Navy. Naval History Photographs (Bureau of Ships) — link — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
The U.S. Navy battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) anchored in Hvalfjörður, Iceland, October 1941. Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 94650 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
80-G-K-3829 (Color): USS Idaho (BB-42). Bombarding Okinawa with her 14"/50 main battery guns, 1 April 1945. Photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. (2016/02/05). National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-K-3829 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
80-G-K-3844 (Color): USS Idaho (BB-42). Fires the 14"/50 guns of Turret Three at nearly point-blank range, during the bombardment of Okinawa, 1 April 1945. Photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. (2016/02/05). National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-K-3844 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Transcribed from photograph: "Pacific Fleet. Review, Sept. 12-14, 1919. Fleet rounding Magnolia Bluff. Battleships: 1. New York. 2. Texas. 3. Wyoming. 4. Idaho. 5. Mississippi." Unknown author — File URL IIIF manifest Catalog record — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Title: IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863723 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/hec/00900/00959v.jpg Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863723/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Title: IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863723 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/hec/00900/00959a.tif Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863723/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Title: IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863724 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/hec/00900/00960v.jpg Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863724/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Title: IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863724 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/hec/00900/00960a.tif Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863724/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
LCDR. John E. Gingrich, USN on USS Idaho (BB-42), circa 1938. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83899 / [1] from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Handwritten on sleeve: Ships - "Idaho" USN. Subjects (LCTGM): Warships--Washington (State)--Seattle; Military personnel--Washington (State)--Seattle; Sailors--Washington (State)--Seattle; Waterfronts--Washington (State)--Seattle; Bodies of water--Washington (State)--Seattle Staff Photographer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer — Museum of History and Industry — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
USS Idaho (BB-42), a New Mexico -class battleship shells Okinawa on 1 April 1945, easily distinguished by her tower foremast & 5”-38 Mk 30 single turrets (visible between the barrels of the forward main turrets). Idaho was the only battleship with this configuration. United States Navy photograph, photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48). — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3829 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Rear Admiral John D. Wainwright, U.S. Navy, (COMBATDIV THREE) with members of his staff on USS Idaho (BB-42), c. 1938. (L-R): Lt. Monroe B. Duffill, USN; LCDR. John E. Gingrich, USN; Rear Admiral Wainwright, USN; LtCol. William A. Worton, USMC; Lt. K.M. Gentry, USN. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83899 / [1] from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Idaho (BB-42)
The U.S. Navy battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40) at sea with two other battleships and an amphibious force command ship (AGC), probably at the time of the Iwo Jima or Okinawa operations, circa February-April 1945. The battleship in the center background is USS Idaho (BB-42). The one further to the left is either USS Tennessee (BB-43) or USS California (BB-44). All ships are painted in Measure 21 ca USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3706 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

  1. History Idaho IV (Battleship No.42) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
  2. Facts USS Idaho (BB-42) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Idaho (BB-42) at 1927 naval review U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph USS Idaho 43-1241M Department of the Navy. Naval History Photographs (Bureau of Ships) — link — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph USS Idaho (BB-42) anchored in Hvalfjörður, Iceland, October 1941 (NH 94650) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 94650 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph Uss idaho bb-42 Photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3844 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph 80-G-K-3829 (24716984392) National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-K-3829 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph 80-G-K-3844 (24717054742) National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-K-3844 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Battleships in Harbor, September 12, 1919 - DPLA - 92fcfcee8ae138afcb9c3f7b2e3b9a44 Unknown author — File URL IIIF manifest Catalog record — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph Fleet rounding Magnolia Bluff, September 12, 1919 - DPLA - 3574c56fdc08946d9439187a643e52c3 Unknown author — File URL IIIF manifest Catalog record — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph Henrietta A. Simmons LOC 19985329959 The Library of Congress — This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.24788 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph Idaho (BB42). Starboard side, underway, two planes on catapults, 06-04-1927 - NARA - 512974 Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF LCCN2016863723 Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863723 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/hec/00900/00959v.jpg Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863723/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF LCCN2016863723 Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863723 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/hec/00900/00959a.tif Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863723/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF LCCN2016863724 Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863724 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/hec/00900/00960v.jpg Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863724/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph IDAHO, U.S.S. SILVER SERVICE OF LCCN2016863724 Harris & Ewing, photographer — Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016863724 Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/hec/00900/00960a.tif Original url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016863724/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph LCDR John E. Gingrich, USN c1938 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83899 / [1] from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph Marines and sailors on deck of USS Idaho, Seattle, ca 1925 (MOHAI 4032) Staff Photographer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer — Museum of History and Industry — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph New Mexico class battleship bombarding Okinawa United States Navy photograph, photographed from USS West Virginia (BB-48). — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3829 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph Officers aboard USS Idaho (BB-42) c1938 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83899 / [1] from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph Plans for the USS Idaho (BB-42) - NARA - 78116592 Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  22. Photograph US old battlehips underway in 1945 USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-3706 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons