The USS Massachusetts (BB-59), affectionately known to her crew as "Big Mamie," was a South Dakota-class fast battleship that served as a powerhouse for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Commissioned in May 1942, she holds a unique distinction in naval history for firing both the first and last American 16-inch shells of the war. Her combat debut took place during Operation Torch in November 1942, where she engaged in a fierce gun duel off the coast of Casablanca and successfully neutralized the Vichy French battleship Jean Bart. Following her success in North Africa, she transferred to the Pacific theater, where she logged over 225,000 nautical miles, protected fast carrier task forces, and bombarded Japanese industrial home islands.
Following her deactivation in 1946 and decommissioning in 1947, the legendary battleship was destined for the scrap yard until her former crew members successfully lobbied to save her. Supported by a fundraising campaign led by Massachusetts school children, the ship was spared and brought to Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1965. Today, "Big Mamie" serves as the anchor attraction at Battleship Cove, the world's largest naval ship museum. Preserved almost exactly as she was during her wartime service, the historic landmark stands as an official memorial to the citizens of the Commonwealth who gave their lives in World War II, allowing visitors to walk her 680-foot deck and marvel at her massive 16-inch guns.
