Indiana II

(BB-58: dp. 36,000; 1. ff80'; b. 108'2"; dr. 29'3"; s. 27 k.; cpl. 2,600; a. 9 16", 20 6", 24 40mm., 16 20mm., cl. Indiana)

Indiana (BB-58) was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., on 21 November 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Lewis C. Robbins, daughter of Indiana governor Henry F. Schricker; and commissioned on 30 April 1942, with Captain A. S. Merrill in command.

Following shakedown in Casco Bay, Maine, the new battleship steamed through the Panama Canal to bolster U.S. fleet units in the Pacific during the critical early months of World War II. She joined Rear Admiral Lee's carrier screening force on 28 November 1942. For the next 11 months, Indiana helped protect carriers Enterprise and Saratoga, supporting American advances in the Solomons.

Indiana steamed to Pearl Harbor on 21 October 1943, and departed on 11 November with the support forces designated for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. The battleship protected the carriers which supported the Marines during the bloody fight for Tarawa. Then, in late January 1944, she bombarded Kwajalein for eight days prior to the Marshall Island landings on 1 February. While maneuvering to refuel destroyers that night, Indiana collided with battleship Washington. Temporary repairs to her starboard side were made at Majuro, and she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 13 February for additional work.

Indiana joined the famed Task Force 58 for the Truk raid on 29-30 April and bombarded Ponape Island on 1 May. In June, the battlewagon proceeded to the Marianas with a giant American fleet for the invasion of that strategic group. She bombarded Saipan on 13-14 June and brought down several enemy aircraft while fighting off concentrated air attacks on 15 June. As the Japanese fleet closed on the Marianas for a decisive naval battle, Indiana steamed out to meet them as part of Rear Admiral Lee's battle line. The great fleets approached each other on 19 June for the biggest carrier engagement of the war, and as four large air raids hit the American formations, Indiana, aided by other ships in the screens and carrier planes, downed hundreds of the attackers. With able assistance from submarines, Mitscher sank two Japanese carriers in addition to inflicting fatal losses on the enemy naval air arm during "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot."

Indiana shot down several planes and sustained only two near torpedo misses. The issue decided, the battleship resumed her screening duties around the carriers and stayed at sea for 84 days in daily support of the Marianas invasion.

In August, the battleship began operations as a unit of Task Group 38.3, bombarding the Palaus, and later the Philippines. She screened strikes on enemy shore installations from 12-20 September 1944, helping to prepare for the coming invasion of Leyte. Indiana departed for Bremerton, Wash., arriving on 23 October.

Reaching Pearl Harbor on 12 December, the battleship immediately began underway training for preparedness. She sailed on 10 January 1945 and, with a fleet of battleships and cruisers, bombarded Iwo Jima on 24 January. Indiana then joined Task Force 58 at Ulithi and sortied on 10 February for the invasion of that strategic island, the next step on the island road to Japan. She supported the carriers during a raid on Tokyo on 17 February and again on 25 February, screening strikes on Iwo Jima in the interval. Indiana arrived at Ulithi for replenishment on 5 March 1945, having just supported a strike on the next target—Okinawa.

Indiana steamed out of Ulithi on 14 March for the massive Okinawa invasion and, until June 1945, steamed in support of carrier operations against Japan and Okinawa. These devastating strikes did much to aid the ground campaign and lower Japanese morale at home. During this period, she often repelled enemy suicide plane attacks as the Japanese tried desperately but vainly to stem the mounting tide of defeat. In early June, she rode out a terrific typhoon and sailed to San Pedro Bay, Philippines, on 13 June.

As a member of Task Group 38.1, Indiana operated from 1 July to 15 August, supporting air strikes against Japan and bombarding coastal targets with her big guns. The veteran battleship arrived in Tokyo Bay on 5 September and, nine days later, sailed for San Francisco, where she arrived on 29 September 1945. She was placed in reserve in commission at Bremerton on 11 September 1946. She decommissioned on 11 September 1947 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was stricken from the Navy List on 1 June 1962 and sold for scrap. Indiana's mast is erected at the University of Indiana at Bloomington, her anchor rests at Fort Wayne, and other relics are on display in various museums and schools throughout the state.

Indiana received nine battle stars for World War II service.