The USS Massachusetts (BB-59) was a battleship of the South Dakota class that played a significant role in World War II. Commissioned in May 1942, it served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. In the Atlantic, it participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa.
In the Pacific, the USS Massachusetts provided crucial fire support during the amphibious landings at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It earned 11 battle stars during the war. The ship was known for its accurate and devastating gunfire, earning the nickname "Big Mamie." It is believed that Massachusetts fired the 1st and last 16 in shells in combat by the United States Navy during World War 2. After the war, the USS Massachusetts was decommissioned and is now a museum ship in Fall River, Massachusetts, at "Battleship Cove", where visitors can explore its rich history and impressive firepower from that era.
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