About this Unit
USS Nevada (BB-36) was a battleship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1916. As the lead ship of her class, she introduced innovative features such as triple gun turrets and an "all-or-nothing" armor scheme. Nevada was present at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, sustaining heavy damage but becoming the only battleship to get underway during the assault. After extensive repairs, she participated in major World War II operations, including the Normandy landings and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, before being used as a target during atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946.
Historical Facts
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Pearl Harbor Survivor: USS Nevada (BB-36) was the only battleship to get underway during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Despite being heavily damaged, she attempted to escape the harbor but was beached to avoid sinking in the channel.
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"The Old Pirate": Nevada was nicknamed "The Old Pirate" due to her resilience and service record, especially after surviving two world wars and multiple attacks.
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First "Standard-type" Battleship: She was the lead ship of the Nevada class and the first battleship to use the "all or nothing" armor scheme, which became a standard in U.S. battleship design.
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World War I Service: Commissioned in 1916, Nevada served with the British Grand Fleet in the closing months of World War I, escorting convoys across the Atlantic.
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D-Day Fire Support: During the Normandy invasion (D-Day, June 6, 1944), USS Nevada provided crucial naval gunfire support at Utah Beach, bombarding German positions.
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Flagship at Normandy: Nevada served as the flagship for the naval bombardment group at Utah Beach during the D-Day landings.
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Kamikaze Attacks: In 1945, Nevada supported the invasion of Okinawa and survived multiple kamikaze attacks and shell hits, displaying remarkable durability.
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Able and Baker Nuclear Tests: After WWII, Nevada was assigned as a target ship for the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll (Operation Crossroads) in 1946. She survived both the "Able" air burst and "Baker" underwater detonation.
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Orange Target: For Operation Crossroads, she was painted a bright orange-red to make her more visible as a target for the bombers.
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Final Fate: Despite heavy damage from nuclear testing, Nevada remained afloat and was ultimately sunk by the U.S. Navy in 1948 after being used for gunnery practice.
