Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Partial Battleship - USS South Dakota

The South Dakota may be the only partial battleship (i.e. more than just a couple of pieces but not the entire thing) in the United States. Located in a park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the ship was cut up for scrap in 1962. 

Since it was not possible to move the old girl to her home state, the next best thing was to take pieces of her. A memorial was built with a cement wall forming the shape of her hull and pieces taken from her were placed in the approximate location where they were on the actual ship.


Looking forward you can see the outline of the ship's hull.


The museum building that houses artifacts is located where the superstructure would have been. It seems extensions were added to the original, circular building over the years.


Curious they kept the barrel of one of South Dakota's 5" guns rather than a complete mount. Note the ship's mast to the left.

The museum had additional artifacts including the flag flown on South Dakota during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

 Stern view of one of her 16" guns and one of her four screws.


 The business end of a 16" 45.


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