Key Points and Summary – USS Arizona, a Pennsylvania-class battleship famed for its size and firepower, became a defining symbol of December 7, 1941.
-After interwar upgrades and stateside service, Arizona was struck during the Pearl Harbor attack, exploding and sinking with 1,177 sailors.
-Left in place, the wreck became a national shrine: the USS Arizona Memorial, completed in 1962 and visited by millions annually, anchors public memory of the attack and America’s entry into WWII.
-Ongoing preservation, exhibits, and the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation keep artifacts, stories, and education alive—ensuring future generations grasp the sacrifice, shock, and historical significance of Battleship Row.
The Battleship Arizona Still Has Historical Significance Today
The USS Arizona, known for its sinking during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, was an elite ship during the interwar period. It served as one of the two battleships of the Pennsylvania-class. During that era, the Arizona was famous for its numerous guns, gargantuan size, and substantial amount of armor.
The USS Arizona, built in the mid-1910s, had a dozen 14-inch guns and 22 five-inch guns. At the time, the Arizona was the largest warship in the Navy fleet. The massive vessel was 608 feet long and displaced 31,400 tons.
History of Operations
The Arizona remained stateside during World War I, but the ship travelled with the USS George Washington, which was taking President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. The battleship rehearsed for warfare in various military exercises and drills between the wars.
In 1929, the Navy refurbished and modernized the battleship over a period of two years. New armor and engines were installed. The Arizona was then assigned to the Pacific Ocean area of operations, where it monitored the Greco-Turkish War.
The ship supported relief efforts following a 1933 earthquake near Long Beach, California, and later featured in the 1934 James Cagney film “Here Comes the Navy.”
Prepping for Potential Battle Against Japan
The US military sensed that war was imminent with the Japanese, and the Navy pulled the Arizona out of service to prepare it for battle between 1940 and 1941. In rehearsals, the USS Oklahoma accidentally struck the Arizona, and a tear in the port side temporarily took it out of action.
The Attack at Pearl Harbor
On December 6, 1941, the Arizona returned to its homeport in Pearl Harbor after a patrol. Then the next morning, it was attacked by a large force of 350 Japanese airplanes that included bombers and fighters. A 1,760-pound bomb hit the Arizona at 8:10 am.
The fuel and ammunition sparked a huge fire. The battleship began to sink, and the Japanese were not done with the attack; more bombs hit the vessel as it went down. At least 334 sailors made it out alive, but 1,177 perished.
The Arizona came to rest in waters about 40 feet deep. It continued to burn for the next 48 hours. The Navy decided not to raise the wreck. While some bodies were recovered, at least 900 remained on the ship permanently. The components above the water were not used, but some parts were remade into other warships.
What Happened to the ‘Battleship Row?’
During the attack, there were eight US Navy battleships present on “Battleship Row” – USS Arizona, USS California, USS Maryland, USS Nevada, USS Oklahoma, USS Tennessee, USS West Virginia, and USS Pennsylvania. The USS Nevada escaped damage and was able to fight back. The Japanese sank the USS Oklahoma. California and Maryland were also damaged and sunk, but California was refloated and repaired.
The Story of the Arizona Memorial
In 1950, the Arizona was recommissioned, and in 1958, the Navy decided that the battleship would be converted into a memorial. This was a privately funded effort, and even Elvis Presley gave a concert at Pearl Harbor to raise money.
In 1962, the Arizona Memorial was completed. There is a white structure surrounding the wreckage, allowing people to walk through, which is 184 feet long. Architect Alfred Preis designed the memorial.
The National Park Service assumed control of the site in 1980. Now, nearly 1.8 million people visit the piece of history.
Approximately 4,000 to 8,000 people visit the Arizona Memorial each day. A ferry departs for the site every 15 minutes. However, beginning September 3, sometimes the memorial is closed so workers can refurbish it. Two concrete mooring platforms on the hull require replacement.
You can still take photographs of the Arizona Memorial when it is closed, provided you are at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or Battleship Missouri.
There was also a USS Arizona exhibit in 2016, located at the University of Arizona in Tucson, about the battleship. Historical artifacts, memorabilia, and oral histories are still available for the public to see and hear. The ship even had its own newspaper and scrapbook.
In addition, you can donate to the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation. This honors the battleship and celebrates the USS Arizona Block V Virginia-class submarine. The foundation educates the public on the history of the brutal attack at Pearl Harbor and ensures that future generations are aware of what the battleship signifies.
The Arizona is a somber reminder of the surprise attack and will go down as one of the worst military disasters in U.S. history. It spurred a war against Japan and other Axis powers. Without the Arizona Memorial, people would not understand the horror of Pearl Harbor.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
More Military
The F-35A Stealth Fighter Is Also a Stealth Bomber
Mach 2.65 F-111 ‘Aardvark’ Strike Fighter Has a Message for the U.S. Military
Russia’s MiG-29 Fulcrum Fighter Has a Message for NATO
The X-40A Space Plane Has a Message for the U.S. Military
The Mach 6.7 X-15 Space Plane Has a Message for the U.S. Air Force
