BB.

This is coolbert:

From that prior blog entry:

"NEVER was it the intention to bring the Oklahoma back to active service. Some weaponry salvaged, the potentiality of using those main guns in a coastal defense role contemplated?"

Indeed! Of those eight American battleships [BB] present at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day of 7 December, two [Arizona and Oklahoma] mortally hit, never to sail again!

Of the remaining six BB vessels all damaged to some degree, some more so than others, at that exact moment [7 December], all of them considered to be out-of-action, hors de combat!

Those BB warships to include:

*  Pennsylvania (BB-38) (in Dry Dock No.1)
 * Arizona (BB-39) 
 * Nevada (BB-36)  
 * Oklahoma (BB-37)  
  * Tennessee (BB-43)  
  * California (BB-44)  
  * Maryland (BB-46)  
 * West Virginia (BB-48)

These vessels either somewhat antiquated World War One variety naval ships or those constructed in that period prior to the Washington naval treaty.

BB warships as repaired, refurbished, and made seaworthy, actually performing yeoman  service during the duration of the war in the Pacific. Quite admirably too. Pearl Harbor was scarcely the end for that American battleship fleet as destroyed at Pearl!

1. Battle of the Surigao Strait. That LAST TIME CAPITAL SHIPS FOUGHT IT OUT NAVAL GUNFIRE TO NAVAL GUNFIRE, IN THE ANCIENT AND VENERABLE MANNER!

Of those six American battleships present at Surigao, five were also present and damaged at Pearl Harbor.

* West Virginia
* Maryland
* California
* Tennessee
* Pennsylvania
* Mississippi

You can rest assured that Surigao was a mighty payback for Pearl Harbor for all hands concerned.

2. TF 54, that covering force and naval gunfire [shore bombardment] for Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa.

"TG 54.5 - Battle Line". Six designated and dedicated battleships three of which were present at Pearl on 7 December.

Task Group 54.5 the "Battle Line" those battleships tasked with the mission of thwarting off Japanese surface vessel attack on naval component of the Iceberg operation.

Battleships to include:

"BB  * Idaho, * New Mexico, * Tennessee, * West Virginia, * Maryland, * Colorado "

IF THE IJN BATTLESHIP YAMATO ON THAT FINAL SUICIDAL AND KAMIKAZE SORTIE HAD VENTURED TO WITHIN RANGE OF OKINAWA THAT TG 54.5 WOULD HAVE INTERCEPTED, CONFRONTED AND DID BATTLE WITH THE YAMATO IN A SURFACE ACTION OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.

3. Downfall. The invasion of Japan. Consisting of Coronet and Olympic.

Those BB possessing predominantly those fourteen inch [35 cm.] main guns to be employed in an almost apocalyptic manner. Ships run aground in a purposeful manner close to the invasion beaches. Each ship having only a skeletal crew, each and every warship becoming a pillbox of mighty proportions, those main guns fired in support of the landing forces, blasting a path through Japanese resistance. Supplies, beans and bullets to be brought to the ships for replenishment as needed. So was the plan!

That "apocalyptic" employment of the various BB not required thanks to the atomic bomb.

coolbert.