#14 inch gun turret

[lonestarbattleship]

USS Texas (BB-35): Firing the 14 inch guns, Part 1: loading and operations inside the turret.

To fire each 14 inch/45 caliber gun, it required several moving parts and men to move in unison. Gun crews were trained consistently to maximize the amount of rounds fired per minute, as this could mean the difference between life and death in a fire fight.

Each turret required 70 men to operate, which moved the Shells and Powder Bags from their storage in the magazines, deep in the ship, to the Gun House to fire. Each shot required one shell and four powder bags and could fire a shot every 45 seconds. The shells can vary in weight from 1,400 to 1,500 IBS (635 to 680 kg) depending on the type used. The Powder Bags each weigh from 90 to 105 pounds (41 to 48 kg). Since the Bags were hand carried and loaded, several training manuals from the era recommended these men lift heavy weights every day. This was to ensure they had stamina to last during a prolonged fire fight. This entire process was very labour intensive compared to WWII battleships. The operation of the turrets did not change during her career, except for the addition of an electric hoist for the powder bags later in her career. It cost $777 in 1914 to fire one gun, or $21,110 in 2021.

The Shellman in the gun house calls up a shell, or projectile, from the Upper Handling Room. If there were shells already on this level, men would load a shell from a rack along the outer Bulkhead, onto Upper Projectile Hoist. If there weren't any or not of type requested, a new shell was ordered from the magazine. For more information on this, read my magazine post: link. These men would move the shell to the Lower Projectile Hoist and send it up. The Upper Handling Room could store 30 shells.

At the same time, an Officer ordered for Powder to be sent up. Powder Bags would be loaded onto Powder Hoist and carried up to the Powder Flat Room. See my post on the magazines for their storage and makeup: link.

From there, handlers would feed the bags into a cramped room of the Powder Transfer room, through a port in the floor. A sailor would place the bags on the powder tray. This tray had wooden rollers and the bags would slide down into the Gun Pit.

Two men, called Powder Man 1 and 2, would move the bags on the powder trays in the gun house.

In the Gun House, the breech was unlocked and swung to the side. A metal tray, called the Rammer Tray, was lowered to the breech seat. The shell would be shifted out of the Upper Projectile Hoist and aft onto the Shell Transfer Tray or dump tray.

Then the shell is rolled onto the Platform Tray (Loading Tray). A mechanical rammer would push the shell into the chamber.

It is there, two men, called Powder Man 3 and 4, would lift up the two powder bags from the powder trays and place them on the Rammer Tray. The bags had a rad patch on the back, which contained the primer charge, and would be placed facing aft. The Rammer Man would use a wood pole and with the assistance of the Powder Man 3 and 4, would ram the bags into the chamber. The process would be repeated so there were four bags in the chamber.

The Rammer Tray was folded up and out of the way. The Plugman would close and lock the breech. A primer change was placed on the back of the breech.

The gun crew in the Gun House and Gun Pit would move from their positions and stand along the side of the turret, out of the way as it was elevated and from gun recoil. An officer would then flip a switch to let the crew in the Main Battery Plotting know the gun was armed. See my post on the factors in the targeting and when the trigger was pressed: link.

After the gun was fired, the barrel was lowered back to 0°. The barrel still has hot residue gasses and other debris that can cause blow back, which can seriously injure or kill the crew. The Plugman turned a valve on the side of the barrel, which would release highly compressed air into the barrel to discharge the gas and any unburned material. The Plugman would open the breech and the Powder Man 3 would inspect the barrel for any remaining debris and damage to the gun itself. The Rammer Tray would lower and the process was repeated.

The last time her guns were fired was while transporting Soldiers home, sometime between November and December 1945 during Operation Magic Carpet. One of the men asked the Captain if he could fire one of her guns. The Captain obliged the returning soldier's request.

A special thanks to Tom Scott for allowing me to use some of his animation. He has posted a video on his YouTube channel and is worth a watch, link.

source, source, source

509636457

[captain-price-unofficially]

The First Lord of the Admiralty addresses the Ship's Company of the battleship HMS King George V, below the quadruple 14-inch guns of "Y" turret, at Scapa Flow. 15 January 1943

[mareislandfoundation]

Stranded!

Over 100 years ago a submarine operating out of Mare Island Naval Shipyard beached outside of Humboldt Bay and the initial attempts by the Navy to refloat and tow her out to sea failed spectacularly.  However, following the Navy’s failure, the salvage was turned over to a veteran logger who rejected the notion of fighting the waves and current involved in towing the 400-ton submarine back out to sea.  Contrary to the Navy’s approach, he looked to drag the submarine across the South Spit of Humboldt Bay and relaunch it into the protected waters of the bay.

In late December 1916 Mare Island Naval Shipyard was hurriedly preparing the Protected Cruiser USS Milwaukee (C-21) For deployment on a rescue mission 250 miles up the coast off Eureka, California. The ship had been built ten years before at San Francisco’s Union Iron Works and now workers at Mare Island Naval Shipyard were busy attaching a half mile long 2 inch thick 24-ton steel cable to the ship and securing it to the after 8” gun turret. The cable had to be secured to the gun turret as no cleat or bollard on the ship could withstand the full 21,000 horsepower the ships triple expansion steam engines generated; however, as it turned out, that cable would be death of the ship.

Milwaukee was being urgently dispatched to salvage the submarine H-3 that was stranded on Samoa Beach across from the Northern California City of Eureka.  Earlier, on the morning of December 14, submarine H-3 with her sister submarines H-1 and H-2 and their tender the monitor CHEYENNE were off the Northern California port of Eureka. They were to survey the harbor as a potential location for a submarine flotilla. At about 8:30 in the morning the captain of the H-3 was blinded by fog and not in visual contact with the other ships in the small fleet. His dead reckoning placed the submarine off the tiny opening into the harbor and he began inching the submarine eastward to search for the entrance. With his leadman taking constant readings a sleeper wave lifted the submarine thrusting it forward where it then grounded on a shoal. All astern was immediately ordered, but it was to no avail. Wave after wave drove the H-3 further ashore and turned her until she was parallel with the shoreline. The waves then began destroying her bridge and rolling her from side to side throwing the men inside against internal projections. Water pored through the bridge opening requiring that the hatch be secured as the men inside fought fires and chlorine gas caused by the seawater entering the battery compartment. With the hatch closed, the 25 men on the submarine were confined within their convulsing prison until help could arrive.

That help would be hours away as the nearest Coast Guard Station was located on the other side of the harbor entrance and rescuers had to travel around the entire harbor (about 25 miles) to get to the stranded sub. In the meantime, waves continued to push the submarine further towards the shore and into the breakers. By late afternoon a breach line had been attached to the conning tower of the submarine and the crew members began to be hauled across the 100 yards of breaking surf to the beach. As they were pulled to shore waves were rolling the submarine from side-to-side slackening and tightening the line causing the men to be dipped into the sea so often that when they reached shore most were half conscious. Despite the danger, all were saved by days end and were under care for any injuries suffered. With the rescue complete attention now shifted to salvaging the H-3.

For the next five days the CHEYENNE, a Coast Guard cutter, and two tugs tried in vain to haul the H-3 off the beach. The Navy then solicited bids from private salvagers. Those bids ranged from $18,000 to over $100,000. The low bidder was a man with many years logging experience who wanted to skid the sub a mile over the Samoa peninsula to the calm waters of the harbor.in the same manner he moved massive redwood trees.  The bids were all rejected, and the Navy decided to do the job themselves with the powerful protected cruiser Milwaukee. The Milwaukee arrived on scene on January 9 and began the process of attaching the 24-ton tow line to the H-3. The plan was to tow the H-3 back to sea at high tide at 3:23 am on January 13. In the pitch black of the morning the Milwaukee took a strain on the line as she headed out to sea. She was assisted by the CHEYENNE and a small tug who were pulling her to starboard to counteract the effect of the wind, current and waves that were all pushing her to port. As the Milwaukee churned the ocean to froth the H-3 refused to budge. Then, the hawser from the Cheyenne parted. The remaining small tug was no longer able to hold the Milwaukee against the current by itself, and the waves and wind began swinging the Milwaukee to port anchored by the H-3. Urgent orders to cut the tow cable could not be completed in time and the Milwaukee swung in an arc around the H-3 until she too was grounded. It was going to be another long day for the Coast Guard rescue station.  Although the immediate situation was not urgent, there were now 450 men stranded and in need of rescue through the surf.

The Milwaukee itself was not salvageable.

Eventually a temporary pier was built from shore out to the wreck and everything that could be carried off was taken and transported back to Mare Island for use on other ships. Meanwhile, the Navy, after originally deciding that the logger’s $18,000 bid could not possibly be executed, changed their mind and decided to retain him to haul the submarine over the sand peninsula to the harbor. True to his word, the logger hauled the H-3 into the harbor and refloated her.  She was then taken to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs.

Dennis Kelly

[judgemark45]

The Japanese Battleship Kongō was Among the Most Heavily Armed When It was First Built. The Japanese battleship Kongō had some of the greatest nicknames in history; the Japanese translations for the vessel’s many names are “Indestructible Diamond,” “Indra’s Spear” and “Divine Thunder.” In addition to this, she also saw extensive service in both World War I and II. Kongō featured eight 14-inch heavy-caliber main naval guns in four twin turrets. These guns were capable of firing armor-piercing and high-explosive shells, and were the first 14-inch guns in the world to be equipped to a naval vessel. Kongō was formally commissioned in August 1913. In November 1944, Kongō was spotted by the submarine USS Sealion (SS-315) in the Formosa Strait. The vessel fired six bow torpedoes at the battleship, two of which hit and flooded Kongō‘s boiler rooms. While she was able to escape the scene, the damage proved to be too much, with her sinking to the bottom of the strait after her forward 14-inch magazine exploded. Over 1,200 crewmen died. Kongō was the only Japanese battleship to be sunk by a submarine during WWII, while Sealion was the only Allied submarine to sink an enemy battleship. - Todd Neikirk

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

Martin XB-10 in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The first group of 14 airplanes were designated YB-10. The YB-10 (Martin Model 139) had enclosed canopies for the pilot and top gunner, and a nose turret. The crew consisted of a pilot, radio operator and three gunners. These airplanes were powered by two air-cooled, supercharged, 1,823.129-cubic-inch-displacement (29.876 liter) Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-F2 (R-1820-25) 9-cylinder radial engines with a compression ratio of 6.4:1, rated at 750 horsepower at 1,950 r.p.m. at Sea Level. The engines turned three-bladed Hamilton Standard adjustable-pitch propellers through a 16:11 gear reduction. The R-1820-25 was 3 feet, 11–13/16 inches (1.214 meters) long, 4 feet, 5-¾ inches (1.365 meters) in diameter, and weighed 1,047 pounds (475 kilograms).

The bomber could carry two 1,130 pound (513 kilogram) bombs, or five 300 pound (136 kilogram) bombs in its internal bomb bay. Alternatively, a 2,000 pound (907 kilogram) bomb could be carried externally. There were three .30-caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine guns for defense.

The first full scale production version was the B-10B, which was very similar to the service test YB-10s. These airplanes were 44 feet, 9 inches (13.640 meters) long with a wingspan of 70 feet, 6 inches (21.488 meters) and height of 15 feet, 5 inches (4.670 meters). The B-10B had an empty weight of 9,681 pounds (4,391 kilograms).

The engines installed in this variant were Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-F3 (R-1820-33), rated at 700 horsepower at 1,950 r.p.m. at Sea Level. Dimensions, weight and propeller gear reduction for this engine are the same as the R-1820-25, above.

The B-10B had a cruising speed of 193 miles per hour (311 kilometers per hour), and maximum speed of 213 miles per hour (343 kilometers per hour) at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

Via Flickr

[pinturas-sgm-marina]

1941 05 26 Sighting the Bismarck - Robert Taylor

In the early hours of May 24, 1941, as the mighty German ships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen slipped through the Denmark Strait, they were dramatically intercepted by the Royal Naval battleships Hood and Prince of Wales. Within six minutes of the first salvo being fired, the Hood, pride of the Royal Navy, was blown out of the water in one of the most gigantic explosions ever witnessed at sea.

Bismarck’s fourth salvo landed a shell forward of the Hood’s after turrets, piercing her deck, exploding the 4-inch magazine. Simultaneously this detonated the adjacent 15-inch magazine, and in one mighty eruption the battleship broke in two. Within seconds she was gone. Of the ship’s company of 1400 officers and sailors only three survived.

Outraged at the grievous loss Winston Churchill signaled the Admiralty just three words: “Sink the Bismarck!” Thus began one of the epic sea chases in the history of naval warfare.

Damaged by shells from Prince of Wales’s 14-inch guns, and losing fuel oil, Admiral Lutjens broke off the engagement and steamed Bismarck towards the anonymity of the North Atlantic. Evading the British warships for 32 hours he had hopes of reaching the safety of Brest, but when spotted by a lone Catalina of 209 Squadron RAF Coastal Command, Lutjens knew it was the beginning of the end for the mighty German warship.

When attacked by Swordfish from Ark Royal, her rudder was jammed and Bismarck’s fate was sealed. As she limped haphazardly through the waves trailing oil, the Home Fleet closed in for the final encounter.  Overwhelmed by British gums and torpedoes, Bismarck’s crew fought a gallant last battle, but the odds were too great. Watching Bismarck’s final moments from King George V’s bridge, Admiral Tovey said: “She put up a noble fight against impossible odds, worthy of the old days of the Imperial German Navy.”

Robert Taylor, master-painter of sea and sky, portrays the Bismarck at the fateful moment she was located by RAF Coastal Command. Greeted by a defiant barrage of fire from Bismarsk’s anti-aircraft guns, the Catalina veers away, but already the radio operator has transmitted her position. Like the Hood just two days earlier, the pride of Hitler’s Kriegsmarine was by now, destined for the deep.

[nitewrighter]

I know Faustine wouldnt be the type to fight on the same level as thugs like AU!Rei would but the idea of both of them fighting a losing battle and it getting all gritty is such a badass concept. LikeFaustine checking her phone while constantly getting dogged by this john wick level hitman and Rei facing off against a big null sector omnic. Faustine's opponent finally getting the upper hand and knocking her down then moving to execute her. The generic big bad holding the amaris hostage spewing their evil monologue only to getcut off by a beep from Faustine's phone, a ding from the hitman and the omnic seizing up. Hitman going from tense to lax as they point their gun away and extend a hand towards Faustine to help them up, going extremely polite and apologetic, while the omnic turns away from Rei to stand between her and the big bad and their lesser goons. And it all concluding with Faustine standing up, a bit of blood trickling from her wide grin. Ahhhh sorry about the ramble, Mun 😅

The other option is Rei thinks Faustine has ditched her early on, but Faustine’s actually taken a detour to hijack the entire building’s security system. And then Rei gets to the final boss like “Goddammit I have to do everything myself!” and that’s when Faustine comes over the speakers like, “Oh, just conveniently ignore all of the 14-inch steel doors that magically opened for you! Of course!” 

Big Bad: What--how did you---Oh you are not staying there--System, activate wall turrets!

Faustine, still speaking over the turrets: ...I believe you mean my wall turrets.

*several guns jut out of the walls and fix on the big bad*

Big Bad: ...ah.

So Rei’s able to get the boys back and they rush to the control room where Faustine is like... scary wired into all of the control panels and it’s clear hooking into a system that extensive takes a toll on her because she looks rough, but she’s still trying to play it off all nonchalant like “I’m still detaching, give me a minute--”

Samir: I didn’t think you could take over a system this big.

Faustine: ...oh I’m really not supposed to. *inhales sharply as the last few wires retract back into her hands*

Samir: Foss, you popped a blood vessel in your eye--I--Is that blood coming out of your ear?

Faustine: *vaguely* Probably...?

[greatworldwar2]

• HMCS Haida

HMCS Haida is a Tribal-class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) from 1943 to 1963, participating in World War II and the Korean War. She was named for the Haida people.

The Tribals were designed to fight heavily armed destroyers of other navies, such as the Japanese Fubuki class. Canada chose the design based on its armament, with the size and power of the Tribal class allowing them to act more like small cruisers than as fleet destroyers. Haida was among the first batch of Tribal-class destroyers ordered by the RCN in 1940–1941. They were ordered with modified ventilation and heating systems for North Atlantic winter service. Haida's design was modified after deficiencies were noted in the lead ship of the Canadian Tribals, HMCS Iroquois. Haida, as one of the British-built Tribal-class destroyers, was 335 feet 6 inches (102.26 m) long between perpendiculars and 377 feet (115 m) long overall with a beam of 36 feet 6 inches (11.13 m) and a draught of 13 feet (4.0 m). As built, the destroyer displaced 1,927 long tons (1,958 t) standard and 2,745 long tons (2,789 t) at deep load. Haida had a complement of 14 officers and 245 ratings. As built, Haida was fitted with six quick-firing 4.7-inch (119 mm) Mk XII guns placed in three twin turrets. For secondary anti-aircraft armament, the destroyer was equipped with four single-mounted 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns. The vessel was also fitted with four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes for Mk IX torpedoes.

Haida's keel was laid down by Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd. at their shipyard in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on September 29th, 1941. The destroyer was launched on August 25th, 1942 and commissioned into RCN service on August 30th, 1943. She underwent workups under her first commanding officer, H.G. DeWolf before reporting to the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in October 1943. After commissioning Haida was assigned to the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. On November 28th Haida was among the destroyer escort for the Russian convoy RA 54B, protecting it until it reached Loch Ewe on December 9th without loss. The convoy JW 55B sailed from Loch Ewe for Russia on December 20th. Haida was a member of its ocean escort. The German battleship Scharnhorst was deployed to intercept the convoy. While the cruisers escorting the convoy kept the German vessel at bay, Haida and the other escorting destroyers shepherded the convoy away from danger until the German battleship was sunk by a British force. Haida joined the escort of RA 55B on the return journey to the UK which sailed from Kola Inlet on December 31st and arrived on January 8th, 1944. On January 10th, 1944, she was reassigned to the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth and took part in the Operation Tunnel and Operation Hostile sweeps in the Bay of Biscay and along the French coast of the English Channel.

By April, Haida had sailed on nineteen of the Operation Tunnel/Hostile missions. Haida continued the Operation Hostile sorties in company of sister ship Huron during the weeks leading up to Operation Overlord. The 10th Destroyer Flotilla were part of the covering force for surface attacks at the western entrance of the English Channel during the invasion of Normandy. On June 9th, Haida was part of Task Force 26 which engaged the German 8th Destroyer Flotilla, comprising Z32, Z24, ZH1 and T24 northwest of the Île de Bas. Following the fall of Cherboug, the German E-boats were transferred to Le Havre, freeing up the 10th Flotilla. The flotilla was then given the dual role of covering Allied motor torpedo boat flotillas and search and sink missions against German shipping along the French coast. On June 24th, while on patrol in the English Channel off Land's End, investigated a Liberator bomber dropping depth charges on a target. Haida and the British destroyer Eskimo began their own depth charge attacks after being informed that a submarine had been spotted. After several attacks, the submarine surfaced and attempted to run. Haida and Eskimo began to fire with all their guns and sank U-971. Haida rescued six survivors of the sunken submarine. On August 5th, Haida was part of a force engaged in an Operation Kinetic sweep. The force attacked a German convoy north of the Île de Yeu and sank the minesweepers M 263 and M 486, the patrol boat V 414 and the coastal launch Otto. During the battle a shell exploded in one of Haida's turrets and started a fire, killing two and injuring eight, knocking the turret out of action. Staying in the line of battle, the destroyers were engaged by shore batteries when they attempted to take on a second convoy and were forced to withdraw without doing much damage to the German merchant vessels.

Haida departed Western Europe on September 22nd for Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving on September 29th. The destroyer returned to Scapa Flow in mid-January 1945 after refitting to receive new radar. In March Haida escorted aircraft carriers in minelaying operations off Granesund, Norway and assisted in attacks on shipping off Trondheim from March 24th-28th. On April 7th, Haida escorted seven anti-submarine warfare vessels from Greenock, Scotland destined for Soviet use at Vaenga, on the Kola Inlet. Haida experienced one of the last RCN engagements of the Second World War when she escorted convoy RA 66 from Vaenga from April 29th to May 2nd. The convoy was attacked in transit and Haida and Huron received near-misses from torpedoes fired by U-boats. In the skirmish, two U-boats were sunk, along with the frigate Goodall, and the convoy escaped in a snowstorm. Haida and Huron returned to Scapa Flow on 6 May and were assigned to relief operations at Trondheimsfjord, Norway on May 17th. Haida, along with Huron and Iroquois, left for Halifax in June to refit as part of Canada's contribution to Operation Downfall. They arrived on June 10th and Haida started a tropicalization refit but it was suspended after the surrender of Japan later that summer.

After the war, Haida was in inactive reserve for approximately one year but was prepared for reactivation in 1947 and underwent a refit for updated armament and sensors. This involved replacing the main armament, with the 4.7-inch guns removed and two twin Mk XVI 4-inch gun mounts installed forward and a twin 3-inch (76 mm)/50 calibre gun mount installed aft. Haida and her sister ship HMCS Nootka participated in exercises between the RCN's Atlantic Fleet and the United States Navy and Royal Navy over the next several years and were the first RCN ships to penetrate Hudson Bay in Fall 1948. Haida was involved in assisting during the grounding of the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent off Port Mouton, Nova Scotia on June 4th, 1949. In November 1949, Haida rescued the 18 members of the crew of a United States Air Force B-29 bomber that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. The opening of the Korean War on June 25th, 1950 saw Haida once again activated for war duty. She was converted to a destroyer escort and began refit in July 1950 which saw various new armaments and sensors and communications systems. Following the Korean operations, Haida embarked on Cold War anti-submarine warfare duties with other NATO units in the North Atlantic and West Indies.

In 2002, at the urging of Hamilton, Ontario MP Sheila Copps, Parks Canada purchased Haida from the provincial government and towed her (with great difficulty) from her Ontario Place dock to a shipyard at Port Weller for a $5 million refit to her hull. She was taken to a new home on the Hamilton waterfront and arrived to an 11-gun salute from 31 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Lion and her 12-pounder naval field gun on August 30th, 2003, the 60th anniversary of her commissioning into the RCN.

[nebris]

The 2 turrets of Triple 14 inch (356 mm) guns turrets of the Battleship California (BB-44) circa 1945.

[neskire]

USS California (BB-44) was the second of two Tennessee-class battleships built for the United States Navy between her keel laying in October 1916 and her commissioning in August 1921. The Tennessee class was part of the standard series of twelve battleships built in the 1910s and 1920s, and were developments of the preceding New Mexico class. They were armed with a battery of twelve 14-inch (360 mm) guns in four three-gun turrets. California served as the flagship of the Battle Fleet in the Pacific Ocean for duration of her peacetime career. She spent the 1920s and 1930s participating in routine fleet training exercises, including the annual Fleet Problems, and cruises around the Americas and further abroad, such as a goodwill visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1925.  (source: Wikipedia)

[lonestarbattleship]

View of the 14 inch guns of USS TEXAS (BB-35). She was in Port Townsend, Washington.

Note: the Hanriot HD2 aircraft on turret #2.

Date: December 3-4, 1920.

[gold-and-rubies]

In It For The Long Haul - Chapter 14

Violence against robots. Mac POV.

MacCready shivered lightly as he and Flynn trudged through the snowy wastes. He was thankful for the new duster. He was sure that if he had the old one he would have frozen to death.

They had received a call over the radio to go down to The Castle. MacCready had decided to skirt around the Boston ruins. He did not want to deal with the raiders and mutants that they were sure to run into if they went along the river and harbor. Part of him regretted it, since they had to walk in a large loop to avoid the bad pockets.

As they came over the crest of the hill MacCready spotted one of the old military checkpoints that littered the roads of the Commonwealth. An old Mister Gutsy roamed the area. Just as he was just about to start on a path to take them around it he saw a suit of power armor.

He nudged Flynn with his elbow lightly, “There’s power armor down there. Probably some ammo too. We should go.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “You sure it’s not a trap? It’s out in the open.”

“Yeah. There’s a Mister Gutsy. Jamaica Plain, University Point, and South Boston are nearby. Plus that junkyard I told you about. I doubt it’s a trap,” he explained.

She nodded, but he doubted she knew what was wrong with the places he listed. He forgot about her time in the vault sometimes. He was going to have to sit down with her one of these days when they are not overly exhausted, and fill her in on everything he could.

He dropped to a crouch half way between the crest and the checkpoint. Flynn dropped down next to him, not wanting to draw attention to them both. He brought his rifle up, and stared through the scope. He traced the rhythmic motions of the robot for a bit before firing two consecutive shots. He nailed it just right and it’s power cut out.

“Damn….” Flynn swore quietly beside him.

He smiled to himself.

They made their way down, and found that the power armor was not only safe, but was also an almost perfect T-60 suit complete with a fusion core that still had some juice in it. Thankfully, there was not a fleck of paint on it either.

“Well, Damn,” MacCready swore, “A decent T-60 that doesn’t belong to the Brotherhood? Don’t mind if we do.”

“You think they’ll try to take it from us?” Flynn asked. She was completely serious.

“Nah. If we keep it at The Castle or Sanctuary it should be fine.”

She nodded, “You want to take the armor or…?”

“You take it. You’ll be actually intimidating for once,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes at him as she climbed into the suit. Normally she was several inches shorter than him, half a foot at the least, but in the power armor suit she almost towered over him. He wondered how she managed to operate the thing without modifications.

They walked along the shore, with Flynn being closer to the water. Every now and then she would make a comment about how much she loved the ocean. That it was one of the perks of living in The Commonwealth.

He did not understand why she loved it so much. It did not smell great, and it was full of mirelurks and who knew what else. He had stepped into a boat once or twice, and to say he lacked sea legs was an understatement. He would much rather stand on dry, solid ground where he knew what threats he was facing.

The only good thing about it was the look of wonder that came on her face. That was something he was noticing. When they first met she did not emote much, and if she did was either subdued or angry. She was slowly letting other things through. He felt a little honored that she was slowly opening up to him. He knew as well as anyone else how hard that could be, especially since he had almost everything buried.

As they approached The Castle they could hear the radio before they even got close to the entrance.

“While we’re here I want to get one of those funny looking hats. Always wanted one of those…” he joked.

He glanced at Flynn with a shit eating grin. He did not need to see her face to know what her expression was.

As they stepped into the courtyard he slowed his pace. At this point they were partners, but she was absolutely in charge when it came to the Minutemen. Who she was as the General was part of who she was, but it was a different part than who he was used to.

“Can you hold this?” she asked, handing him her pistol.

He grabbed it with a look of confusion. He realized why when she took off her helmet. He mentally slapped himself. It made sense since no one would be able to know who she was for sure, even with MacCready by her side.

“Thanks. Stay here,” She ordered.

He nodded, and watched as she walked up to the man in charge of the radio. MacCready vaguely remembered his name. Lewis something or something Lewis.

Lewis pointed somewhere, and Flynn nodded. She turned back around towards MacCready, and gestured at him to follow her with her head. He followed her over to a grouchy looking, older woman.

“Excuse me, are you Ronnie Shaw?” Flynn asked her.

“Who else would I be? Can’t mistake me for one of the pups running things around here.”

MacCready narrowed his eyes at her, but kept his mouth shut. It had taken him a bit, but he knew better than to mouth off when it came to Minutemen business. Unless it was just Garvey of course. In that case he would actively try to bug him sometimes.

“I’m General Flynn. I heard your message on the radio.”

Shaw half scoffed, “I’ve been waiting to talk to you. I used to be with the Minutemen myself, back before Joe Becker got himself killed and the Idiots took over.”

Flynn shot him a warning glance as though she could tell he was having a hard time holding back. To be fair she probably could.

She smiled, “Well, I’m glad to meet you. We could use some more… experienced soldiers.”

“You’re right about that. I feel like some of these you’ve got may still need their diapers changed. And you seem pretty young yourself.”

MacCready could not help, but roll his eyes. He was glad neither woman saw it though.

Flynn cleared her throat, “I’d still like to hear what you came to talk to me about.”

“Heard you were trying to get the Minutemen back on their feet. Thought I’d come see the new general for myself. So, what’s your story? What makes you think anybody wants the Minutemen back?”

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people. All of them have said that things got far worse when the Minutemen fell apart. That everything is so much better with us around. Even if people didn’t want us, it’s easy to see that we’re needed. I know things weren’t great, but we’re the good guys again,” Flynn explained.

Shaw nodded, seemingly pleased with her answer, “I’ve heard some good things. Wouldn’t be here otherwise, and now that I’m here I can see you really need my help.”

“The more help the merrier.”

“Yeah. You’re not kiddin’, but I had something specific in mind. I’m probably the only person who still remembers this, but The Castle’s armory was located in the west bastion,” Shaw started walking past them to it, “All of our best equipment was stored there. Weapons, ammo, schematics, you name it.”

Though he was not a fan of how she was talking to Flynn, the sound of all that equipment was music to his ears. He hoped there was something of actual value, and not just a pile of .38 bullets.

“Looks like it’s in good shape. Door is still sealed, bastion’s still standing. All we need is a way in.”

“I hope you have an idea,” Flynn said.

“Of course I do. If you can’t go through, go around,” she responded, and led them to the part of The Castle that still stood proudly. She pushed open the doors to what was the general’s quarters.

“I thought I told them to use this room for normal quarters,” Flynn sighed.

Shaw stopped, and looked at her, “Why?”

“I’m hardly ever here. This is an important place, but we’re rebuilding out of Sanctuary. It might be closer to the edge of the Commonwealth, but it’s easier to get to. Besides, we need as many guns as possible and I don’t really need a special room.”

“There are several generals rolling in their graves. Anyway, there’s a tunnel that leads from here to the armory.”

Flynn put her helmet back on, “At least they cleared the rubble…. MacCready, can I have my pistol back?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah,” he handed it to her. He somehow forgot he was holding it for her.

“Who is he, by the way?”

“Uh, he’s… an unofficial part of the Minutemen? He basically does all of the work without the title.”

She narrowed her eyes at them.

“I’m a merc with a heart of gold,” he joked.

“Things really are changing,” Shaw scoffed.

They made their way down the stairs, and into the tunnels. The air was moist, but stale. It smelled like dirt, and something horrible. A green glow lit the walls.

“There’s some landmines down here. Watch out,” Shaw warned.

“We should clear this place later. It’d be a good place to go during radstorms,” Flynn said.

They weaved through the maze-like tunnels. There was a turret, but it was a smoking pile of scrap in a matter of seconds. The next two rooms were relatively empty. At least there was nothing that interested him.

As they stepped into the last room, his ears were met with the sound of a sentry bot booting up.

“Sentry Bot designation SARGE powering up,” it said.

“What the actual fuck is that?” Flynn exclaimed, throwing professionalism out of the window.

MacCready whipped around to see it come out of its station. Then it’s gun started up.

“Oh sssshhhhhh…”

“GET BEHIND ME!” Flynn bellowed.

MacCready and Shaw dove behind her without a second thought. Bullets sprayed across the room. They sent chunks of stone flying through the room as they hit the column. He winced as he heard them hit Flynn. He knew she would be fine, but it was hard not to.

They poked their guns out to shoot the bot. The bullets were hardly doing anything. The musket was doing slightly better, but not by much.

MacCready was starting to wonder if they could make a run for it when Flynn cursed.

“I’m going to try something. You two need to get behind the wall, now,” she ordered.

He did not need to be told twice. They backed up to behind the wall, and peered through the arch way. Flynn tossed her pistol aside. The bot charged at her, and she was pushed back an inch or two. She grabbed a hold of its arms just before it could smack her. They struggled for a moment, then the sound of creaking metal filled the room.

She was somehow pushing its arms backwards. Its gun started up again, sending a rain of bullets into the wall opposite of them. The plating was starting to glow red. She bent the arms back further and further until the gun stopped. Then with a shower of sparks they were bent completely out of place. They were barely hanging on.

Her hands flew back as though she was afraid of being burned. They would not be, but with the mixture of the sparks and red hot plating, it made sense.

It started to get ready to charge at her again, but it stopped. It was overheated.

“Grab its fusion cores,” MacCready told her.

She moved surprisingly fast given the power armor. She was behind it in a second. She managed to rip out its fusion cores just as powered up again.

They were quiet for a moment, scared of it coming back to life.

“Too bad Sarge went haywire. He’s been guarding The Castle since… forever, far as I know,” Shaw said.

MacCready looked at her like she was crazy. He looked over at Flynn who he guessed was wearing an exasperated look.

They stepped around the old sentry bot, and headed to the other end of the room. There was a terminal sitting on a desk next to a security door.

“Alright, let’s see. I used to know this password… ‘One if by land…’ no. ‘For the Commonwealth….’ Goldurnit, it’s been a long time… ‘United we stand…’ there we go.”

She selected a few things on the terminal, and the door swung open. He was half-expecting there to be an assaultron waiting for them. Instead there was a desk, several bottles of wine, and a dead body. The skeleton chained up between the walls. He decided not to comment on it.

Shaw stood next to the body, looking somber.

“That explains all the landmines. This is, well… was, General McGann. He had your job when I first joined up. Must’ve gotten trapped down here when that sea beast attacked. He did manage to keep the armory secure. I’ll give him that much,” she sighed, “I guess the uniform is yours now. This old geezer doesn’t need it any more. Rest in peace, General. Your fight is done and the Minutemen live on.”

He shifted from foot to foot uncomfortable. Things got awfully sobering faster than he was comfortable with.

“Heh, no point in getting sentimental in something that happened over forty years ago. Come on, the armory is just through this door.”

I swear to fucking god. If there is another murder bot in there, MacCready thought.

They climbed the stairs, and sure enough, they were inside the west bastion. Flynn hit the button on the wall, and the door to the courtyard swung open. They pushed open the double doors.

MacCready could not lie, there was some good stuff in there. Laser turrets, laser guns, several different grenades, and workbenches. His eyes widened when they landed on the fat man. He whistled appreciatively.

He turned around and saw Flynn put her pistol on the table in the center of the room. She took her helmet off, and her hair was stuck to her face. She shook her head to get it all out of her face. Her hair momentarily became a red halo. When it all landed, it framed her face beautifully.

His mouth fell open a bit, but he closed it just as quickly. He blushed slightly. Since he realized that he might like her a little more than as a friend. He was slowly realizing how beautiful she was.

“Now,” Shaw interrupted his train of thought, “I know those turrets, and the fat man looks great, but this,” she handed a large rolled up piece of paper to Flynn, “is why I wanted to get in here.”

She took it with a skeptical look. She unfurled it and studied it for a moment. Her eyebrows raised.

“Are these… schematics?” she asked.

“Yes, yes they are. For artillery to be exact.”

MacCready raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure that’s a good thing, but what’s that?”

“Similar to a canon. They are essentially really powerful, really big guns,” Flynn explained.

“Well damn.”

“These things can take down anything.”

“I have to admit,” Flynn said, “this is great. Would you mind if I put you in charge of building them here?”

“I’d be honored. It’s good to see the Minutemen growing again. You could use some work, but I think we’re in good hands. Good to meet you, General.”

Flynn smiled and handed the schematics back to her, and she left.

“You don’t like her very much, do you?” she asked.

“Of course not. Only authority I like is you and Hancock. But that artillery… You think it’s strong enough to, oh, I don’t know. Blow the Brotherhood out of the sky?”

She frowned, “It might be, but I hope we don’t have to. We’ve got raiders and Gunners against us inherently, and we’re picking a fight with the Institute. We have other things to worry about.”

He hated to admit, but she was right. They had bigger problems to deal with.

[mr-arlien]

Greyhawk Initiative’s Newest Warships

Admiral Summerdawn-class Carrier

The Admiral Summerdawn-class was under development at the beginning of the Void-G.I. War. The first vessel launched under it’s namesake, the Admiral Summerdawn, and joined the Second Fleet of the Initiative. A second vessel is under custruction, but isn’t due to sail until at least June 15th, 42 L.C.

With a compliment of ten attack aircraft, five torpedo bombers, and six air superiority aircraft, as well as ten five inch dual purpose guns. With a torpedo belt, medium armor, and a speed of 28 knots, the carrier can respond to threats or evade enemy forces. (Reference, Graf Zeppelin-class, Kriegsmarine)

Defender-class Light Cruiser

An upgrade from the Feathermoon-class Light Cruiser, the Defender-class Light Cruiser houses multiple improvements developed during the conflict with the Void Fleet. Armed with nine 8″ guns housed in three turrets, as well as two sets of Quad torpedo launchers, the cruisers are capable of punching higher than their weight class. With light armor, a speed of 32 knots, and formidable anti-air capabilities, the vessel is cable of evading and defending itself.

The first three Defender-class cruisers were launched on May 15th, the Defender, Renown, and Darkshire, joining the Second Fleet.

(Reference, Leipzig-class, Kriegsmarine)

Westfall-class Heavy Cruiser

The first independently developed heavy cruiser outside of Stormwind’s Purview, the Westfall-class Heavy cruiser, or battlecruiser, represents the evolving nature of warfare on the high seas. Armed with twelve 10″ guns in four turrets, as well as 20 anti-ship secondaries of various smaller calibers and moderate air defense, the ship is designed to combat capital ships when a battleship is not present. With a speed of 30 knots, and moderately heavy armor, the ship can take most hits, and outrun most vessels that can indeed hit extremely hard.

The first vessel, the Westfall, was launched on the 16th of May, 42 L.C., and assigned to the Second Fleet.(Reference, Roon-class, Kriegsmarine)

Class C Destroyer

An improvement over the Class B destroyer, the Class C destroyer has six 5″ guns in three turrets, and three Quad torpedo launchers. Still having little armor, but excellent agility and a speed of 38 knots, the Class C can evade most shots.

A total of eight ships, Z-7, Z-8, Z-9, Z-10, Z-11, Z-12, Z-13, and Z-14, were launched, with Z-7, Z-8, and Z-9 assigned to the First Fleet, with the rest sent to the Second Fleet. (Reference, Type 1934(c) class, Kriegsmarine)

[judgemark45]

The South Dakota class was ordered in the context of global naval rearmament during the breakdown of the Washington treaty system that had controlled battleships construction during the 1920s and early 1930s. Under the Washington and London treaties, so-called treaty battleships were limited to a standard displacement of 35,000 long tons (36,000 t) and a main battery of 14-inch (360 mm) guns. In 1936, following Japan's decision to abandon the treaty system, the United States Navy decided to invoke the "escalator clause" in the Second London treaty that allowed displacements to rise to 45,000 long tons (46,000 t) and armament to increase to 16 in (410 mm) guns. Congressional objections to increasing the size of the new ships forced the design staff to keep displacement as close to 35,000 LT as possible while incorporating the larger guns and armor sufficient to defeat guns of the same caliber.

Indiana was 680 feet (210 m) long overall, displaced 44,519 long tons (45,233 t) at full combat load, a top speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph and armed with a main battery of nine 16"/45 caliber Mark 6 guns[a] guns in three triple-gun turrets on the centerline, two of which were placed in a superfiring pair forward, with the third aft.

[mostly-history]

Salvage of USS Arizona (BB-39) in Pearl Harbour, where she was sunk during the Japanese air raid.  Her hull was left where she sank. Most of her superstructure was removed, and her 14-inch gun turrets and other guns were salvaged:

View of the sunken battleship's forward superstructure, showing the damage caused when her forward magazines exploded (February 17th, 1942).  The crane in the background is removing the main mast.

Members of the diving crew emerge from water-filled compartments, from which they are removing parts of the ship's armament and other items for reuse (1942 – 1943).

[sixfrigates]

USS Maryland (BB-46)

Maryland was a Colorado-class battleship commissioned in 1921. Following her commissioning, Maryland undertook an East Coast shakedown cruise. Shortly thereafter, Maryland was made flagship of Admiral Hilary P. Jones. Maryland found herself in great demand for special occasions. She appeared at Annapolis, Maryland, for the 1922 United States Naval Academy graduation and at Boston, Massachusetts, for the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill and the Fourth of July.

 From 18 August to 25 September, she paid her first visit to a foreign port transporting Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes to Rio de Janeiro for Brazil's Centennial Exposition. The next year, after fleet exercises off the Panama Canal Zone, Maryland transited the canal in the latter part of June to join the battle fleet stationed on the west coast. She continued to be a flagship until 1923 when the flag was shifted to Pennsylvania.

She made another voyage to a foreign port in 1925, this time to Australia and New Zealand. Several years later, in 1928, she transported President-elect Herbert Hoover on the Pacific leg of his tour of Latin America. She was overhauled in 1928–1929, and the eight 3-inch anti-aircraft guns were replaced by eight 5-inch/25 cal guns. Throughout these years and the 1930s, she served as a mainstay of fleet readiness through tireless training operations. She conducted numerous patrols in the 1930s.

In 1940, Maryland and the other battleships of the battle force changed their bases of operations to Pearl Harbor. She was present at Battleship Row along Ford Island during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941.

On the morning of 7 December, Maryland was moored along Ford Island, with Oklahoma to port, connected by lines and a gangway. To her fore was California, while Tennessee and West Virginia were astern. Further aft were Nevada and Arizona. The seven battleships, in what is now known as "Battleship Row," had recently returned from maneuvers. Many of Maryland's crew were preparing for shore leave at 09:00 or eating breakfast when the Japanese attack began. As the first Japanese aircraft appeared and explosions rocked the outboard battleships, Maryland's bugler blew general quarters.

Seaman Leslie Short—addressing Christmas cards near his machine gun—brought the first of his ship's guns into play, shooting down one of two torpedo bombers that had just released against Oklahoma. Inboard of Oklahoma, and thus protected from the initial torpedo attack, Maryland managed to bring all her antiaircraft (AA) batteries into action. The devastating initial attack sank Oklahoma, and she capsized quickly, with many of her surviving men climbing aboard Maryland to assist her with anti-aircraft defenses.

Maryland was struck by two armor-piercing bombs which detonated low on her hull. The first struck the forecastle awning and made a hole about 12 ft (3.7 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m). The second exploded after entering the hull at the 22 ft (6.7 m) water level at Frame 10. The latter hit caused flooding and increased the draft forward by 5 ft (1.5 m). Maryland continued to fire and, after the attack, sent firefighting parties to assist her compatriots, especially attempting to rescue survivors from the capsized Oklahoma. The men continued to muster the AA defenses in case the Japanese returned to attack. In all, two officers and two men were killed in the attack.

The Japanese erroneously announced that Maryland had been sunk, but on 30 December, the damaged ship entered Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs just behind Tennessee. Two of the original twelve 5 -inch/51 cal guns were removed and the 5-inch/25 cal guns were replaced by an equal number of 5-inch/38 cal dual purpose guns. Over the course of the next two months, she was repaired and overhauled, receiving new fighting equipment. Repairs were complete on 26 February 1942. She then underwent a series of shakedown cruises to West Coast ports and the Christmas Islands. She was sent back into action in June 1942, the first ship damaged at Pearl Harbor to return to duty.

During the important Battle of Midway, Maryland played a supporting role. Like the other older battleships, she was not fast enough to accompany the aircraft carriers, so she operated with a backup fleet protecting the West Coast. Maryland stood by on security, awaiting call from other ships if she was needed, until the end of the battle. At the end of the action around Midway, Maryland was sent to San Francisco.

Thereafter, Maryland engaged in almost constant training exercises with Battleship Division 2, Battleship Division 3, and Battleship Division 4 until 1 August, when she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs, her first time in the harbor since the Japanese attack. She departed Pearl Harbor in early November with Colorado, bound for the forward area. On 12 November, the pig mascot King Neptune came aboard Maryland to initiate her "pollywogs" for the line-crossing ceremony. Maryland steamed for the Fiji Islands where she patrolled against Japanese incursion. The two battleships acted as sentinels to guard against Japanese advance to prevent Japanese forces from threatening Australia. During this duty, the two battleships conducted frequent sweeps for Japanese forces.

In early 1943, with the success of the Solomon Islands campaign, Allied forces went on the offensive. In February 1943, Maryland and Colorado moved to New Hebrides, operating off of Efate.[11] Intense heat there proved difficult and unpleasant for the crew. She then moved to Espiritu Santo to guard against Japanese incursion, but heat and heavy rains plagued this tour of duty.[10] Maryland and Colorado stood out of Aore Island Harbor in August. During a five-week overhaul at Pearl Harbor's shipyard, several 40 millimetres (1.6 in) AA guns were installed on the top decks and foremast as protection against anticipated Japanese air raids in future operations.

Departing the Hawaiian Islands on 20 October 1943 for the South Pacific, Maryland became flagship for Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill's V Amphibious Force and Southern Attack Force in the Gilbert Islands Invasion. Also aboard her were Major General Julian C. Smith, commander of 2nd Marine Division, General "Howling Mad" Smith, commander of the Marine landing forces, and Colonel Evans Carlson, commander of Carlson's Raiders. Maryland returned to Efate Island staging area, where she joined a large task force preparing for an assault on Tarawa.

The battle of Tarawa commenced on 20 November. In her first offensive action of the war, Maryland's guns opened fire at 05:00, destroying a shore battery with five salvos on the southwestern point of Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll. At 06:00 she commenced a scheduled shore bombardment to soften up Japanese defenses ahead of the landings. Maryland moved closer to shore to attract Japanese fire and locate artillery emplacements, in the process raking Japanese gun emplacements, control stations, pillboxes and any Japanese installations she could spot. At 09:00 as Marine landing forces encountered heavy Japanese resistance and began taking casualties to emplaced crossfire, Maryland provided covering fire to eliminate several Japanese machine gun nests. Her scouting plane then began to cover the progress of the Marines' assault, with Maryland providing artillery support. The plane was damaged and pilot wounded in this action.

After three days of covering the offensive on Betio Island, she moved to Apamama Island to guard Marine landings there. Marines met with only light resistance from 30 Japanese soldiers there, and two prisoners were brought to Maryland. On 7 December, Maryland left Apamama Island for Pearl Harbor. After a brief stopover there, Maryland left for San Francisco for repairs.

Maryland steamed from San Pedro, California on 13 January 1944, rendezvoused with Task Force 53 at Lahaina Roads for two days of loading ammunition, refueling, and provisioning ahead of a new operation supporting the Marshall Islands campaign. On 30 January 1944, she moved to support landings on Roi Island, along with Santa Fe, Biloxi, and Indianapolis, which formed the Northern Support Group of TF 35.

In the predawn hours of 31 January, the ships began a bombardment of Kwajalein Atoll, the opening moves of the battle of Kwajalein. Maryland destroyed numerous Japanese stationary guns and pillboxes. In the course of the battle, she fired so much that she split the liners in the guns of Turret No. 1, putting it out of action for the rest of the day. On 1 February, she continued her attack on Japanese positions as the U.S. landing forces advanced. She became the flagship for Admiral Connally for the next two weeks, resupplying and refueling many of the smaller ships in the operation until she departed with a task unit of carriers and destroyers on 15 February 1944, steaming for Bremerton Navy Yard, where she underwent another overhaul, with her guns being replaced.

Two months later, Maryland sailed westward on 5 May, joining Task Force 52 headed for Saipan. Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner allotted TF 52 three days to soften up the island's defenses ahead of the assault. Firing commenced at 05:45 on 14 June. They quickly destroyed two coastal guns, then began bombarding Garapan, destroying ammunition dumps, gun positions, small boats, storage tanks, blockhouses and buildings. She then turned her guns to Tanapag, leveling it in heavy bombardment. The invasion commenced 15 June, and Maryland provided fire support for the landing forces.

The Japanese attempted to counter the battleships through the air. On 18 June, the ship's guns shot down their first Japanese aircraft, but on 22 June, a Mitsubishi G4M3 "Betty" medium bomber flew low over the still-contested Saipan hills and found Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Japanese plane dropped a torpedo, opening a large hole in Maryland's starboard bow. The attack caused light casualties, and in 15 minutes she was underway for Eniwetok, and from there she steamed for the repair yards at Pearl Harbor (in reverse the whole time so as not to do further damage to her bow), escorted by two destroyers. Two men were killed in the attack.

With an around-the-clock effort by the shipyard workers, Maryland was repaired in 34 days, departing on 13 August. She then embarked for the Solomon Islands with a large task force, anchoring in Purvis Bay off Florida Island for two weeks before steaming for the Palau Islands on 6 September. She then joined Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's Western Fire Support Group. Firing first on 12 September to cover minesweeping operations and underwater demolition teams at the opening of the Battle of Peleliu, Maryland again conducted shore bombardment supporting the landing craft as they approached the beaches on 15 September. Four days later, organized resistance collapsed, permitting the fire support ships to retire to the Admiralty Islands at the end of the month.

Maryland steamed for Seeadler Harbor, Manus where she was assigned to the 7th Fleet under Admiral Kinkaid. The fleet sortied 12 October, and Maryland joined Task Group 77.2, which was the gunfire and covering force for the invasion of Leyte. She, along with four other battleships and numerous cruisers and destroyers, steamed into Leyte Gulf on the morning of 18 October. Maryland took position between Red and White Beaches and began bombarding them ahead of the invasion, which began at 10:00 20 October. Securing the beaches quickly, Maryland then took up a sentinel position in Leyte Gulf to guard the beaches against Japanese counterattack by sea.

For the next several days, Japanese forces launched air raids to counter the incursion. These included the first widespread use of the kamikaze suicide attack. Several days later, U.S. submarines in the South China Sea spotted two Japanese forces on approach: five battleships steaming toward San Bernardino Strait, and another force of four Japanese carriers in northern Luzon.

On 24 October, Maryland, West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania sailed to the southern end of Leyte Gulf to protect Surigao Strait with several cruisers, destroyers, and PT Boats. Early on 25 October, during the Battle of Surigao Strait, Japanese battleships Fusō and Yamashiro, with their screens, led the Japanese advance into the Strait. At 03:55, the waiting Americans ships launched an ambush of the two Japanese battleships, pounding them with torpedoes and main guns. Torpedoes from the destroyers sunk Fusō. Continued attacks by the task force also claimed Yamashiro. A few of the remaining Japanese ships then fled to the Mindanao Sea, pursued by Allied aircraft.

Following the victory, Maryland patrolled the southern approaches to Surigao Strait until 29 October; she then steamed for the Admiralty Isles for brief replenishment and resumed patrol duty around Leyte on 16 November, protecting the landing forces from continued Japanese air attacks. On 29 November, during another Japanese air attack, a kamikaze aircraft surprised and struck Maryland. The aircraft crashed into Maryland between Turrets No. 1 and 2, piercing the forecastle, main, and armored decks and blowing a hole in the 4-inch steel, causing extensive damage and starting fires. In all, 31 men were killed and 30 wounded in the attack, and the medical department was destroyed but still functional.

The battleship continued her patrols until relieved on 2 December, when she sailed with two heavily damaged destroyers for repairs. She reached Pearl Harbor on 18 December, and was extensively repaired and refitted over the next couple of months.

After refresher training, Maryland headed for the western Pacific on 4 March 1945, arriving Ulithi on 16 March. There she joined the 5th Fleet and Rear Admiral Morton Deyo's Task Force 54 (TF 54), which was preparing for the invasion of Okinawa. The fleet departed on 21 March, bound for Okinawa.

Maryland was assigned targets on the southern coast of Okinawa to support a diversionary landing, which would distract Japanese forces away from the main landing on the west coast. Japanese forces responded with several air raids, with two of Maryland's radar picket destroyers being struck by kamikaze planes, with Luce sinking. On 3 April, she was moved to the west coast invasion beaches to assist Minneapolis in destroying several shore batteries. Following the land invasion, she remained with the support force off Bolo Point providing artillery support for the invading troops.

Maryland continued fire support duty until 7 April, when she steamed north to intercept a Japanese surface force with TF 54. The Japanese ships, including the Yamato, came under constant U.S. air attacks that day, and planes of the Fast Carrier Task Force sank six of the 10 ships in the force. At dusk, a kamikaze loaded with a 551 lb (250 kg) bomb crashed the top of Turret No. 3 from starboard. The explosion wiped out the 20 mm mounts and caused a large fire. The 20mm ammunition ignited from the heat, causing further casualties. In all, 10 were killed, 37 injured and 6 missing following this attack. Maryland remained on station for the next week and continued her artillery support mission through several more air raids. Turret No. 3, damaged but usable, remained silent for the remainder of this mission.

On 14 April, Maryland left the firing line at Okinawa and escorted several retiring transports. They steamed via the Mariana Islands and Guam to Pearl Harbor, and she reached the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton on 7 May for extensive overhaul. All of her 5 in guns were removed and replaced by sixteen 5 inch/38 cal guns in new twin mounts. Turret No. 3 was repaired and the crew quarters were improved. She completed repairs in August, leaving for tests and training runs just as Japan surrendered, ending the war.

She next entered Operation Magic Carpet fleet. During the remaining months of 1945, Maryland made five voyages between the west coast and Pearl Harbor, returning more than 8,000 servicemen to the United States.

Arriving at Seattle, Washington on 17 December, Maryland completed her Operation Magic Carpet duty. She entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 15 April 1946, and was placed in commission in inactive reserve on 16 July. She was decommissioned at Bremerton on 3 April 1947, and remained there as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Maryland was sold for scrapping to Learner Company of Oakland, California on 8 July 1959.

On 2 June 1961, Governor of Maryland J. Millard Tawes, dedicated a monument to the memory of Maryland and her men. Built of granite and bronze and incorporating the bell of "Fighting Mary", this monument is located on the grounds of the State House in Annapolis.