U.S.S. COLORADO BATTLESHIP ~ c. -1921

Description

USS Colorado (BB-45), was the lead ship of the Colorado-class of battleships, the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 38th state. Her keel was laid down on 29 May 1919 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey. She was launched on 22 March 1921
Colorado sailed from New York City on 29 December 1923 on a maiden voyage that took her to Portsmouth, England; Cherbourg, France, and Villefranche, France; Naples, Italy; and Gibraltar before returning to New York on 15 February 1924. After repairs and final tests she sailed for the west coast 11 July and arrived at San Francisco on 15 September.
From 1924 to 1941, Colorado operated with the Battle Fleet in the Pacific, participating in fleet exercises and various ceremonies, and returning to the east coast from time to time for fleet problems in the Caribbean Sea. She also cruised to Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand from 8 June to 26 September 1925 to show the flag in the far Pacific.
After west coast training, Colorado returned to Pearl Harbor to complete her preparations for action. She operated in the vicinity of the Fiji Islands and New Hebrides to prevent further Japanese expansion. She sortied from Pearl Harbor to provide preinvasion bombardment and fire support for the invasion of Tarawa. After west coast overhaul, Colorado returned to Lahaina Roads, Hawaiian Islands, and sortied the next day for the Marshall Islands operation, providing preinvasion bombardment and fire support for the invasions of Kwajalein and Eniwetok.
Joining other units bound for the Mariana Islands operation at San Francisco, Colorado sailed by way of Pearl Harbor and Kwajalein for preinvasion bombardment and fire support duties at Saipan, Guam, and Tinian from 14 June. On 24 July 1944, during the shelling of Tinian, Colorado received 22 shell hits from shore batteries but continued to support the invading troops. After repairs on the west coast, Colorado arrived in Leyte Gulf to support American troops fighting ashore. A week later she was hit by two kamikazes which killed 19 of her men, wounded 72, and caused moderate damage. Returning to occupied Okinawa on 6 August, Colorado sailed from there for the occupation of Japan. Departing Tokyo Bay she arrived at San Francisco, then steamed to Seattle, Washington, for the Navy-Day celebration. Assigned to Operation Magic Carpet duty, she made three runs to Pearl Harbor to transport 6,357 veterans home before reporting to Bremerton Navy Yard for inactivation.
Photograph measures 3 1/2 x 5 inches and is in excellent condition with no bends, tears, or creases and is sharp and has strong tones with good contrast and clarity.  Back is clean with no writing.
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