The USS South Dakota, nicknamed the SoDak by her crew and Battleship X by reporters, was the lead ship of her class and saw extensive action during World War 2, mostly in the Pacific Theater. Designated BB 57, she was commissioned just after US entry into the war and was named in honor of the 40th state. She slugged it out with the Japanese in the dark during the 2nd Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and would participate in every major naval action of the Pacific War from Guadalcanal on, earning 13 battle stars for her service while proving to be a tough and persistent battlewagon.
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Great video. She was truly a hard luck ship. My uncle served on USS ALABAMA, and mentioned operating with SOUTH DAKOTA many times.
She may have been a hardluck ship,but she fought well along with her brave crews and officers. I like the South Dakota class more the the Iowa and North Carolina class don't get me wrong i like those as well. But the Dakotas have a special place in my heart. Great video
Great job keep it up. Thanks
In modern times she'd have been nicknamed the USS Sh*t Magnet. I appreciate the extra detail given regarding the Naval Battle of Guadalcancal, as I never knew why she blundered towards the Japanese and silhouetted herself. Turns out she didn't have a choice but to go that way.
The South Dakota couldn’t take a trick but in saying that, she was an absolute tank
One of the most overrated battleships ever in terms of accomplishments, and that’s a high bar to clear. Her plane killcount at Santa Cruz was also a massive case of overclaiming.
Read the book "Battleship at war".The BB Washington had a special nickname for South Dakota.
👍🏻🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸 My father was transferred from the Royal Navy to the SoDak when she and the Alabama operated with our Home Fleet in Arctic waters during 1943. I still have his memorabilia including his Blue Nose Certificate signed by her Captain, a U.S.N. Canteen knife, onboard news sheets and a small waterline wooden model of her from our aircraft recognition in her then N.Atlantic colour scheme. He was the communications link with the Royal Navy. Stories of her Guadalcanal escape were related to him including Jap survivors attempting to knife their rescuers. He watched the newly released classic The Maltese Falcon on the ship’s cinema and read the newspapers on deck during the Midnight Sun. He enjoyed friendship with his American shipmates. ✌️
I.J.N. Kirishima was a battlecruiser updated to what they termed a fast battleship though with the former’s weaker armoured protection.
She was based-upon her sister ship Kongo designed and built in Barrow England which No builds out nuclear submarines. 👍🏻🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸✌️
I have the privilege of seeing a South Dakota class BB every day since I live across the river where BB59 USS Massachusetts is permanently moored, I have visited this great ship several times in my lifetime. The state bought her, and she looks great to this day. We are lucky to have her.
Excuse me, The ONLY Japanese ships that were equipped with 18" guns were Yamato and her sister ship, Musashi. Kirishima was the only Japanese battle cruiser in this fight and she was equipped with 14" guns. Yes, South Dakota was absolutely pummeled by the Japanese fleet and because they were fixated on her, Admiral Lee, aboard Washington was able to advance to almost point blank range and let off 45 salvos of 16" rounds at Kirishima in only 5 minutes scoring over 50% of rounds fired on the then helpless IJN ship. OOORAH!