The fifth ship to bear the name CALIFORNIA (BB- 44) was launched 20 November 1919 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. R. T. Zane; and commissioned 10 August 1921, Captain H. J. Ziegemeier in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet as flagship.For 20 years from 1921 until 1941, CALIFORNIA served first as flagship of the Pacific Fleet, then as flagship of the Battle Fleet (Battle Force), U.S. Fleet. Her annual activities included joint Army-Navy exercises, tactical and organizational development problems, and fleet concentrations for various purposes. Intensive training and superior performance won her the Battle Efficiency Pennant for 1921-22, and the Gunnery "E" for 1925-26.In the summer of 1925 CALIFORNIA led the Battle Fleet and a division of cruisers from the Scouting Fleet on a very successful good-will cruise to Australia and New Zealand. She took part in the Presidential reviews of 1927, 1930, and 1934. She was modernized in late 1929 and early 1930 and equipped with an improved antiaircraft battery.
In 1940 CALIFORNIA switched her base to Pearl Harbor On
7 December 1941 she 
was
moored at the southernmost berth of "Battleship Row"
and was with other dreadnoughts of the Battle Force when the Japanese
launched their aerial attack. As she was about to undergo a material
inspection, watertight integrity was not at its maximum; consequently
the ship suffered great damage when hit. At 0805 a bomb exploded
below decks, setting off an antiaircraft ammunition magazine and
killing about 50 men. A second bomb ruptured her bow plates. Despite
valiant efforts to keep her afloat the inrushing water could not
be isolated and CALIFORNIA settled into the mud with only
her superstructure remaining above the surface. When the action
ended, 98 of her crew were lost and 61 wounded. On 26 March 1942
CALIFORNIA was refloated and dry docked at Pearl Harbor
for repairs. On 7 June she departed under her own power, for Puget
Sound Navy yard where a major reconstruction job was accomplished,
including improved protection, stability, AA battery, and fire
control system.
CALIFORNIA departed Bremerton 31 January 1944 for shakedown
at San Pedro, and sailed from San Francisco 5 May for the invasion
of the Marianas. Off Saipan in June, she conducted effective shore
bombardment and call fire missions. On 14 June she was hit by
a shell from an enemy shore battery which killed one man and wounded
nine. Following Saipan, her heavy guns helped blast the way for
our assault force in the Guam and Tinian operations (18 July-9
August). On 24 August she arrived at Espiritu Santo for repairs
to her port bow damaged in a collision with her sister ship, the
USS TENNESSEE (BB-43).
On 17 September 1944 CALIFORNIA sailed to Manus to ready for the
invasion of the Philippines. From 17 October to 20 November she
played a key role in the Leyte operation, including the destruction
of the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Surigao Strait (25 October).
On 1 January 1945 she departed the Palaus for the Luzon landings.
Her powerful batteries were an important factor in the success
of these dangerous operations driven home into the heart of enemy-held
territory under heavy air attack. On 6 January while providing
shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf she was hit by a kamikaze plane;
44 of her crew were killed and 155 were wounded. Undeterred she
made temporary repairs on the spot and remained carrying out her
critical mission of shore bombardment until the job was done.
She departed 23 January for Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 15
February, for permanent repairs.
CALIFORNIA returned to action at Okinawa 15 June 1945 and
remained in that embattled area until 21 July. Two days later
she joined TF 95 to cover the East China Sea minesweeping operations.
After a short voyage to San Pedro Bay, P.I., in August, the ship
departed Okinawa 20 September to cover the landing of the 6th
Army occupation force at Wakanoura Wan, Honshu. She remained supporting
the occupation until 15 October, then sailed via Singapore, Colombo,
and Capetown, to Philadelphia, arriving 7 December. She was placed
in commission in reserve there 7 August 1946: out of commission
in reserve 14 February 1947; and sold 10 July 1959. She was scrapped
later that same year.
CALIFORNIA received seven battle stars for World War II service. Today, the ship's bell rests in a memorial in Capital Park in Sacramento. A fitting tribute to a fine ship and her crew
| Length(overall) | 624' 6" |
| Length(waterline) | 600' |
| Beam |
|
| Draft(max) | 35' 5" |
| Draft(mean) | 30' 5" |
| Maximum |
|
| Full Load | 33,190 tons |
| Design | 32,300 tons |
| Boilers | 8 Babcock & Wilcox 3 drum express type fitted with 2 furnaces and double uptakes |
| Turbines | 2 sets GE geared turbines w/ electric drive |
| Horsepower | 28,600
(design) 26,800 (actual) 30,908 (1943) |
| Shafts | 4 |
| Speed | 21.01
knts 20.06 knts (1943) |
| Endurance | 20,500
NM @ 10 knts 9,700 NM @ 12 knts 5,240 NM @ 18 knts 2,500 NM @ 20 knts |
| Main Side Belt | 13.5" side vertical |
| Lower Side Belt | 8" |
| Deck |
|
| Barbettes | 13" |
| Turrets |
|
| Conning Tower | 16" sides |
| Main guns |
|
| Secondary |
|
| Heavy A/A |
|
| Light A/A |
|
| Torpedoes | 2 x 21" |
| Design | 1,500 |
| 1945 | 2,200+ |