The US3 Massachusetts was commissioned in May 1942 as the third South Dakota-class battleship. "Big Mamie," as she was called by her crew, was armed with nine 16" guns and 20 5" guns, plus a host of smaller guns, making it one of the most powerful ships in the U.S. Navy. On Nov. 8,1942, during the invasion of North Africa, the Massachusetts earned the distinction of being the first U.S. battleship to fire her big guns in combat. She came under fire from the 15" guns of the French battleship Jean Bart (shrapnel damage from this fight is still visible on the Massachusetts' superstructure). Returning fire, she silenced the enemy ship with five hits. Her big guns also helped sink two destroyers and two merchantmen, ;is well as disabling a floating drydock and blowing up an ammunition dump. Big Mamie never again engaged in ship-to-ship combat. Following a refit, Massachusetts was transferred to the Pacific, where it provided antiaircraft protection for fast carrier task forces and shore bombardments for the rest of the war.
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