The lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships for the US Navy, USS South Carolina (BB-26) was launched on 11 July 1908 and commissioned on 1 March 1910. The first dreadnought battleship built for the US Navy, she incorporated several revolutionary aspects, primarily the superfiring guns of her main battery.
USS South Carolina spent much of her career patrolling the east coast of the USA. During the Mexican Revolution, she took part in the United States occupation of Veracruz.
She was mostly used as a training ship after the US entered World War One, while also performing convoy escort duty. Post war she repatriated US Servicemen from Europe.
Along with her sister ship USS Michigan, she was scrapped under the terms of the Washington Treaty. Before being scrapped, the hulk was used to test the effectiveness of anti-torpedo bulges. South Carolina was decommissioned on 15 December 1922 and sold for scrap in 1924.
Touchup work on the stern of the soon to be USS South Carolina BB-26 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 1 July, 1909USS South Carolina (BB-26) on 5 March 1910, probably at the Philadelphia Navy YardUSS South Carolina (BB-26). Off New York City, probably in early October 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26), 2 November 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26), 2 November 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26) drydocked at the Brooklyn Navy yard, September 1912USS South Carolina (BB 26). Bow decoration, photographed by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 18 November 1909USS South Carolina (BB-26) circa 1918USS South Carolina (BB-26) in Gaillard Cut, just South of Cucaracha Slide, Panama Canal 13 June 1920USS South Carolina BB-26. Crew manning the rails and firing salutes, 28 April 1921USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26 at the New York Navy YardUSS South Carolina (BB-26)USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26Main Armament of USS South Carolina BB-26Main Armament of USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26 being dismantled in Philadelphia Navy Yard in December 1923South Carolina (BB-26) being used as a test hulk for anti-torpedo bulges on 26 May 1924
HMS York was a heavy cruiser of the York class, built for the Royal Navy in the late 1920s. She was the lead ship of her class, which also included HMS Exeter. The York class was base on the preceding County class cruisers, and designed to smaller and cheaper while having better armour.
HMS York was laid down at the shipyard of John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland, on 16 May 1926. She was launched on 17 July 1928, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 1 May 1930.
HMS York was armed with six 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three twin turrets, four 4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts, and six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in two tripple mounts. She was also equipped with a catapult and could operate one Supermarine Walrus seaplane.
HMS York served extensively during World War II. She participated in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, and she was later deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. On 26 March 1941, she was badly damaged by two Italian explosive motor boats in a dawn attack at Suda Bay, north Crete. The motorboats, each armed with 300-kg (667 lb) charges in the bows, were piloted by Italian Navy officers. Two boiler rooms and one engine room were flooded and the ship was run aground to prevent her sinking. On 18 May, a Luftwaffe air attack further damaged York. She was subsequently scuttled after her guns were wrecked.
The wreck of HMS York was raised and salvage for scrap in 1952.
HMS York being launchedHMS York being launchedHMS York being launchedHMS York being launched
HMS York
HMS York during a port visit to Karlskrona Sweden, 1931HMS York sails past the Finnish sea fortress Suomenlinna Sveaborg, September 3, 1933Aerial photo of HMS York in Admiralty Floating Dock No. 1 at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda in 1934HMS York in Washington 1935HMS York in Washington 1935HMS York in 1936HMS York Montreal 20 June 1937HMS York 14 Jan1938 entering Havana HarbourHMS York (90) in Vancouver, British Columbia, 10 August 1938HMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS YorkHMS York
Armament
HMS York forward 8″ guns
Aircraft of HMS York
HMS York’s Supermarine Walrus aircraft
HMS York at Suda Bay Crete
The Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayItalians inspecting the wreck of the HMS York after it was abandoned by the BritishThe Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayThe Wreck of HMS York in Suda BayWreck of HMS York, in Souda Bay, summer 1941The wreck of HMS York being salvaged and scrapped
The Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Tone was launched on 21 November 1937 and completed on 20 November 1938. Designed as a scout cruiser, she carried six floatplanes in addition to her main armament of eight 20cm (8-inch) guns. To optimise aircraft capacity, all of the four main turrets were concentrated forward, while the rear of the ship held the floatplanes.
Tone participated in most of the major naval engagement of the Pacific War, finally being sunk at Kure on 24 July 1945 by aircraft from the US Navy light carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26).
Tone in 1942IJNS ToneIJNS ToneIJNS ToneTone during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons 24 August 1942HIJMS Tone and Aux. oiler Kokuyō Maru at Philippine Sea 1944Yamato and a heavy cruiser, possibly Tone or Chikuma, in action during the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944Tone under air attack near Kure on 24 July 1945Tone under air attack near Kure on 24 July 1945Wreck of Tone post-warWreck of Tone post-warWreck of Tone post-warWreck of Tone post-war
