All the times we've driven home on I-195 from Cape Cod, I've wanted to stop and check out the fighting ships in Battleship Cove. There is a ton of history here, approximately 40,000 tons of it, if you count all the steel tonnage moored here. They represent naval history from WWII through the Cold War and have played significant roles in our nation's past.
The Queen of the water is the 35,000 ton USS Massachusetts, a highly decorated battle wagon, that served in the Pacific during World War II. She and her sister, USS Alabama are the only surviving members of the four South Dakota class battleships built during WWII with South Dakota and Indiana sold for scrap in the 60's. Unlike her larger, modernized cousins of the Iowa class, "Big Mamie" is preserved here in the configuration when she was decommissioned in 1947 and became a museum ship in 1965. Her armament of nine huge 16" guns are preserved as well as most of her paired 5" turrets, quad 40mm "Pom Poms" and 20mm anti-aircraft complement. It's amazing that those big guns were able to hurl Volkswagen sized shells 20 miles away. Below decks, many of her spaces are shown as they were when sailors lived and fought aboard. The bottoms of the main turrets are accessible to see how the powder and shells were loaded into the big guns. As a museum, there are also displays of US Navy history in all the major conflicts. They also have special overnight visits for groups such as scout troops that include dinner and a bunk to experience the museum as the original sailors did.
Accompanying the Massachusetts from the WWII era is the USS Lionfish, a Balao class fleet submarine. You travel through the sub from stem to stern and it's amazing how much men & equipment they packed into this steel tube, especially with the size of the torpedoes taking up half the boat (Yes, subs are referred to as boats, not ships). Note the sleeping racks that are mounted above the forward torpedoes and imagine bunking on top of a 600lb explosive warhead.
The USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr is a Gearing class destroyer built at the end of WWII and named in honor of our 35th President's older brother that gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. She served with distinction until 1973, when she joined the USS Massachusetts at the Cove. It is ironic that RFK served aboard on her first cruise and that the USS JPK Jr participated in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis during JFK's administration (Never mind that JFK had not just one but soon to be a second aircraft carrier named after him, but it's sad that such a renowned family tragically lost 3 of its sons in service to this nation).
An oddball in this collection is the Hiddensee, a Russian built Tarantul class missile corvette from the 80's. He still has his paired anti-ship missile launchers and (2) vintage SS-N-2X "Styx" missiles, one in the #3 launcher and the other on display on the dock. After his service in the East German Navy and the reunified Federal German Navy, he did a short stint as a test vessel with the US Navy. (Note: Russian ships are referred to in the masculine form, while US ships are in the feminine form)
In addition to the ships out on the water, there are a pair of restored PT boats in an adjoining building. These wooden hulled fast attack torpedo boats are similar to the PT-109 that JFK skippered in WWII.
If you're a WWII, military or history buff (guilty to all of the above), this is a must visit. The kids will love it and not even know that they're learning some history. read more