Guns From the USS Arizona Going Home?-- Part 2

Construction on the USS Arizona (BB-29) began March 1914 and was completed in 1915. The ship saw action along the U.S. eastern seaboard during World War I. In 1929 it began a 20-month refit.

At Pearl Harbor, the Arizona took eight bomb hits and 1,177 of its 1400 crew died. Three of the ship's officers received Medals of Honor as a result of their actions that day. Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, the first U.S. flag officer to die in the war, was aboard. Captain Van Valkenburgh died as did Lt. Samuel G. Fuqua, the damage control officer.

Now, the ship's big 16-inch guns are in Virginia. Special permits are needed to move the guns, along with lifting equipment and transportation, this last being the biggest problem because of cost. Transportation alone, for the nearly 200 ton gun is expected to be $500,000.

That's a Lot of Gas. --GreGen