Launched on September 23, 1941, Battleship Massachusetts holds the record as the heaviest ship ever launched in Quincy, Mass., earning her the nickname "Big Mamie." She went into action November 8, 1942, as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. While cruising near Casablanca, Morocco, Massachusetts fired the first American 16-inch projectile of World War II, winning a duel with a battleship and two destroyers.
Subsequent action for Battleship Massachusetts included invasion of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, invasion of the Marshall Islands in January 1944, carrier strikes against Truk in February 1944, and raids against Japanese bases in the Western Pacific and Asia. Later duty included the invasion of Palau Islands in September 1944, pounding Iwo Jima and Okinawa before their invasion in 1945, and firing the war's last American 16-inch projectile at Kamaishi.
Battleship Massachusetts was deactivated in mid-1946 after 35 naval battles, with no significant number of casualties. On March 13, 1999, the battleship was transported to its current docking in Battleship Cove, Fall River.
Other historic residents at Battleship Cove include the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (destroyer), the USS Lionfish (submarine), Hiddensee (Russian missile corvette used by the East German Navy), two PT boats, and a Japanese suicide-attack motorboat. Aircraft on display are a North American T-28 Trojan trainer plane from World War II and a Bell UH-1M Iroquois helicopter from the Vietnam War. Along with touring the vessels at Battleship Cove, visitors can inspect the military exhibits and related memorabilia.
Location
Battleship Cove is located in Fall River. Driving directions can be found at the Battleship
Cove Web site.
Hours of operation
Battleship Massachusetts is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and New Year's Day. Hours are:
April 1 through June 30, 9 a.m.–5
p.m.
July 1 through Labor Day, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Labor Day through March 31, 9
a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Admission
Adults
$10
Seniors (65+)/AAA members
$8
Children (6-14)
$5
Children (under 6)
Free
Military in uniform
Free
Contact information
Call Battleship Cove toll-free at (800) 533-3194 (New
England only), or call (508) 678-1100.
For information on overnight stays by youth groups inside Battleship Massachusetts, visit the Web site.
Group considerations
Group admission prices (for groups of 10 or more) are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Group reservations must be made at least seven days in advance.
When making a group reservation, one may request the options of lunch and viewing the 20-minute movie, History of the Battleship.
Battleship Massachusetts offers a unique banquet facility and meeting place for groups, including a second-deck classroom that seats up to 130 people.
Please note
Cost, hours of operation, or other information about this attraction is subject to change without notice. We suggest you confirm with the attraction prior to your visit.
