USS South Dakota (BB-57) Country: USA Type: Battleship Service: 1942 - 1947 Ordered: 15 December 1938 Laid down: 5 July 1939 Launched: 7 June 1941 Commissioned: 20 March 1942 Decommissioned: 31 January 1947 Struck: 1 June 1962 Fate: Scrapped 25 October 1962

The South Dakota class battleships began construction shortly before World War II. They were more compact and better protected than the preceding North Carolina class, but the had the same main battery of nine 16 inch guns in triple turrets. Commissioning through the summer of 1942, the four ships served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific, serving in carrier groups and for shore bombardments.

USS South Dakota (BB-57), the lead ship of her class, was a battleship in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1947. Her keel was laid down on 5 July 1939 at Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was launched on 7 June 1941 sponsored by Mrs. Harlan J. Bushfield, and commissioned on 20 March 1942. South Dakota served two tours in the Pacific Theater during World War II. She remained in service until on 31 January 1947, she was placed in reserve, out of commission. The battleship remained in that status until she was struck from the Naval Vessel Registry on 1 June 1962. On 25 October 1962, she was sold for scrap to Luria Brothers.