The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. It participated in World War I by escorting Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was modernized in the late 1920s and took part in fleet exercises in the Pacific. On December 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Arizona was hit by a bomb that penetrated its armor and detonated its forward ammunition magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion. The ship quickly sank, resulting in the deaths of 1,177 of its crew, making it one of the most tragic losses in U.S. naval history. The wreck remains at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and serves as a memorial to those who lost their lives. The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated in 1962 to honor the fallen sailors and marines. The ship's hull and superstructure were extensively damaged, and efforts to salvage the ship were abandoned. Today, the USS Arizona serves as a poignant reminder of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the sacrifices made by those who served aboard her.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.