Naval Gazing

A visit to Battleship Cove reveals the close-quartered living conditions of WWII-era sailors

It’s easy to picture the U.S.S. Massachusetts in combat; she served in 11 campaigns during World War II. At the same time, the ship was a kind of floating dormitory, office building, cafeteria, hospital, and training camp. For millions of U.S. youths in the 1940s, decks like these shaped their formative years.

Notes & Miscellanea

• Battleship Cove was founded in Fall River in 1965, and it’s now considered the largest collection of WWII-era military vessels in the world.
• Miraculously, the USS Massachusetts did not suffer a single combat fatality during the entire war. Despite the Massachusetts’ many campaigns, she was struck only twice by enemy fire, both during the Battle of Casablanca.
• The local submarine, the USS Lionfish, was one of 232 active US submarines during WWII. While many have joked about “screen doors on submarines,” exploring the cramped corridors of the USS Lionfish is a vivid reminder how dark and claustrophobic submarine service could be — and is still.