USS California (BB-44) was an American battleship laid down in 1916, launched in November 1919, and commissioned in the US Navy in August 1921. The length of the ship was 190 m, width 29.7 m, and full displacement - at the time of launching - 33,700 tons. The maximum speed of the USS California battleship was up to 21 knots. The main armament was 12 356 mm guns in four turrets of three cannons each, and the secondary armament was mainly 14 127 mm guns.
USS California was the second and final Tennessee-class battleship. Units of this type belonged to the so-called standard battleships, i.e. ships with similar combat values, dimensions and capabilities, although divided into different classes, which entered service with the US Navy in the period 1916-1923. The Tennessee-class battleships, compared to their predecessors, had more perfect fire control systems, significantly improved hull anti-torpedo protection and improved ergonomics of the main weapons turrets, increasing their firing range. USS California (BB-44) in the interwar period was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, as part of which it carried out numerous exercises and cruises in the Pacific Ocean. During this period, she also served as the flagship of the Battle Fleet. At the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific, the USS California was at Pearl Harbor. As a result of the Japanese attack, the ship suffered very serious damage and sank. The battleship was lifted from the bottom in March 1942. Shortly thereafter, it was renovated and thoroughly modernized. The changes mainly concerned: reinforcement of anti-aircraft weapons, installation of modern fire control systems and improvement of the watertightness of the hull. As a result, a new battleship was created, the displacement of which increased to 41,600 tons! After modernization, the USS California supported the Marianas landing in 1944 and took an active part in the Battle of Leyte Bay (October 1944). In January 1945, the ship was severely damaged by a kamikaze and had to return to the base for repairs. In June 1945, the ship returned to the line, operating until the end of the war against Japanese forces. USS California (BB-44) was decommissioned in 1947 and was sold for scrap in 1959.