Haze Gray and Full of Attitude – The USS Massachusetts Story

Ah, the USS Massachusetts (BB-59), better known as Big Mamie—a battleship so mean that she fired the first 16-inch shells of WWII and finished the war without a scratch. That’s right. While other ships were busy dodging torpedoes or getting new paint jobs, Mamie was out there dishing out punishment and coming home looking fresh as ever.

A Big Girl with an Even Bigger Attitude

Commissioned in 1942, Big Mamie was part of the South Dakota-class battleships, built to deliver a knockout punch. She took her first swing during Operation Torch in North Africa, making sure the Vichy French knew that battleships weren’t just for show. Then she sailed into the Pacific, where the real fun began.

At the Battle of Casablanca, Mamie didn’t just join the fight—she ran the fight. Engaging the French battleship Jean Bart and coastal batteries, she put on a firepower display that had everyone watching in awe (or terror). And when she was done? She sailed off without so much as a dent, probably smirking the whole way.

Raising Hell in the Pacific

After proving her worth in the Atlantic, Massachusetts was sent to the Pacific Theater, where she continued to make waves—literally. She supported carrier task forces and amphibious landings, ensuring that the Japanese defenders had a very bad day whenever she was in town.

One of her first major engagements was at Kwajalein in early 1944. As U.S. forces prepared to invade the atoll, Mamie opened up with her 16-inch guns, bombarding Japanese positions with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Concrete bunkers? Reduced to rubble. Gun emplacements? Obliterated. It turns out, when you bring a battleship to a fight, the other guy doesn’t get much of a say in how things go.

She then played a crucial role in the liberation of the Philippines. As U.S. forces clawed their way through Leyte, Mindoro, and Luzon, Mamie provided naval gunfire support, helping American troops gain a foothold on land. Enemy air attacks were relentless, but Massachusetts and her battle group held firm, shooting down multiple incoming aircraft and shrugging off bomb splashes like they were summer rain.

During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, she was again on the front lines, unleashing hell on Japanese fortifications while dodging kamikaze attacks. While some ships in the fleet suffered horrendous damage from suicide bombers, Big Mamie was just too tough (or too lucky) to take a hit. She continued her fire support missions with brutal efficiency, clearing the way for U.S. forces to secure the island.

By the end of the war, Massachusetts had fired more rounds from her main battery than any other battleship in the U.S. Navy—because of course she did. If there was a fight to be had, Mamie made sure she was in it, ensuring that the enemy never got a moment’s rest.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (Before It Was a Catchphrase)

The Massachusetts wasn’t just another pretty hull floating around the Pacific—she was a full-fledged war machine built to ruin someone’s day from 20 miles away. Her arsenal included:

• Nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns – If you needed to erase an island from existence, these were your go-to tools.

• Twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns – Because sometimes you just need to soften things up before sending in the big guns.

• Dozens of 40mm Bofors and 20mm Oerlikon cannons – For when smaller, faster targets needed a bad day.

Suffice it to say, if Mamie got you in her sights, your options were ‘run’ or ‘hope she’s feeling merciful.’ And spoiler alert: she rarely was.

Post-War Life: From War Machine to Tourist Attraction

After WWII, the Navy decided it was time to retire some of its biggest bruisers. But here’s the thing about Massachusetts—she wasn’t just any battleship. When the Navy considered scrapping her, the people of Massachusetts weren’t having it. They raised money, pulled strings, and ensured that Big Mamie found a permanent home at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Now she serves as a floating museum at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, still looking as intimidating as ever. You can walk her decks, check out her 16-inch guns, and wonder what kind of sailor had the guts to stand next to those monsters when they fired. And thanks to every bag of Haze Gray sold, $1 goes to keeping this steel behemoth in top shape.

Sea Story: When Mamie Was Ready for Round Two

Rumor has it that during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, some over-eager Navy officers actually considered reactivating Massachusetts to give the Soviets a little reminder of what American battleships could do. The idea didn’t make it past the planning stages, but it speaks volumes about this ship’s reputation. Even in retirement, people still wanted her in the fight.

Oh, and let’s not forget the time she allegedly shot down a plane by accident. During a gunnery exercise, Mamie fired a round that ended up taking out an American aircraft, proving that even in peacetime, she didn’t mess around. The pilot survived, but you can bet he never forgot the day he got into an accidental fight with a battleship.

Life Aboard: The Smell of Diesel, Salt, and Bad Coffee

Serving on a battleship was not for the faint of heart. You lived in tight quarters, worked around the clock, and drank coffee that was probably brewed when Roosevelt was still in office. The galley served up whatever could be stored without turning into a science experiment, and showers? Yeah, good luck getting one that wasn’t freezing cold or burning hot.

Sailors had to find creative ways to stay entertained. Poker games, pranks, and storytelling were staples of life at sea. And let’s be honest—every single one of those stories got more exaggerated with each retelling.

“You remember that time we took on an entire fleet single-handedly?”

“Pretty sure we just shelled an island, but okay.”

Why Maritime Heritage Matters

Ships like Massachusetts represent a time when battleships ruled the seas and sailors drank their coffee black, bitter, and probably full of rust flakes. Old Salt Coffee is proud to support this legacy by donating $1 to Battleship Cove for every bag of Haze Gray sold, ensuring Big Mamie remains a towering reminder of naval excellence for generations to come. By preserving these ships, we keep history alive—not just the polished, museum-friendly version, but the real, gritty, salt-stained legacy of those who served aboard them.

So if you want to drink coffee as bold as the ship it supports—and avoid drinking the kind of bilge water sailors used to call ‘coffee’—then hoist a mug of Haze Gray, support Battleship Cove, and take a moment to appreciate one of the last great battleships of WWII.