Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
16-Inch Gun
45-caliber, mark 6
16-inch guns were the US Navy's largest weapons during WWII. They were carried in groups of three on battleships like Massachusetts, and were housed in the enormous turrets that sheltered the crew and the projectiles
The gun's name came from the size of the projectile it fired, 16 inches in diameter. Essentially a gigantic bullet, it weighed 2,700 pounds. It could hit tarkets nearly 23 miles away, able to tear through a ship's armor or blow up a building.
Range: 23 miles
Rounds per minute: 2
Gun crew: 125 men
27 men in this top part of the turret alone!
Massachusetts has the distinct honor of firing the first and last 16-inch projectiles in WWII
[Caption:]
▲ Massachusetts firing on Kamaishi, Honshu, Japan, July 14, 1945
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 1945.
Location. 41° 42.391′ N, 71° 9.795′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It can be reached from Water Street west of Davol Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pearl Harbor Memorial (here, next to this marker); World War II (a few steps from this marker); Below Deck (a few steps from this marker); Crew (a few steps from this marker); Topside (a few steps from this marker); Shrapnel Damage (a few steps from this marker); Oerlikon 20mm (a few steps from this marker); Camouflage (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fall River.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
