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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

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Topic
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
Document Type
  • Artifact
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Location of Archival Materials

In Harm's Way:   The U.S. Navy and World War II:  The Pacific Theater

Bldg. 76


USS Reno, 38 caliber, turret gun

Twin mount 5-inch, 38-caliber gun turret from USS Reno (CL-96).  

The Pacific Theater

A radio broadcasting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to the nation declaring war on Japan begins the Pacific Theater portion of "In Harm's Way" on the east side of the museum.   This exhibit displays in a chronological manner the technology and tactics used across the Pacific while Americans battled Japanese forces with naval battles and air attacks and land campaigns.  Submarine warfare is covered in detail, while a video presentation takes visitors inside a World War II submarine to explore its living conditions.  Photographic displays depict battles for islands in the Pacific and the war in the Aleutians.  A twin 5-inch 38 caliber gun turret sits on the museum floor for visitors to climb on and look inside.   Video presentations portay elements of the war in the Pacific.  Also displayed is a replica of an atomic bomb casing identical to "Little Boy" dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.    Hanging above the exhibit are examples of aircraft used by both American and Japanese forces. 

Interesting artifacts from the Pacific Section of the World War II exhibit "In Harm's Way" include:

 

Models of Foreign Navies and Civilian Ships

Published: Thu Jan 05 08:07:40 EST 2023