The battleship that became a target before the attack on Pearl Harbor

Countries & Cities · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1931, the USS Utah was stripped of its primary weapons to serve a new, experimental purpose. Converted into a radio-controlled target ship, the Florida-class dreadnought spent much of the 1930s practicing for a war that would eventually find her in the most tragic of circumstances.

Launched in December 1909, the USS Utah began its career as a formidable Florida-class dreadnought, armed with ten 12-inch guns. After serving in the occupation of Veracruz in 1914 and protecting Atlantic convoys during World War I, the ship underwent a radical transformation. Under the terms of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, the vessel was demilitarized and redesignated as AG-16 in July 1931.

As a target ship, the Utah became a pioneer of remote technology. It was equipped with electric motors that responded to signals from a controlling ship, allowing it to perform maneuvers like throttle adjustments and steering changes via radio. A Sperry gyro pilot helped maintain its course, and by June 1, 1931, the ship successfully operated under radio control for three hours. This experimental setup allowed the Navy to train engine room crews and test new weaponry, including experimental 1.1-inch anti-aircraft guns.

The ship's transformation was not merely for target practice; it also served to train anti-aircraft gunners. During the late 1930s, the Utah participated extensively in drills, acting as a target for planes launched from the Saratoga, Lexington, and Enterprise. This long period of specialized training ended abruptly on the morning of December 7, 1941, when the vessel was at Pearl Harbor. During the initial Japanese onslaught, two torpedoes struck the ship, causing severe flooding that caused the Utah to roll over and sink, claiming 58 lives.

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