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Contact Info
Last Address Annapolis, MD
Date of Passing Jul 19, 1971
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
In September 1943, Admiral Hill became Commander Amphibious Group Two, Fifth Amphibious Force, and in that capacity participated in the capture of Tarawa, and later in operations against the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
He relieved the Commander Fifth Amphibious Force at Okinawa in April 1945, and commanded the amphibious and support operations of that force until that island was secured at the end of June.
At the close of the war in August 1945, he commanded the Amphibious Force, which landed the Sixth Army in Southwestern Japan for occupation duty. On 1 November 1945, he assumed duty as Commandant of the Army-Navy Staff College, and in June 1946, Vice Admiral Hill established and served as Commandant of the National War College, the highest-level educational institution of the Armed Forces and the State Department.
In September 1949, he reported as Chairman of the General Board, Navy Department, and on 28 April 1950 became Superintendent of the Naval Academy and Commandant, Severn River Naval Command. He continued to serve as such after his retirement on 1 May 1952, until August 1952.
Independence Day dawned, foggy, windless and cold. The temperature was now three degrees below zero, and still the convoy had farther north to go. On the American merchant ships, the tattered Stars and Stripes were hauled down and clean new Ensigns were run up in their place. From the bridge of the British cruiser Norfolk, the daylight signaling lantern was flashing a Fourth of July greeting across the American cruiser Wichita: “Many happy returns of the day. The United States is the only country with a known birthday.”
Captain H. W. Hill, USN, made the reply, “Thank you. I think England should celebrate Mother’s Day.”
Hull number: BB-35
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Va.
Keel laid: April 17, 1911
Launched: May 18, 1912
Commissioned: March 12, 1914
Length overall: 573’
Max. beam: 106’ 0.75” (width)
Height: 131’ 7.5” (approx. waterline to radar on top of foremast)
Normal freeboard: 25’ 4” at bow, 22’ at stern (approx. waterline to main deck)
Normal draft: 28’ 6” (waterline to keel)
Rated displacement: 32,000 tons unload
Rated displacement: 34,000 tons, full load
Speed: 20.4 knots (about 24 mph)
Crew Complement: - 1,580 sailors; Officers – 101; Marines – 80; Total – 1,766
Decommissioned: April 21, 1948, when she was transferred to the State of Texas serving as an active museum to this very day and monument to those who served and sacrificed their lives for freedom and liberty.
Ship’s Weapons
Main battery: 10 14-inch/45-caliber guns in 5 turrets
12" torpedo blast belt
Range: Projectiles: 13 miles
Full broadside: 1,500 pounds each (armor piercing) 1,275 pounds each (high explosive) 15,000 pounds (armor piercing)
Rate of fire: 1 round every 45 seconds
Turret crew: 70–110 men
Secondary battery: 6 5-inch/51-caliber guns
10 3-inch/50-caliber guns
Anti-aircraft: 10 40mm four-gun (quad) mounts 44 20mm guns
