Once the vessel was patched to make her seaworthy, California made her way to the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for more substantial repair work. Some of her systems were completely replaced with more modern solutions and her profile was forever changed when her two smoke funnels were combined into a single, more efficient, structure. Her AA protection was improved and her Fire Control System (FCS) was upgraded. Flooding control was also addressed through a new compartment arrangement. California also received a revised beam which precluded her traversing of the Panama Canal, ensuring her future combat service now lay primarily in the Pacific Theater.
USS California was not made battle-ready until late January of 1944. She completed her shakedown cruise off the California coast as her new systems and overall design were tested. Her first course of action was in supporting Allied forces in the invasion of the Marianas where her powerful main battery was brought to bear against inland enemy positions - the guns being used to "soften" the enemy prior to the amphibious assault. She was used in similar fashion during the American assaults on Guam and Tinian during July-August.
From there, California was called to support the operation to take back the Philippines. She took part in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October of 1944. The Allies were able to claim the victory and liberate Leyte Island in the process, leading the eventual liberation of the entire Philippine archipelago. This victory also claimed vital oil supplies away from the Japanese war machine.
In January of 1945, USS California was the victim of a Japanese kamikaze strike which claimed forty-four of her crew and injured 155 in one fatal blow. Repairs were made as best as possible to keep her battle-worthy without wholly removing her from the war. California remained on station until the end of the month to which she was then sent back to Puget Sound for much-needed repairs.
USS California was then back in action to support the Allied landings at Okinawa, one of the final stepping stones to the Japanese mainland. She began this leg of her war tour in June of 1944 and remained on station until July 21st. She was assigned as part of Task Force 95 and entered the East China Sea for other work until the Japanese surrender came in mid-August. California was recalled to Okinawa by way of the Philippines for September and supported Allied landings at Honshu. She remained on station until October 15th.
Finally recalled stateside, USS California made it to Philadelphia along the American East Coast by way of Singapore, Ceylon, and South Africa on December 7th, 1945 - exactly four years to the day of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl. She entered reserve status on August 7th, 1946 and was formally decommissioned on February 14th, 1947 - her service to a grateful nation now complete. Her presence was struck from the Naval Register on March 1st, 1959 officially ending her career with the United States Navy. Her hulk was sold for scrapping on July 10th, 1959.
During her tour of duties, USS California claimed a total of seven Battle Stars and was awarded the World War 2 Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp). During her time afloat, she was affectionately known as "The Prune Barge". Her sister ship, USS Tennessee (BB-43), fared equally well and herself became a proven war veteran having earned 10 Battle Stars, citations, and medals. She too was sold for scrapping - on the same day as her sister USS California.
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