UTAH

The USS Utah was an American battleship built in the early 1900s.  It served through World War I and was taken out of active military service in 1935.  It was then utilized as a target ship stationed in Hawaii. 

As a target ship, it's deck openings and armament were covered with wooden planks.  It could be sailed remotely as a drone.  The Army shot artillery rounds at the ship from shore - the rounds not containing explosives. 

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor to begin World War II, the Utah was at berth.   Japanese naval commanders mistook it for an aircraft carrier because of the planks on it's deck.  Carriers were the highest valued target.  As a result, the Japanese wasted much time and ammunition on a drone ship.  Sadly, it was sunk and had a compliment of men aboard at the time. 

The Utah still lies at the bottom of the sea along with the Battleship Arizona - both are now memorials.  At the war's end, Utah was given a campaign medal with star for the service she performed on that day in December, 1941. 
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