(BB-57: displacement 35,000; length 680'; beam 108'2½"; draft 36'4½"; speed 27.8 knots; complement 2,354; armament 9 16-inch guns, 16 5-inch guns, 68 40mm guns, 76 20mm guns; class South Dakota)

The second South Dakota (BB-57) was laid down on 5 July 1939 at Camden, N.J., by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., launched on 7 June 1941, sponsored by Mrs. Harlan J. Bushfield, and commissioned on 20 March 1942 with Captain Thomas L. Gatch in command.

After fitting out in Philadelphia, South Dakota conducted shakedown training from 3 June to 26 July. She departed the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 16 August for Panama, transiting the Panama Canal on 21 August and setting course for the Tonga Islands, arriving at Nukualofa, Tongatabu, on 4 September. Two days later, she struck an uncharted coral pinnacle in Lahai Passage, sustaining extensive hull damage. On 12 September, she sailed for the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard for repairs.

South Dakota was ready for sea again on 12 October and began training with Task Force (TF) 16, centered around aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6). The task force departed from Pearl Harbor on 16 October to join TF 17, centered on carrier Hornet (CV-8), northeast of Espiritu Santo. They rendezvoused on the 24th, forming TF 61 under Rear Admiral T.C. Kinkaid, ordered to sweep the Santa Cruz Islands and then move southwest to intercept Japanese forces approaching Guadalcanal.

"Catalina" patrol bombers spotted a Japanese carrier force on the 25th, prompting TF 61 to steam northwest for interception. Early the next morning, a Japanese scout triggered the Battle of Santa Cruz. During the battle, South Dakota, operating near Enterprise, provided antiaircraft fire and sustained a 500-pound bomb hit on her number one turret. The American forces retired towards Noumea, New Caledonia, that evening, with South Dakota credited with downing 26 enemy planes.

On 30 October, South Dakota and Mahan (DD-364) collided while avoiding a submarine, damaging both ships. Both continued to Noumea, where Vestal (AR-4) repaired South Dakota's collision and battle damage.

On 11 November, South Dakota, part of TF 16, sortied from Noumea for Guadalcanal. On 13 November, she joined battleship Washington (BB-56) and several destroyers to form TF 64 under Rear Admiral W.A. Lee. On the evening of the 14th, they engaged Admiral Kondo's bombardment group, including battleship Kirishima, heavy cruisers Takao and Atago, and a destroyer screen. In the battle, South Dakota sustained 42 hits, causing significant damage but remained operational.

Prometheus (AR-3) performed temporary repairs at Noumea, allowing South Dakota to sail on the 25th for Tongatabu and then to New York for overhaul, arriving on 18 December 1942.

After returning to sea on 25 February 1943, she operated with Ranger (CV-4) in the North Atlantic until mid-April, then joined the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow until 1 August, returning to Norfolk. On 21 August, she headed for Efate Island, arriving at Havannah Harbor on 14 September. She moved to Fiji on 7 November and sortied with Battleship Divisions 8 and 9 in support of Operation "Galvanic," the Gilbert Islands assault.

South Dakota participated in various operations, including bombardments, throughout 1943 and 1944, supporting carrier strikes and engaging in surface action. On 7 April 1945, she was part of the force that sank Japan's battleship Yamato.

On 6 May, an explosion in a powder tank caused a fire and additional explosions on South Dakota, resulting in casualties and damage. After repairs in Guam, she resumed operations, bombarding Japanese positions in July and August.

After Japan's surrender, South Dakota entered Tokyo Bay on 29 August. She departed Tokyo Bay on 20 September, proceeding via Okinawa and Pearl Harbor to the U.S. West Coast. After a brief stay in San Francisco and San Pedro, she sailed to Philadelphia for overhaul in January 1946. She was attached to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in June and placed in reserve, out of commission, on 31 January 1947. The battleship remained in this status until struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1962. On 25 October 1962, she was sold to Lipsett Division, Luria Bros. & Co., Inc., for scrap