The battleships USS Pennsylvania BB-38 2 , USS Maryland BB-46 2 , USS Mississippi BB-41 2 , USS Tennessee BB-43 2 and USS Idaho BB-42 2 , heavy cruisers USS Indianapolis CA-35 2 , USS Louisville CA-28 2 , USS Minneapolis CA-36 2 and USS Portland CA-33 2 , and light cruisers USS Cleveland CL-55 2 , USS Denver CL-58 2 and USS Honolulu CL-48 2 , 29 led by the command ship USS Mount McKinley AGC-7 2 , subjected the tiny island, only 6 sqmi in size, to a massive three-day bombardment, pausing only to permit air strikes from the three aircraft carriers, five light aircraft carriers, and eleven escort carriers with the attack force.