Mississippi class battleship
Encyclopedia
The Mississippi class of battleships comprised two ships which were authorized in the 1903 naval budget: and . They were the last pre-dreadnought battleship
s to be designed for the United States Navy
; however, they were not the last to be built as one more ship of a prior design was completed later under the 1904 naval budget. While the quality and technology of the weaponry and armor were first-rate, these ships included a variety of main, intermediate, secondary, and tertiary gun sizes in a pre-dreadnought configuration which became obsolete before the ships were completed.
The first several years of the twentieth century were a period of confusion and transition in U.S. naval strategy, tactics, and ship-design. The Mississippi class, along with the preceding Connecticut class
, were designed based on lessons learned in the Spanish–American War, but while they were under construction, the Russo Japanese War, war games, and experimentation demonstrated new priorities and concepts which would influence future designs. This was also a period where rapid development of techniques and training in the use of large guns made the inclusion of rapid-fire intermediate and secondary weapons unnecessary. Future U.S. designs would reduce the confusing array of guns sizes in pre-dreadnought battleships and rely on one gun size for the main armament, the "all-big-gun" concept, along with many small guns of a uniform caliber to combat small vessels in close proximity.
The Mississippi class ships were smaller than the several preceding classes of U.S. battleships. In essence, the Mississippi class ships were smaller versions of the preceding Connecticut class with virtually the same armament and armor, but the reduction in length, engine size, and fuel capacity caused them to be slow and short-ranged. Other design compromises caused them to perform poorly in terms of steering, stability, and sea keeping.
These ships served in the U.S. Navy from 1908 to 1914, when they were sold to Greece
. Most U.S. service was with the Atlantic Fleet
, though these ships did not perform well in fleet-operations due to their lower speeds and shorter ranges. The ships were frequently detached for special tasks, including goodwill tours, and for a time the Mississippi was used as a seaplane support vessel. In 1914, both Mississippi class ships were sold to Greece. From 1914 to the early 1930s, the ships were active in the Greek Navy, serving mostly in coastal defense and attack roles. In these missions and in the calmer waters of the Mediterranean their limitations were less pronounced. They saw service in the Russian Civil War
and the Greco-Turkish War. By the mid-1930s, they were relegated to reserve and auxiliary roles. Both were sunk by German
aircraft in 1941, and raised in the 1950s to be sold for scrap.
ranked its battle line second only to the British Navy. However, this rapid growth was not universally supported either within the government or within the Navy. Compromises between powerful groups were frequently necessary in order to get funding.
The Mississippi class ships were designed to meet Congressional
and Navy Department objectives of reducing the escalating cost of new battleships, the quantity, size, and cost of which had increased dramatically over the first two decades of U.S. battleship production.
There was a division among U.S. naval planners in the early years of the 20th century over whether to have technically superior ships or many less expensive ones, with President Theodore Roosevelt
among those supporting the former and Admiral Thomas Dewey
, along with Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan
, supporting the latter approach.
The 1903 naval budget effected a compromise by calling for five ships: three more ships of the 16,000 ton Connecticut class and two ships of a new less expensive class of approximately 13,000 tons, with the design still to be determined.
The ships that became the Mississippi class were intended to serve as the modern equivalent of 19th century third-rate
ship of the line
, offering what was thought to be an efficient compromise between sailing ability (speed, handling), fire power, and cost. This concept had formed the backbone of the sailing battle fleets of the previous century, but trends in early twentieth century naval strategies were making the third-rate concept obsolete. Prevailing strategies called for a consistent battle line of first-rate
units. The next U.S. battleship design, the South Carolina class
, was a completely different approach returning to the displacement of the Connecticut class
and using the all-big-gun format similar in concept to the .
class to be designed; however, , the last ship of the prior Connecticut class
design, was authorized and completed after these ships; therefore, it was the last U.S. pre-dreadnought ship to be built. While Congress had authorized three vessels in the 13,000-ton range, the design was not specified in the 1903 naval budget. Three approaches were initially considered: a scaled down version of the preceding 16,000-ton Connecticut class
, five of which had been approved with the 1902 and 1903 budgets; a scaled-up version of the 12,500-ton Maine class
, an 1898 design, three of which were commissioned from 1902 to 1904; and a completely new design which might incorporate new ideas and technology. Interesting adaptations were considered for new designs,
and weight-saving technology could allow increased efficiencies to be achieved from the older Maine class design,
which was closest to the weight goal.
As with most U.S. naval designs, coal storage and engine efficiency were more important than in European designs. U.S. ships might have to fight far from their home shores, especially in the Pacific. Even in the Caribbean, U.S. forces might be farther from their coaling stations than a European power with colonial bases. Draft was a concern, since southern U.S. harbors tended to have shallow entrances, and some proponents felt that all ships should be able to egress all major harbors. Beams were typically limited by the width of dry docks.
The quality of guns, armor, ordnance, and design was changing rapidly, so experience could quickly become irrelevant. Combat experience in the Spanish–American War had shown the value of many smaller guns at close range, where the larger guns had been inaccurate.
In the Russo Japanese War of 1904–1905
, just six years later, decisive effects were obtained at long ranges, well beyond the effective limits of 8 inches (203.2 mm) ordnance. However, by this point, the designs were established for the Mississippi class and the keels had already been laid down.
Earlier U.S. battleships had used 13 inches (330.2 mm) guns with black powder propellant; the 1898 design of the Maine class used more powerful but smaller 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns using smokeless powder, giving a greater velocity and flatter trajectory. The 12 inches (304.8 mm) rifles available in 1904 had a range of 9,000 yards, which was approximately double the range of the black powder main armament used in the Spanish–American War. These were considered an excellent compromise between weight and firepower, since limitations in gunnery control made longer range guns impractical. The contemporary consideration was not whether to go larger, but whether to go with more. In 1902, naval officers, with the backing of President Theodore Roosevelt, began to develop superior fire control techniques and equipment. The development of better spotting and range finders led to improvements in range capacity and accuracy. At the same time, superior training and systems significantly reduced the time required to load and fire the large guns, from three minutes to one minute.
Intermediate 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns had been discontinued in 1896 with the Illinois class, but based on experience in the Spanish–American War in 1898, 8 inches (203.2 mm) 45-caliber guns were reinstated in the Virginia class and continued in the Connecticut class. These were typically carried in two-gun turrets, but the placement of the turrets had been inconsistent in prior designs; in two prior designs, the turrets for the 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns were superimposed over the turrets for the 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns (see Kearsarge
and Virginia
classes). Some designers felt that 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns were redundant to the faster firing 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber guns carried in casemates. Others argued that increases in the rate of fire and accuracy of the 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns eliminated the need for any smaller guns in the main battery.
Recent U.S. warships had mounted a combination of a few 7 inches (177.8 mm) or 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns and many smaller guns in the 2 inches (50.8 mm) to 3 inches (76.2 mm) range (six pounder to 12 pounder in the traditional terms). The larger of these guns were typically protected in casemates, and the smaller ones open on the deck or in lightly protected casemates.
A fast-firing 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber gun had been adopted with the previous battleship class to replace earlier 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns; these brought a significant improvement in ballistics, expanding the potential beyond torpedo defense, but came with drawbacks. There were various opinions on the best combination of guns: all 8 inches (203.2 mm), all 7 inches (177.8 mm), or a mix of 7 inches (177.8 mm) and 8 inches (203.2 mm).
Though considered to be quick firing, the propellant for 7 inches (177.8 mm) guns was loaded in bags, making them slower than contemporary 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns. The Navy considered these to be excellent for the intended role; however, in World War I, North Atlantic convoy duty the disadvantages in seakeeping outweighed the utility; they were removed from battleships remaining in U.S. service in 1918.
Beginning with the Maine class
vessels, commissioned in 1902, the 3 inches (76.2 mm) 50-caliber gun (12-pounder) was used on most U.S. battleships as an anti-torpedo-boat weapon. These and smaller weapons are frequently referred to as tertiary guns. This role was filled back to the earliest U.S. battleships, including the Texas and first Maine, by the 6-pounder 2.24 inches (56.9 mm). Most 3 inches (76.2 mm) guns were removed from U.S. battleships before combat operations in World War I.
Other analysis suggested that in fleet actions, only broadsides were effective, thus maximizing the number of centerline guns was the most efficient approach. While neither approach was incorporated in the Mississippi class, the centerline maximum broadside concept was followed in all subsequent U.S. battleship designs.
The main battery consisted of four 12 inches (304.8 mm) 45-caliber guns; the gun was 45 times as long as it was in diameter. These were considered quick-firing guns and were arranged in two twin turrets
, one forward and one to the rear of the main superstructure. There were eight 8 inches (203.2 mm) 45-caliber guns arranged in four twin turrets outboard of the main superstructure on each side of the ship.
The remaining eight 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber guns were distributed four per side in casemates on the side of the ship below the main deck.
Four 3 inches (76.2 mm) 50-caliber guns were mounted in the upper casemates (on the main deck), two per side, behind 2 inches (50.8 mm) of armor plate. Another two, one per side, were mounted in blister casemates on the gun deck, near the bow. The remaining eight guns were on open mounts on the upper deck, the bridge, and other deck spaces. Two submerged torpedo tubes were fitted on the broadside, near the bow of the ships.
plate, sometime backed with wood. In the 1870s, compound armor was developed, where a hardened steel face was cemented to a softer iron backing, which prevented cracking. During the late 1880s, nickel-steel armor was devised, and in 1890, the Harvey process
was developed, where a nickel-steel plate was treated with carbon and hardened in cold water. This process allowed one homogeneous steel plate to have both a hard surface and a softer back which was less likely to crack. During the 1890s, Krupp armor further refined the Harvey process by including additional metals in the alloy and developing a system where the hardening process penetrated more deeply into the plates. Tests showed that 5.75 inches (146.1 mm) of Krupp armor was equal to 7.75 inches (196.9 mm) of Harvey armor, 12 inches (304.8 mm) of compound armor, and 12 inches (304.8 mm) of wrought iron plate, while in thinner plates Harvey armor was equal to Krupp.
The Mississippi class ships used a combination of Harvey and Krupp style armor, with much of the side armor backed with teak
wood, which was consistent with other U.S. capital ships of the decade. The amount of armor and its strength was consistent with the preceding Connecticut class and in some cases was more complete in coverage and was thicker, especially compared to the earliest ships in that series. The belt armor was thinner, 9 inches (228.6 mm), compared to 11 inches (279.4 mm), but longer, 244 feet (74.4 m), compared to 200 feet (61 m), despite the Mississippi class being shorter, 382 feet (116.4 m), compared to 456 feet (139 m). The primary turret armor was thicker by an inch—12 inches (304.8 mm) thick—as opposed to 11 inches (279.4 mm) on the USS Connecticut.
When the Mississippi class ships were designed, the older technology of reciprocating steam engines was slowly being replaced by the newer technology of steam turbine
propulsion. While turbines generally improved speed, they were less fuel-efficient and limited the range of the ships unless more fuel could be stored. Early Dreadnought designs, which were in simultaneous development with the Mississippi, used primitive direct drive turbines. The U.S. Navy was slow to fully adopt turbines, and only used them exclusively in battleship production when indirect transmissions became refined (gear reduction or turbo-electric
). Several subsequent battleship classes were built where otherwise identical vessels had different types of engines (for example, the Delaware class
and Nevada class
).
Mississippi and Idaho were equipped with two-shaft vertical triple expansion steam engines, which drove two propellers. These were reciprocating engines where the steam was used multiple times (triple expansion) for greater efficiency. Steam was provided by eight Babcock and Wilcox
boilers. Their engines were rated at 10000 ihp, which produced a top speed of 17 knots (9.3 m/s). On trials, Mississippi reached 13607 ihp and a maximum speed of 17.11 kn (9.3 m/s). In terms of speed, this class of ships was inferior to several preceding classes, and was only slightly superior to the Illinois class
, which was laid down in 1896.
The ships carried 600 LT of coal in purpose-designed coal bunkers and up to another 1200 LT of coal could be stored in voids in the sides of the hull. This provided the ships with a range of 5800 nautical miles (10,741.6 km) at a cruising speed of 10 kn (5.4 m/s). The range was less than the previous class.
. By comparison, these ships were a knot slower and had a lower freeboard
, so they did not perform as well in heavy seas. The two Mississippi class ships were 382 feet (116.4 m) long overall, had a beam
of 77 ft (23.5 m), and a draft
of 24 in 8 in (7.52 m). The ships were designed to displace
13000 LT at normal displacement and up to 14465 LT at full combat load. Each ship had a crew of 34 officers and 710 enlisted men.
The World Cruise of 1907–1909
tested the seakeeping of the U.S. designs. Even the earlier designs, including the Connecticut class with their higher freeboard, carried their secondary armament too close to the waterline.
The ships initially carried a pole mast above the conning tower
, though shortly after commissioning, both ships had lattice mast
s added aft, and in 1910, the forward masts were also replaced with lattice masts.
The reduced length, while retaining the same beam as the prior Connecticut class, resulted in a disadvantageous length-to-beam ratio, causing reduced performance relative to that class. Not only was their top speed a knot slower, but their economical speed was reduced by one and half knots. They also had 25% less coal storage, further reducing their operating range.
The Mississippi ships had poor seakeeping qualities, making them poor gunnery platforms underway in Atlantic waters. Their motion was irregular, and their low length-to-beam ratio caused excessive rolling and pitching, which made it difficult to keep the guns on-target. The reduced length, significantly cut-away from the aft, made it difficult to keep the ships on a consistent course, even in smoother waters.
The second Mississippi, Battleship No. 23, was laid down in 1904, launched in 1905, and commissioned in early 1908. She was given a shakedown cruise off the coast of Cuba in 1908, then returned to Philadelphia for final fitting out.
In early 1909, she attended the inauguration of the President of Cuba, met the Great White Fleet
upon its return, and was reviewed by the President. For the remainder of the year and into 1910, she traveled the waters off New England, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico, took a voyage up the Mississippi River, and participated in war games out of Guantanamo Bay.
In late 1910, she sailed to Europe as part of Atlantic Fleet maneuvers, after which she spent about 14 months off the Atlantic coast, based alternately out of Philadelphia and Norfolk, serving as a training ship and conducting operational exercises. In June 1912, she landed a Marine detachment at El Cuero, Cuba, to protect American interests. Following exercises with the fleet, she returned to Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was put in the First Reserve in August 1912.
In late 1913, she was assigned duty as an aeronautic station ship at Pensacola, Florida. With the outbreak of fighting in Mexico in April 1914, Mississippi sailed to Veracruz, arriving with the first detachment of naval aviators to go into combat. In June 1914, she returned to Hampton Roads where in July she was decommissioned and transferred to the Greek Navy.
In the summer of 1908, she transported a detachment of marines to Colon in the Canal Zone to support a peaceful election process.
In early 1909, she met the Great White Fleet upon its return to the U.S. and was reviewed by the President. For the remainder of the year and into 1910, she alternated between the waters off New England and southern waters, including the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, along with a voyage in the Mississippi River and war games out of Guantanamo Bay.
In late 1910, she sailed across the Atlantic with the Third Division of the Atlantic Fleet to Gravesend Bay, England, and then to Brest, France, returning to Guantanamo Bay in early 1911.
After routine service with the Atlantic Fleet and in Cuban waters, Idaho toured Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River in 1911, visiting many ports on the Mississippi River.
In February 1913, unrest in Mexico led to a coup d'état and the death of deposed President Francisco I. Madero
. For the protection of American interests," Idaho deployed to Tampico in May and to Veracruz in June. Upon returning, she was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on October 27, 1913.
Idaho remained in reserve until recommissioned at Philadelphia in March 1914. In mid-year, she steamed to the Mediterranean with a group of midshipmen on board. After visiting several ports, she arrived at the French port of Villefranche
on July 17, 1914. There, she was formally transferred to the Greek Navy on July 30, 1914.
following the 1912–13 Balkan Wars
resulted in each seeking to buy powerful warships abroad that would enable them to control the Aegean Sea. Idaho and Mississippi were sold on July 8, 1914 to Fred J. Gauntlett, an intermediary, who in turn sold them to the Greek government. The proceeds of the sale were used to increase the budget for the 1915 fiscal year, funding the building of a third New Mexico-class
super-dreadnought, Idaho (BB-42)
.
Mississippi was renamed Kilkis
for the crucial battle
of the Second Balkan War
, while Idaho became Limnos
, in honor of a victorious naval battle over the Turkish Navy
during the First Balkan War
. Though their service was uneventful, these ships served to balance German capital ships which were acquired by rival Turkey.
The design limitations and poor sea keeping tendencies were not as critical in that strategic environment and the calmer seas of the Mediterranean. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Henry Morgenthau, Sr.
wrote, "Those battleships immediately took their places as the most powerful vessels of the Greek Navy, and the enthusiasm of the Greeks in obtaining them was unbounded."
and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos
over whether Greece
should enter World War I
. This became known as the "National Schism", where separate governments emerged.
Defections by units of the Greek Navy to the Venizelist factions provoked a Royalist purge of Venizelist officers and men from the Greek Navy. French Admiral Fournet, the Commander in Chief of the Allied Squadron, perceived the Greek fleet as a menace to the Entente powers in the Aegean. He delivered an ultimatum to the Greeks to sequester the small ships and disable the large ones. On October 19, 1916, the breech blocks, munitions, and torpedoes were removed from the Limnos and Kilkis. At the same time, the crews were reduced to one-third of their normal size.
In June 1917, Greece was reunified under Venizelos and declared war against the Central Powers. Restoration of the Greek Navy was slow due to British and French disagreements and the difficulty in guaranteeing the officers and crews would support a war against the Central Powers. When France returned the ships, the Limnos and Kilkis took part in Allied operations in the Aegean. The greatest Allied need in the Mediterranean was for anti-submarine units, thus battleships were not a priority.
After World War I, both ships saw action in 1919 under the command of Rear Admiral G. Kakoulidis, RHN, when the Greek Navy took part in the Allied expedition in support of Denikin's White Armies in the Ukraine
.
and took control of the city and its surroundings under cover of the Greek, French, and British navies. Limnos was the flagship to the Second Fleet, based in Smyrna, under Rear Admiral G. Kalamidas; her mission was surveillance of the Black Sea, Dardanelles, and Asia Minor coasts. Over time, France and Italy became supportive of the emerging Turkish republic. Britain remained supportive of Greece, but opposed Greek moves against Istanbul in 1922. With waning support, the Greek army was defeated. Greece was driven out of Asia by the Turks in late 1922, resulting in years of political and economic turmoil.
Both battleships were relegated to reserve and auxiliary roles in the mid-1930s. Kilkis, which had been upgraded in the mid-1920s, became a naval artillery training facility in 1932. Limnos guns were removed and installed in a coastal defense battery
on the island of Aegina
. When they were both anchored in the Salamis Naval Base
on April 23, 1941, both ships were sunk during the German invasion of Greece
by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
dive bombers. Kilkis was hit by bombs and went down in shallow water at her moorings; Limnos was also hit but was able to get underway enough to be beached. The wrecks were refloated and sold for scrap
in the 1950s.
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s to be designed for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
; however, they were not the last to be built as one more ship of a prior design was completed later under the 1904 naval budget. While the quality and technology of the weaponry and armor were first-rate, these ships included a variety of main, intermediate, secondary, and tertiary gun sizes in a pre-dreadnought configuration which became obsolete before the ships were completed.
The first several years of the twentieth century were a period of confusion and transition in U.S. naval strategy, tactics, and ship-design. The Mississippi class, along with the preceding Connecticut class
Connecticut class battleship
- External links :...
, were designed based on lessons learned in the Spanish–American War, but while they were under construction, the Russo Japanese War, war games, and experimentation demonstrated new priorities and concepts which would influence future designs. This was also a period where rapid development of techniques and training in the use of large guns made the inclusion of rapid-fire intermediate and secondary weapons unnecessary. Future U.S. designs would reduce the confusing array of guns sizes in pre-dreadnought battleships and rely on one gun size for the main armament, the "all-big-gun" concept, along with many small guns of a uniform caliber to combat small vessels in close proximity.
The Mississippi class ships were smaller than the several preceding classes of U.S. battleships. In essence, the Mississippi class ships were smaller versions of the preceding Connecticut class with virtually the same armament and armor, but the reduction in length, engine size, and fuel capacity caused them to be slow and short-ranged. Other design compromises caused them to perform poorly in terms of steering, stability, and sea keeping.
These ships served in the U.S. Navy from 1908 to 1914, when they were sold to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Most U.S. service was with the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, though these ships did not perform well in fleet-operations due to their lower speeds and shorter ranges. The ships were frequently detached for special tasks, including goodwill tours, and for a time the Mississippi was used as a seaplane support vessel. In 1914, both Mississippi class ships were sold to Greece. From 1914 to the early 1930s, the ships were active in the Greek Navy, serving mostly in coastal defense and attack roles. In these missions and in the calmer waters of the Mediterranean their limitations were less pronounced. They saw service in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
and the Greco-Turkish War. By the mid-1930s, they were relegated to reserve and auxiliary roles. Both were sunk by German
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
aircraft in 1941, and raised in the 1950s to be sold for scrap.
Purpose
In the early twentieth century, the U.S. Navy was growing rapidly. The Navy commissioned its first battleships in 1895, and by the middle of the next decade Jane's Fighting ShipsJane's Fighting Ships
Jane's Fighting Ships is an annual reference book of information on all the world's warships arranged by nation, including information on ship's names, dimensions, armaments, silhouettes and photographs, etc...
ranked its battle line second only to the British Navy. However, this rapid growth was not universally supported either within the government or within the Navy. Compromises between powerful groups were frequently necessary in order to get funding.
The Mississippi class ships were designed to meet Congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and Navy Department objectives of reducing the escalating cost of new battleships, the quantity, size, and cost of which had increased dramatically over the first two decades of U.S. battleship production.
There was a division among U.S. naval planners in the early years of the 20th century over whether to have technically superior ships or many less expensive ones, with President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
among those supporting the former and Admiral Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
, along with Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Alfred Thayer Mahan was a United States Navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." His concept of "sea power" was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide...
, supporting the latter approach.
The 1903 naval budget effected a compromise by calling for five ships: three more ships of the 16,000 ton Connecticut class and two ships of a new less expensive class of approximately 13,000 tons, with the design still to be determined.
The ships that became the Mississippi class were intended to serve as the modern equivalent of 19th century third-rate
Third-rate
In the British Royal Navy, a third rate was a ship of the line which from the 1720s mounted between 64 and 80 guns, typically built with two gun decks . Years of experience proved that the third rate ships embodied the best compromise between sailing ability , firepower, and cost...
ship of the line
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
, offering what was thought to be an efficient compromise between sailing ability (speed, handling), fire power, and cost. This concept had formed the backbone of the sailing battle fleets of the previous century, but trends in early twentieth century naval strategies were making the third-rate concept obsolete. Prevailing strategies called for a consistent battle line of first-rate
First-rate
First rate was the designation used by the Royal Navy for its largest ships of the line. While the size and establishment of guns and men changed over the 250 years that the rating system held sway, from the early years of the eighteenth century the first rates comprised those ships mounting 100...
units. The next U.S. battleship design, the South Carolina class
South Carolina class battleship
The United States Navy's South Carolina class consisted of two battleships: and , both of which were launched in 1908. These were among the first warships built with armament organized on the "all-big gun" and the first American battleships of the type...
, was a completely different approach returning to the displacement of the Connecticut class
Connecticut class battleship
- External links :...
and using the all-big-gun format similar in concept to the .
Design
The Mississippi class was the last pre-dreadnought U.S. battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
class to be designed; however, , the last ship of the prior Connecticut class
Connecticut class battleship
- External links :...
design, was authorized and completed after these ships; therefore, it was the last U.S. pre-dreadnought ship to be built. While Congress had authorized three vessels in the 13,000-ton range, the design was not specified in the 1903 naval budget. Three approaches were initially considered: a scaled down version of the preceding 16,000-ton Connecticut class
Connecticut class battleship
- External links :...
, five of which had been approved with the 1902 and 1903 budgets; a scaled-up version of the 12,500-ton Maine class
Maine class battleship
The three Maine class battleships: , , and were launched in the first several years of the 20th century. These were the first US capital ships to use smokeless powder for their main batteries, and the last to use Harvey armor. Smokeless powder allowed a decrease in gun size, with an increase in...
, an 1898 design, three of which were commissioned from 1902 to 1904; and a completely new design which might incorporate new ideas and technology. Interesting adaptations were considered for new designs,
and weight-saving technology could allow increased efficiencies to be achieved from the older Maine class design,
which was closest to the weight goal.
As with most U.S. naval designs, coal storage and engine efficiency were more important than in European designs. U.S. ships might have to fight far from their home shores, especially in the Pacific. Even in the Caribbean, U.S. forces might be farther from their coaling stations than a European power with colonial bases. Draft was a concern, since southern U.S. harbors tended to have shallow entrances, and some proponents felt that all ships should be able to egress all major harbors. Beams were typically limited by the width of dry docks.
Armament
In 1903, there were differing concepts of the ultimate combination of guns, with many ideas based on various experiences and interpretations from recent naval battles, war games, and other experimentation. Recent U.S. battleship designs had included primary guns, intermediate guns, secondary guns, and tertiary guns, which were typical in the pre-dreadnought configuration. In 1890, the U.S. Navy had pioneered the use of 8 inches (203.2 mm) intermediate guns with the Indiana class, but had not used these consistently in their previous designs because opinions and experiences varied.The quality of guns, armor, ordnance, and design was changing rapidly, so experience could quickly become irrelevant. Combat experience in the Spanish–American War had shown the value of many smaller guns at close range, where the larger guns had been inaccurate.
In the Russo Japanese War of 1904–1905
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, just six years later, decisive effects were obtained at long ranges, well beyond the effective limits of 8 inches (203.2 mm) ordnance. However, by this point, the designs were established for the Mississippi class and the keels had already been laid down.
Main batteries
Recent U.S. designs had continued to include large primary batteries of either 12 inches (304.8 mm) or 13 inches (330.2 mm) guns, along with several intermediate 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns for faster fire in closer combat with armored vessels. The lighter intermediate guns were considered valuable for penetrating upper level armor, whereas the heavy guns were more effective on the main belt and heavy turrets. The former was likely to diminish the fighting ability of the opponent, while the latter was more likely to sink her.Earlier U.S. battleships had used 13 inches (330.2 mm) guns with black powder propellant; the 1898 design of the Maine class used more powerful but smaller 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns using smokeless powder, giving a greater velocity and flatter trajectory. The 12 inches (304.8 mm) rifles available in 1904 had a range of 9,000 yards, which was approximately double the range of the black powder main armament used in the Spanish–American War. These were considered an excellent compromise between weight and firepower, since limitations in gunnery control made longer range guns impractical. The contemporary consideration was not whether to go larger, but whether to go with more. In 1902, naval officers, with the backing of President Theodore Roosevelt, began to develop superior fire control techniques and equipment. The development of better spotting and range finders led to improvements in range capacity and accuracy. At the same time, superior training and systems significantly reduced the time required to load and fire the large guns, from three minutes to one minute.
Intermediate 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns had been discontinued in 1896 with the Illinois class, but based on experience in the Spanish–American War in 1898, 8 inches (203.2 mm) 45-caliber guns were reinstated in the Virginia class and continued in the Connecticut class. These were typically carried in two-gun turrets, but the placement of the turrets had been inconsistent in prior designs; in two prior designs, the turrets for the 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns were superimposed over the turrets for the 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns (see Kearsarge
Kearsarge class battleship
The Kearsarge class was a two-ship class of battleships built for the United States Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. Its first ship, the , was commissioned in 1900. The lead ship of this class, USS Kearsarge, was the only United States battleship not named for a state.- Ship history :This...
and Virginia
Virginia class battleship
The Virginia class battleship was designed to be the first truly seagoing U.S. battleships. Five ships were commissioned between 1906 and 1907. The ships participated in the round-the-world cruise of the Great White Fleet. For the second and last time, the U.S...
classes). Some designers felt that 8 inches (203.2 mm) guns were redundant to the faster firing 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber guns carried in casemates. Others argued that increases in the rate of fire and accuracy of the 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns eliminated the need for any smaller guns in the main battery.
Secondary batteries
In 1903, secondary batteries were typically considered to be a combination of torpedo defense—defense against smaller boats armed with torpedoes, such as torpedo boats or destroyers—and weapons to attack the lightly armored upper structures of capital ships.Recent U.S. warships had mounted a combination of a few 7 inches (177.8 mm) or 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns and many smaller guns in the 2 inches (50.8 mm) to 3 inches (76.2 mm) range (six pounder to 12 pounder in the traditional terms). The larger of these guns were typically protected in casemates, and the smaller ones open on the deck or in lightly protected casemates.
A fast-firing 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber gun had been adopted with the previous battleship class to replace earlier 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns; these brought a significant improvement in ballistics, expanding the potential beyond torpedo defense, but came with drawbacks. There were various opinions on the best combination of guns: all 8 inches (203.2 mm), all 7 inches (177.8 mm), or a mix of 7 inches (177.8 mm) and 8 inches (203.2 mm).
Though considered to be quick firing, the propellant for 7 inches (177.8 mm) guns was loaded in bags, making them slower than contemporary 6 inches (152.4 mm) guns. The Navy considered these to be excellent for the intended role; however, in World War I, North Atlantic convoy duty the disadvantages in seakeeping outweighed the utility; they were removed from battleships remaining in U.S. service in 1918.
Beginning with the Maine class
Maine class battleship
The three Maine class battleships: , , and were launched in the first several years of the 20th century. These were the first US capital ships to use smokeless powder for their main batteries, and the last to use Harvey armor. Smokeless powder allowed a decrease in gun size, with an increase in...
vessels, commissioned in 1902, the 3 inches (76.2 mm) 50-caliber gun (12-pounder) was used on most U.S. battleships as an anti-torpedo-boat weapon. These and smaller weapons are frequently referred to as tertiary guns. This role was filled back to the earliest U.S. battleships, including the Texas and first Maine, by the 6-pounder 2.24 inches (56.9 mm). Most 3 inches (76.2 mm) guns were removed from U.S. battleships before combat operations in World War I.
Competing designs
The future of battleship weaponry was at a crossroads. There were varied opinions among top naval leaders; some U.S. naval leaders were discussing the all-big-gun concept in parallel with the British , while other designers felt that the torpedo would completely replace the gun, and battleships should become heavily armored launch platforms. Other proposals included even more but smaller primary guns, in the 11 inches (279.4 mm) size to save on weight. In 1903, analysis of war games had determined that one battleship with twelve 11 inches (279.4 mm) or 12 inches (304.8 mm) guns, in a hexagonal turret placement, could be superior to three conventional battleships in individual actions.Other analysis suggested that in fleet actions, only broadsides were effective, thus maximizing the number of centerline guns was the most efficient approach. While neither approach was incorporated in the Mississippi class, the centerline maximum broadside concept was followed in all subsequent U.S. battleship designs.
Final design
It was eventually decided that the Mississippi class ships would be built with main batteries identical to the Connecticut class, while reducing by four guns the secondary 7 inches (177.8 mm) battery, omitting eight of the tertiary 3 inches (76.2 mm) guns, and sacrificing two torpedo tubes. Subsequent designs would eliminate the 7 inches (177.8 mm) batteries completely, and most of the 3 inches (76.2 mm) guns were removed from other battleships before combat in World War I, so the design did not suffer by comparing forward.The main battery consisted of four 12 inches (304.8 mm) 45-caliber guns; the gun was 45 times as long as it was in diameter. These were considered quick-firing guns and were arranged in two twin turrets
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
, one forward and one to the rear of the main superstructure. There were eight 8 inches (203.2 mm) 45-caliber guns arranged in four twin turrets outboard of the main superstructure on each side of the ship.
The remaining eight 7 inches (177.8 mm) 45-caliber guns were distributed four per side in casemates on the side of the ship below the main deck.
Four 3 inches (76.2 mm) 50-caliber guns were mounted in the upper casemates (on the main deck), two per side, behind 2 inches (50.8 mm) of armor plate. Another two, one per side, were mounted in blister casemates on the gun deck, near the bow. The remaining eight guns were on open mounts on the upper deck, the bridge, and other deck spaces. Two submerged torpedo tubes were fitted on the broadside, near the bow of the ships.
Armor
Prior to the mid 1870s, armor was made of wrought ironWrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
plate, sometime backed with wood. In the 1870s, compound armor was developed, where a hardened steel face was cemented to a softer iron backing, which prevented cracking. During the late 1880s, nickel-steel armor was devised, and in 1890, the Harvey process
Harvey armor
Harvey armor was a type of steel armor developed in the early 1890s in which the front surfaces of the plates were case hardened. The method for doing this was known as the Harvey process....
was developed, where a nickel-steel plate was treated with carbon and hardened in cold water. This process allowed one homogeneous steel plate to have both a hard surface and a softer back which was less likely to crack. During the 1890s, Krupp armor further refined the Harvey process by including additional metals in the alloy and developing a system where the hardening process penetrated more deeply into the plates. Tests showed that 5.75 inches (146.1 mm) of Krupp armor was equal to 7.75 inches (196.9 mm) of Harvey armor, 12 inches (304.8 mm) of compound armor, and 12 inches (304.8 mm) of wrought iron plate, while in thinner plates Harvey armor was equal to Krupp.
The Mississippi class ships used a combination of Harvey and Krupp style armor, with much of the side armor backed with teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
wood, which was consistent with other U.S. capital ships of the decade. The amount of armor and its strength was consistent with the preceding Connecticut class and in some cases was more complete in coverage and was thicker, especially compared to the earliest ships in that series. The belt armor was thinner, 9 inches (228.6 mm), compared to 11 inches (279.4 mm), but longer, 244 feet (74.4 m), compared to 200 feet (61 m), despite the Mississippi class being shorter, 382 feet (116.4 m), compared to 456 feet (139 m). The primary turret armor was thicker by an inch—12 inches (304.8 mm) thick—as opposed to 11 inches (279.4 mm) on the USS Connecticut.
Machinery
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
propulsion. While turbines generally improved speed, they were less fuel-efficient and limited the range of the ships unless more fuel could be stored. Early Dreadnought designs, which were in simultaneous development with the Mississippi, used primitive direct drive turbines. The U.S. Navy was slow to fully adopt turbines, and only used them exclusively in battleship production when indirect transmissions became refined (gear reduction or turbo-electric
Turbo-electric
A turbo-electric transmission uses electric generators to convert the mechanical energy of a turbine into electric energy and electric motors to convert it back into mechanical energy to power the driveshafts....
). Several subsequent battleship classes were built where otherwise identical vessels had different types of engines (for example, the Delaware class
Delaware class battleship
The Delaware-class battleships of the United States Navy were the second class of American dreadnoughts. They carried a battery of ten 12"/45 caliber Mark 5 guns in five turrets, an increase of two guns over the preceding . They were also larger, displacing 25% more than the South Carolinas...
and Nevada class
Nevada class battleship
The Nevada class battleships were the United States Navy's first battleship design equipped with triple gun turrets , as well as introducing the so-called "all or nothing" armor scheme, in which protection of vital areas was optimized against heavy caliber guns, leaving other parts...
).
Mississippi and Idaho were equipped with two-shaft vertical triple expansion steam engines, which drove two propellers. These were reciprocating engines where the steam was used multiple times (triple expansion) for greater efficiency. Steam was provided by eight Babcock and Wilcox
Babcock and Wilcox
The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a U.S.-based company that provides design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and facilities management services to nuclear, renewable, fossil power, industrial and government customers worldwide. B&W's boilers supply more than 300,000 megawatts of installed...
boilers. Their engines were rated at 10000 ihp, which produced a top speed of 17 knots (9.3 m/s). On trials, Mississippi reached 13607 ihp and a maximum speed of 17.11 kn (9.3 m/s). In terms of speed, this class of ships was inferior to several preceding classes, and was only slightly superior to the Illinois class
Illinois class battleship
The Illinois-class battleships were pre-dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy commissioned at the beginning of the 20th century. The first ship of its class, the , was commissioned in 1901...
, which was laid down in 1896.
The ships carried 600 LT of coal in purpose-designed coal bunkers and up to another 1200 LT of coal could be stored in voids in the sides of the hull. This provided the ships with a range of 5800 nautical miles (10,741.6 km) at a cruising speed of 10 kn (5.4 m/s). The range was less than the previous class.
General characteristics
The final design of the Mississippi class ships was a scaled-down version of the preceding Connecticut classConnecticut class battleship
- External links :...
. By comparison, these ships were a knot slower and had a lower freeboard
Freeboard (nautical)
In sailing and boating, freeboardmeans the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, measured at the lowest point of sheer where water can enter the boat or ship...
, so they did not perform as well in heavy seas. The two Mississippi class ships were 382 feet (116.4 m) long overall, had a beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 77 ft (23.5 m), and a draft
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
of 24 in 8 in (7.52 m). The ships were designed to displace
Displacement (ship)
A ship's displacement is its weight at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons. The term is often used to mean the ship's weight when it is loaded to its maximum capacity. A number of synonymous terms exist for this maximum weight, such as loaded displacement, full load...
13000 LT at normal displacement and up to 14465 LT at full combat load. Each ship had a crew of 34 officers and 710 enlisted men.
The World Cruise of 1907–1909
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
tested the seakeeping of the U.S. designs. Even the earlier designs, including the Connecticut class with their higher freeboard, carried their secondary armament too close to the waterline.
The ships initially carried a pole mast above the conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
, though shortly after commissioning, both ships had lattice mast
Lattice mast
Lattice masts, or cage masts, are a type of observation mast common on major warships in the early 20th century. They were used most prominently on American dreadnought battleships and armored cruisers of the World War I era. Observation posts were mounted on the masts and used to direct the fire...
s added aft, and in 1910, the forward masts were also replaced with lattice masts.
The reduced length, while retaining the same beam as the prior Connecticut class, resulted in a disadvantageous length-to-beam ratio, causing reduced performance relative to that class. Not only was their top speed a knot slower, but their economical speed was reduced by one and half knots. They also had 25% less coal storage, further reducing their operating range.
The Mississippi ships had poor seakeeping qualities, making them poor gunnery platforms underway in Atlantic waters. Their motion was irregular, and their low length-to-beam ratio caused excessive rolling and pitching, which made it difficult to keep the guns on-target. The reduced length, significantly cut-away from the aft, made it difficult to keep the ships on a consistent course, even in smoother waters.
Ships in class
| Name | Hull | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USS Mississippi | BB-23 | William Cramp and Sons William Cramp and Sons thumb | upright | 1899 advertisement for William Cramp & Sons William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1825 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder in the 19th century. The American Ship & Commerce Corporation bought the yard in 1919 but closed... |
12 May 1904 | 30 September 1905 | 1 February 1908 | Sold to Greece 1914; sunk by German aircraft in April 1941; sold for scrap in the 1950s |
| USS Idaho | BB-24 | William Cramp and Sons William Cramp and Sons thumb | upright | 1899 advertisement for William Cramp & Sons William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1825 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder in the 19th century. The American Ship & Commerce Corporation bought the yard in 1919 but closed... |
12 May 1904 | 9 December 1905 | 1 April 1908 | Sold to Greece 1914; sunk by German aircraft in April 1941; sold for scrap in the 1950s |
USS Mississippi (BB-23)
The second Mississippi, Battleship No. 23, was laid down in 1904, launched in 1905, and commissioned in early 1908. She was given a shakedown cruise off the coast of Cuba in 1908, then returned to Philadelphia for final fitting out.
In early 1909, she attended the inauguration of the President of Cuba, met the Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
upon its return, and was reviewed by the President. For the remainder of the year and into 1910, she traveled the waters off New England, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico, took a voyage up the Mississippi River, and participated in war games out of Guantanamo Bay.
In late 1910, she sailed to Europe as part of Atlantic Fleet maneuvers, after which she spent about 14 months off the Atlantic coast, based alternately out of Philadelphia and Norfolk, serving as a training ship and conducting operational exercises. In June 1912, she landed a Marine detachment at El Cuero, Cuba, to protect American interests. Following exercises with the fleet, she returned to Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was put in the First Reserve in August 1912.
In late 1913, she was assigned duty as an aeronautic station ship at Pensacola, Florida. With the outbreak of fighting in Mexico in April 1914, Mississippi sailed to Veracruz, arriving with the first detachment of naval aviators to go into combat. In June 1914, she returned to Hampton Roads where in July she was decommissioned and transferred to the Greek Navy.
USS Idaho (BB-24)
The second Idaho, Battleship No. 24, was laid down in 1904, launched in 1905, and commissioned in mid-1908. She was given shakedown cruise off the coast of Cuba in 1908, then returned to Philadelphia for final fitting out and repairs.In the summer of 1908, she transported a detachment of marines to Colon in the Canal Zone to support a peaceful election process.
In early 1909, she met the Great White Fleet upon its return to the U.S. and was reviewed by the President. For the remainder of the year and into 1910, she alternated between the waters off New England and southern waters, including the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, along with a voyage in the Mississippi River and war games out of Guantanamo Bay.
In late 1910, she sailed across the Atlantic with the Third Division of the Atlantic Fleet to Gravesend Bay, England, and then to Brest, France, returning to Guantanamo Bay in early 1911.
After routine service with the Atlantic Fleet and in Cuban waters, Idaho toured Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River in 1911, visiting many ports on the Mississippi River.
In February 1913, unrest in Mexico led to a coup d'état and the death of deposed President Francisco I. Madero
Francisco I. Madero
Francisco Ignacio Madero González was a politician, writer and revolutionary who served as President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. As a respectable upper-class politician, he supplied a center around which opposition to the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz could coalesce...
. For the protection of American interests," Idaho deployed to Tampico in May and to Veracruz in June. Upon returning, she was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on October 27, 1913.
Idaho remained in reserve until recommissioned at Philadelphia in March 1914. In mid-year, she steamed to the Mediterranean with a group of midshipmen on board. After visiting several ports, she arrived at the French port of Villefranche
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
on July 17, 1914. There, she was formally transferred to the Greek Navy on July 30, 1914.
Greek service
Diplomatic tensions between Greece and the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
following the 1912–13 Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
resulted in each seeking to buy powerful warships abroad that would enable them to control the Aegean Sea. Idaho and Mississippi were sold on July 8, 1914 to Fred J. Gauntlett, an intermediary, who in turn sold them to the Greek government. The proceeds of the sale were used to increase the budget for the 1915 fiscal year, funding the building of a third New Mexico-class
New Mexico class battleship
The New Mexico class battleships of the United States Navy, all three of whose construction began in 1915, were improvements on the design introduced three years earlier with the Nevada class....
super-dreadnought, Idaho (BB-42)
USS Idaho (BB-42)
USS Idaho , a , was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 43rd state. Her keel was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey...
.
Mississippi was renamed Kilkis
Greek Battleship Kilkis
Kilkis was a 13,000 ton Mississippi-class battleship originally built by the US Navy in 1904–1908. The Greek Navy purchased the ship in 1914, along with her sister , renamed Limnos. Kilkis was named for the Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas, a crucial engagement of the Second Balkan War...
for the crucial battle
Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas
The Battle of Kilkis–Lahanas took place during the Second Balkan War between Greece and Bulgaria for the town of Kilkis in Macedonia. The battle lasted three days from 19 to 21 June 1913 and ended with a Greek victory.-Background:...
of the Second Balkan War
Second Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
, while Idaho became Limnos
Greek Battleship Limnos
Limnos, sometimes spelled Lemnos , was a 13,000 ton Mississippi-class Greek battleship named for a crucial naval battle of the First Balkan War.-History of the ship:...
, in honor of a victorious naval battle over the Turkish Navy
Turkish Navy
The Turkish Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.- Ottoman fleet after Mudros :Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy, Liva Amiral Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be...
during the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. Though their service was uneventful, these ships served to balance German capital ships which were acquired by rival Turkey.
The design limitations and poor sea keeping tendencies were not as critical in that strategic environment and the calmer seas of the Mediterranean. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Henry Morgenthau, Sr.
Henry Morgenthau, Sr.
Henry Morgenthau was a lawyer, businessman and United States ambassador, most famous as the American ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. He was father of the politician Henry Morgenthau, Jr. and the grandfather of Robert M. Morgenthau, who was the District Attorney of...
wrote, "Those battleships immediately took their places as the most powerful vessels of the Greek Navy, and the enthusiasm of the Greeks in obtaining them was unbounded."
World War I
In 1916, there was a major division in the Greek government between King Constantine IConstantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent and illustrious statesman as well as a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Elected several times as Prime Minister of Greece and served from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1932...
over whether Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
should enter World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. This became known as the "National Schism", where separate governments emerged.
Defections by units of the Greek Navy to the Venizelist factions provoked a Royalist purge of Venizelist officers and men from the Greek Navy. French Admiral Fournet, the Commander in Chief of the Allied Squadron, perceived the Greek fleet as a menace to the Entente powers in the Aegean. He delivered an ultimatum to the Greeks to sequester the small ships and disable the large ones. On October 19, 1916, the breech blocks, munitions, and torpedoes were removed from the Limnos and Kilkis. At the same time, the crews were reduced to one-third of their normal size.
In June 1917, Greece was reunified under Venizelos and declared war against the Central Powers. Restoration of the Greek Navy was slow due to British and French disagreements and the difficulty in guaranteeing the officers and crews would support a war against the Central Powers. When France returned the ships, the Limnos and Kilkis took part in Allied operations in the Aegean. The greatest Allied need in the Mediterranean was for anti-submarine units, thus battleships were not a priority.
After World War I, both ships saw action in 1919 under the command of Rear Admiral G. Kakoulidis, RHN, when the Greek Navy took part in the Allied expedition in support of Denikin's White Armies in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Later careers
The ships were also active in the operations of the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor from 1919 to 1922. As the Greeks had been on the winning side in World War I and the Ottoman Empire was one of the defeated powers, the Greeks were awarded large areas of mixed Turkish and Greek populations on the Asian coast of the Aegean sea. On May 15, 1919, twenty thousand Greek soldiers landed in SmyrnaSmyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
and took control of the city and its surroundings under cover of the Greek, French, and British navies. Limnos was the flagship to the Second Fleet, based in Smyrna, under Rear Admiral G. Kalamidas; her mission was surveillance of the Black Sea, Dardanelles, and Asia Minor coasts. Over time, France and Italy became supportive of the emerging Turkish republic. Britain remained supportive of Greece, but opposed Greek moves against Istanbul in 1922. With waning support, the Greek army was defeated. Greece was driven out of Asia by the Turks in late 1922, resulting in years of political and economic turmoil.
Both battleships were relegated to reserve and auxiliary roles in the mid-1930s. Kilkis, which had been upgraded in the mid-1920s, became a naval artillery training facility in 1932. Limnos guns were removed and installed in a coastal defense battery
Coastal defence and fortification
Coastal defence , Coastal defense and Coastal fortification are measures taken to provide protection against attack by military and naval forces at or near the shoreline...
on the island of Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
. When they were both anchored in the Salamis Naval Base
Salamis Naval Base
The Salamis Naval Base or Naval Dock Salamis is the largest naval base in Greece. It is located in the northeastern part of Salamis Island and in Amphiali and Skaramanga. It is close to the major population centres of Athens and Piraeus....
on April 23, 1941, both ships were sunk during the German invasion of Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
by Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
dive bombers. Kilkis was hit by bombs and went down in shallow water at her moorings; Limnos was also hit but was able to get underway enough to be beached. The wrecks were refloated and sold for scrap
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
in the 1950s.
External links
- Naval Historical Center — Mississippi class battleships
- Naval Historical Center — USS Mississippi
- Naval Historical Center — USS Idaho
- Photos of USS Mississippi at MaritimeQuest.com
- Photos of USS Idaho at MaritimeQuest.com