USS Louisiana (BB-19)

The third United States Navy ship "Louisiana" (BB-19) was a Sclass|Connecticut|battleship.

"Louisiana" was laid down 7 February 1903 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia; launched 27 August 1904; sponsored by Miss Juanita LaLande and commissioned 2 June 1906, Capt. Albert R. Couden in command.

Following her shakedown off the New England coast, "Louisiana" sailed 15 September for Havana in response to an appeal by Cuban President Estrado Palma for U.S. help in suppressing an insurrection. The new battleship carried a peace commission, composed of Secretary of War William Howard Taft and Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon, which arranged for a provisional government of the island. "Louisiana" stood by while this government was set up and then returned the commission to Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

"Louisiana" embarked President Theodore Roosevelt at Piney Point, Maryland, 8 November for a cruise to Panama to inspect work on the construction of the Panama Canal. Returning she briefly visited Puerto Rico, where the President studied the administration structure of the Commonwealth's government, before debarking him at Piney Point 26 November.

During 1906 and 1907, "Louisiana" visited New Orleans, Havana, and Norfolk; maneuvered out of Guantánamo Bay: and engaged in battle practice along the New England coast. On 16 December 1907 she departed Hampton Roads as one of the 16 battleships President Theodore Roosevelt sent on a voyage around the world. The cruise of the "Great White Fleet" deterred hostile actions toward the United States by other countries, primarily Japan; raised American prestige as a global naval power; and impressed upon Congress the importance of a strong Navy and a thriving merchant fleet. During the circumnavigation, "Louisiana" visited Port of Spain; Rio de Janeiro; Punta Arenas and Valparaíso, Chile; Callao, Peru; San Diego and San Francisco; Honolulu; Auckland; Sydney; Tokyo; Manila; Amoy, China; Hong Kong; Manila; Colombo; Suez Canal and Port Said; Smyrna; and Gibraltar before returning home 22 February 1909.

After overhaul and maneuvers, "Louisiana" joined the 2d Division of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet 1 November 1910 and sailed for European waters to visit English and French ports before returning to the United States in the spring of 1911. During the summer, she paid formal visits to the north European ports of Copenhagen; Tralhafuet (Trälhavet), Sweden; Kronstadt, Russia; and Kiel, Germany, and was inspected by King Frederick VIII of Denmark, King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser William II of Germany, and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Between 6 July 1913 and 24 September 1915 "Louisiana" made three voyages from east coast ports to Mexican waters. On the first (6 July to 29 December 1913), she stood by to protect American lives and property and to help enforce both the Monroe Doctrine and the arms embargo which had been established to discourage further revolutionary disturbances In Mexico. Her second voyage (14 April to 8 August 1914) came at a time when tension between Mexico and the United States was at its peak during the shelling and occupation of Veracruz. "Louisiana" sailed a third time for Mexican waters to protect American interests again from 17 August to 24 September 1915.

Returning from the Gulf of Mexico, "Louisiana" was placed in reserve at Norfolk and, until the United States entered World War I, she served as a training ship for midshipmen and naval militiamen on summer cruises.

During World War I, "Louisiana" was assigned as a gunnery and engineering training ship, cruising off the middle Atlantic coast until 25 September 1918. At that time she became one of the escorts for a convoy to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Beginning 24 December, she saw duty as a troop transport, making four voyages to Brest, France, to carry troops back to the United States.

Following her final trip back from Brest, "Louisiana" reported to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was decommissioned 20 October 1920 and was sold for scrap 1 November 1923.

References

Alden, John D. "American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1989. ISBN 0870212486

Friedman, Norman. "U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985. ISBN 0870217151

Reilly, John C. and Robert L. Scheina. "American Battleships 1996-1923: Predreadnought Design and Construction." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1980. ISBN 0870215248

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/uss_louisiana_bb19.htm Maritimequest USS Louisiana BB-19 Photo Gallery]