USS Idaho (BB-24)

USS "Idaho" (Battleship No. 24), a Sclass|Mississippi|battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 43rd state.

Her construction was authorized on 1903-03-03 and her keel was laid down on 1904-05-12 by William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 1905-12-09 sponsored by Louise Gooding, daughter of Governor Frank Gooding of Idaho, and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 1908-04-01 with Captain S.W.B. Diehl in command.

Designed as cheaper "second class" battleships, the "Mississippis" suffered from rolling and poor sea-keeping.

The new battleship conducted a shakedown cruise to Cuba in April and May 1908, and after a visit to Panama returned to Philadelphia for alterations. The ship took part in the giant Naval Review in Hampton Roads on 1909-02-22 celebrating the return of the Great White Fleet from its around-the-world cruise. In March she returned to the Caribbean Sea for maneuvers, continuing to take part in training operations until October 1910. She sailed on 1910-10-29 for exercises in British and French waters, and upon her return participated in gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay from 1911-03-19 to 1911-03-28.

"Idaho" sailed from Philadelphia on 1911-05-04 for a cruise up the Mississippi River to Louisiana ports. She then steamed to the east coast of Florida for battleship maneuvers, and continued to operate off the coast and in the Caribbean until entering the reserve at Philadelphia on 1918-10-27. There she remained until 1914-05-09, when the ship sailed to the Mediterranean Sea with midshipmen for at sea training. After visiting various ports in North Africa and Italy and carrying out a rigorous training program, "Idaho" arrived at Villefrache, Greece on 1914-07-17, transferred her crew to USS|Maine|BB-10|6.

Transfer to Greece

:details|Greek battleship Limnos

"Idaho" decommissioned at Newport News on 30 July 1914, and was turned over to the Royal Hellenic Navy the same day.

Fleet designation

Although the "Mississippi"-class ships were decommissioned before the fleet designation reworkings in 1920, and thus never carried the "BB" hull classification symbol in service, many lists of American battleships (including the one in this encyclopedia) list them as "BB-23" and "BB-24" for completeness.

ee also

*Greek battleship "Limnos"

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.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-i/bb24.htm USS Idaho (Battleship # 24), 1908-1914]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/uss_idaho_bb24.htm Maritimequest USS Idaho BB-24 Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/24.htm NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive BB-24 USS IDAHO]