Mississippi-class battleship

USS Mississippi
Class overview
Name	Mississippi class battleship
Operators	United States Greece
Preceded by	Connecticut class
Succeeded by	South Carolina class
Completed	2
Lost	2
Preserved	0
General characteristics
Type	Pre-dreadnought battleship
Displacement	13,000 tons (standard)
Length	382 ft
Beam	77 ft
Draft	24 ft 7 in
Propulsion	triple-expansion reciprocating engines 2 propellers 10,000 horsepower
Speed	17 knots
Complement	744 officers and men
Armament	4 × 12"/45 guns (2×2) 8 × 8"/45 guns (4×2) 8 × 7"/45 guns (8×1) 12 × 3"/50 guns (12×1)

The Mississippi class battleships, USS Mississippi and USS Idaho, served in the U.S. Navy from 1908 to 1914. This was the last pre-dreadnought U.S. battleship class to be designed, and for reasons of economy and compromise, these ships were considered inferior in many aspects to the preceding design class. Because the last ship of the prior design, the Connecticut class was authorized and completed after these ships, that ship was the last U.S. pre-dreadnought to be built.

These ships were the result of a compromise between factions advocating technologically advanced battleships and those prefering more but less expensive battleships. These ships were a step-down in size, armament, speed, and seaworthiness from the prior classes. However, the next design, the South Carolina class, took a completely different approach with all big guns and returned to the displacement of the Connecticut class. The South Carolina class would be similar in concept to the Dreadnought, and in some ways superior; they had superior range, and were able to acheive the same broadside and protection on a smaller displacement.

As US naval strategy and expectations developed further, and subsequent designs grew larger and faster, these Mississippi class ships became undesirable, and within six years of completion, they were sold to the Greek Navy, with which they served until they were both sunk during World War II.

Purpose

These 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 US naval planners in the early years of the 20th Century, over whether to have technically superior ships or many less expensive ones, with Theodore Roosevelt among those supporting the former and Admiral Dewey along with Captain Mahan supporting the latter approach.

The 1903 naval budget affected a compromise allowing production of both individual superiority and quantity. The allocation called for five ships: three more ships of the Connecticut class and two ships of a new less expensive class of approximately 13,000 tons, with the design 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), firepower, and cost. This concept had formed the backbone of the sailing battle fleets of the previous century, but trends in early 20th Century naval strategies were making the third-rate concept obsolete. Prevailing strategies called for a consistent battle line of first-rate units.

Design

While Congress had authorized three vessels in the 13,000 ton range, for the 1903 naval budget, the design was not specified. Three approaches were initially considered: (1) a scaled down version of the preceding 16,000 ton Connecticut class, five of which had been approved with the 1902 and 1903 budgets, (2) a scaled-up version of the 12,500 ton Maine class, a 1898 design, three of which were commissioned from 1902 to 1904, and (3) a fully new design which might incorporate new ideas and technology. Interesting adaptations were considered, 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 US naval designs coal storage and engine efficiency were more important than in European designs. US ships might have to fight far from US shores, especially in the Pacific. . Even in the Caribbean, US forces might be farther from their coaling stations, than a European power with colonial bases. Draught was a concern, since southern US 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 US dry-docks.

in 1903, there were differing concepts of the ultimate combination of guns, many ideas were based on various experiences and interpretations from recent naval battles. The quality of guns, armor, ordnance, and design was changing rapidly, so experience could become irrelevant quickly. Combat experience in the Spanish American War had shown the value of many smaller guns in close range, where the larger guns had been inaccurate. However, in the Russo Japanese War, just six-years later, decisive effects were obtained at long ranges, well beyond the limits of 8-inch ordnance.

Recent US designs had clung to the concept of mounting the largest practical primary batteries (12-inch - 13-inch), numerous smaller guns to protect against torpedo boats and destroyers (5-inch - 7-inch), and several intermediate 8-inch guns for rapid-fire in close-combat with armored vessels. Though at the same time some U.S. naval leaders were discussing the all-big-gun concept in parallel with the British Dreadnought. Other proposals included even more but smaller primary guns, in the 11-inch size for weight savings. In 1903, analysis of war games had determined that one battleship with twelve 11-inch or 12-inch guns, in a hexagaonal turret placment, 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 this approach was not incorporated in the Mississippi class, it was folowed in all subsequent US battleship designs.

The final design was a scaled down version of the preceding Connecticut class, keeping the four 12-inch and eight 8-inch guns, while reducing by four guns the 7-inch battery, omiting eight of the 3 inch guns, and sacrificing two torpedo tubes. By comparison, these ships were to be a knot slower and have a lower freeboard, so they did not perform as well in heavy seas.

As completed, both BB-23 and BB-24 carried a single military mast forward, but were retrofitted with lattice masts fore and aft as part of the modernization of the fleet following the return of the Great White Fleet.

Ships

Name	Hull	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
Mississippi	BB-23	William Cramp and Sons	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.
Idaho	BB-24	William Cramp and Sons	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.

Mississippi (BB-23)

Under construction at the Cramp shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1907.

Main article: USS Mississippi (BB-23)

The second Mississippi (Battleship No. 23) was laid down on 12 May 1904 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Co. She was launched on 30 September 1905; sponsored by Miss Mabel Clare Money, daughter of Senator Hernando DeSoto Money of Mississippi; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, League Island, on 1 February 1908, Capt. John C. Fremont in command.

Mississippi departed Philadelphia in February 1908 for Hampton Roads, and then sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Following her shakedown off the coast of Cuba in 1908, she 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 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 to Gravesend Bay, England and then to Brest, France, as part of Atlantic Fleet manuevers, returning to Guantanamo Bay in early 1911. She then 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 and remained on station in Guantanamo Bay until July, when she sailed for home. Following exercises with Battleship Division 4 (BatDiv 4) off New England, she returned to Philadelphia Navy Yard where she was put in the First Reserve in August 1912

Mississippi remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia until detached December 1913 for duty as aeronautic station ship at Pensacola, Florida. At Pensacola, she stood by while her crew, along with the early naval aviators, rebuilt the old naval base, laying the foundation for the Pensacola Naval Air Station. 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. Serving as a floating base for the fledgling seaplanes and their pilots, the warship launched nine reconnaissance flights over the area during a period of 18 days. One month later, the battleship departed Veracruz for Pensacola.

In June 1914 she returned to Hampton Roads where in July she was decommissioned and transferred to the Greek Navy.

Idaho (BB-24)

Idaho in the Hudson River with cage mast as installed in 1908

Main article: USS Idaho (BB-24)

The second Idaho (Battleship No. 24) was laid down on 12 May 1904 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Co.; launched on 9 December 1905; sponsored by Miss Louise May Gooding, 13-year old daughter of Idaho Governor Frank R. Gooding; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, League Island, on 1 April 1908, Captain Samuel W. B. Diehl in command.

Idaho departed Philadelphia in April 1908 for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, via Hamption Roads. Following a shakedown off the coast of Cuba in 1908, she 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.

Following a period of repairs at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Idaho steamed to Norfolk, where she received a new "cage" mainmast tower, conducted testing her guns out of Hampton Roads and then returned to Philadelphia for more repairs and work.

In early 1909 she joined with USS MIssissippi and other ships to meet the Great White Fleet upon its return 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 departed Philadelphia on 4 May 1911, bound for the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River visiting the Louisiana ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, steamed past the mouth of the Red River, then visited St. Joseph. She then called at Vicksburg and Natchez in late May before visiting a succession of Louisiana ports.

From mid 1911 to early 1913 she again performed routine service and manuevers with the Atlantic Fleet and in Cuban waters, with periodic visits to Philedlphia for repairs.

In February 1913, unrest in Mexico led to a coup d'etat and death of deposed President Francisco I. Madero For the protection of American interests," Idaho deployed first to Tampico in May, then to Vera Cruz in late June, but by June she rejoined the fleet in Newport in late June. She then proceeded to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on 27 October 1913.

Idaho remained in reserve until recommissioned at Philadelphia in March 1914. At Annapolis, she embarked midshipmen bound for the Mediterranean in company with USS Missouri and USS Illinois.

After visiting Tangier Gibraltar Naples Idaho arrived at the French port of Villefranche, on 17 July 1914. The midshipmen, were en masse to the USS Maine, and Iowa was formally transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on 30 July 1914.

Greek Service

Diplomatic tensions between Greece and the Ottoman Empire following the 1912-13 Balkan Wars resulted in each seeking to buy powerful warships abroad that would enable them to control the Aegean Sea. The Idaho, and Mississippi, were sold to Fred J. Gauntlett, an intermediary, on 8 July 1914, who then transferred them to the Greek government.

Mississippi was renamed Kilkis for the crucial battle of the Second Balkan War. Idaho was renamed Lemnos, in honor of a victorious naval battle over the Turkish Navy during the First Balkan War (5 January 1913). Though their service was uneventful, they served to balance German capital ships which were acquired by rival Turkey. The design limitations were not as critical in that strategic environment, and the calmer seas of the Mediterranean. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Henry Morgenthau 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."

Both ships were seized by France along with the rest of the Greek Fleet in 1916 due to Greece's tentative neutrality in World War I . The ships had their breech blocks removed and ammunition unloaded; their crews were forcibly reduced to minimum levels. When Greece entered the war on the side of the Entente, in 1917, France returned the ships to the Royal Hellenic Navy.

After World War I both ships saw action in the 1919. During the Allied Crimean expedition in support of White Russian forces, they were under the command of Rear Admiral G. Kakoulidis, RHN. During the Asia Minor Campaign, Limnos was the flagship to the Second Fleet, based in Smyrna, under Rear Admiral G. Kalamidas RHN; her mission was the surveillance of the Black Sea, Dardanelles and Asia Minor coasts.

Fate

Both ships were decommissioned in the mid 1930s. Kilkis which had been upgraded in the mid 1920s became a naval artillery training facility. Limnos guns were removed and were installed at a coastal defence battery on the island of Aegina.

Both ships were sunk in Salamis Naval Base by Stuka dive bombers on April 23, 1941, during the German invasion of Greece. The wrecks were refloated and sold for scrap in the 1950s.

See also

• List of battleships of the United States Navy
• Indiana class battleship

Bibliography

• Alden,John D. (2008). 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. Maryland Naval Institute Press. ISBN 087021-248-6.
• Friedman, Norman (1989). U.S. Battleships an illustrated design history. Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 87021-715-1. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
• Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1922. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870219073. OCLC 12119866.
• Vice Admiral C. Paizis-Paradellis, HN (2002). Hellenic Warships 1829-2001 (3rd Edition). Athens, Greece: The Society for the study of Greek History. p. 113. ISBN 960-8172-14-4.
• Reilly, John C., Jr. & Scheina, Robert L. (1980). American Battleships 1886–1923. Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 8-87021-524-8. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• US Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships ("DANF")

External links

• Naval Historical Center - Mississippi class battleships
• Naval Historical Center - USS Mississippi
• Naval Historical Center - USS Idaho
• USS Mississippis - Navsource Battleship Photo Archive
• USS Idaho - Navsource Battleship Photo Archive
• Photos of Mississippi at Maritimequest.com
• Photos of Idaho at Maritimequest.com]