USS Virginia
Pole masts, double-storey turrets, forward wing turrets, and secondary armament mounted in casemates distinguish this highly economical American pre-Dreadnought. Cage masts were substituted in 1910; tops were added to the masts in 1918.

SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: 14,948 tons (normal)
Dimensions: 435ft length x 76ft 3in beam
Guns: 4x12in (2x2); 8x8in (4x2); 12x6in (12x1);12x3in (12x1) (as built)

General: This class was authorised in 1898 at the time of the Spanish American War, but not completed until 1906-7, owing to alterations and additions to the design. As finally completed they were similar to the British King Edmard VII class in having heavier calibre guns to supplement the standard 6in secondary guns. In this case, the calibre chosen was 8in, and American designers revived the double-storey turret to accommodate it--a twin 12in position surmounted by twin 8ins.

Like other American ideas on gun disposition at this time, the double turret offered far more on paper than in practice. In theory the high command for the 8in guns was gained economically, since the structure of the 12in barbette could be made stronger while the weight was saved elsewhere; but in practice the two mountings suffered from mutual blast and the extra topweight made the Virginias roll badly.

The Virginia class were fine ships in their day, with good armor protection, but their rolling and their cumbersome double turrets would have left them at a disadvantage against the ships they were intended to match, ie: the King Edmard VII class. As it was, by the time they could be tested in action in 1917 they were outclassed by the dreadnoughts and were restricted to second-line duties. In 1917-18 their weaknesses in seakeeping were finally admitted, and their entire 6in battery was suppressed.

Armament: The 8in gun owed its reintroduction to the good work done by guns of this calibre at the Battle of Santiago in 1898. Unfortunately the designers chose to revert to the double storied turret, in order to avoid any sacrifice of 6in guns. The result was an overgunned ship, and all the tertiary guns had to be removed during the war.

Machinery: Once again the designers had to increase the length in order to gain higher speed. For the first time Babcock & Wilcox large-tube boilers were introduced in some ships.

Appearance: They were built with pole masts, but cage masts were substituted 1910; tops were added to the masts in 1918, and the mast-structures were strengthened.

Careers
Georgia: Served as receiving ship at Boston prior to outbreak of war in 1917, but recommissioned for active service 6 April 1917 (3rd Division, Battleship Force); convoy escort duties with Cruiser Force Atlantic, September 1918; 10 December 1918 joined Cruiser and Transport Force and made five trips to Brest repatriating American troops until June 1919; paid off July 1920 and sold 10 November 1923; broken up at Oakland, California 1924.

Nebraska: Attached to 3rd Division Battleship Force on outbreak of war in April 1917, but underwent repairs at Boston Navy Yard; exercises and training duties to January 1918, followed by further repairs at Boston, and at Norfolk Navy Yard in April; took body of Uruguayan Ambassador to Montevideo May-July 1918; escorted two fast convoys to U.K. October November; transport duties between Brest and U.S.A. December 1918-June 1919;joined 2nd Division Squadron 1 of Pacific Fleet until paid off July 1920; stricken 9 November 1923 and sold shortly afterwards for breaking up, which was completed in 1924.

New Jersey: Stationed on East coast at outbreak of war in 1917; training duties 1917-18; transport service between Brest and U.S.A. December 1918-June 1919; paid off at Boston 6 August 1920; stricken 1922; sunk as target in Mitchell tests off Cape Hatteras 5 September 1923.

Rhode Island: Service with Atlantic Fleet prior to outbreak of war, but completed repairs at Boston Navy Yard March 1917; training and convoy duties to December 1918 and then served as transport between Brest and U.S.A. to July 1919; while en route to West coast via Panama Canal, forced to undergo emergency repairs at Balboa; paid off at Mare Island, San Francisco, 30 June 1920; stricken 1 November 1923 and broken up 1924.

Virginia: In reserve and undergoing refit at Boston Navy Yard on outbreak of war, but the ship supplied a landing party to board the interned German merchantmen in Boston; refit completed August 1917 and joined 3rd Division, Battleship Force, Atlantic Fleet; gunnery training ship 1917-18, and during December 1917 acted as temporary Flagship of 1st Division; Flagship 3rd Division same month until refitted at Boston for convoy escort duties September 1918; escorted two convoys to Europe, and then served as troop transport December 1918-July 1919; paid off at Boston August 1920; stricken 12 July 1922 and sunk in Mitchell bombing tests 5 September 1923.

SOURCE:

Last Updated 15 December 1999