NOTE: ILLINOIS BB-65, an IOWA class battleship under
construction by Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, was canceled 12
August 1945
ILLINOIS BB-7
From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, James L.
Mooney, ed., Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy,
Washington, DC., 1968
displacement. 11,565
length. 368'
beam. 72'3"
draft. 23'6"
complement. 660
speed. 17
k. armament. 4 13", 14 6", 16 6-pdr., 6 1-pdr., 4 tt.
class. ILLINIOIS
ILLINOIS (BB-7) was laid down 10 February 1897. by the Newport
News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., launched 4
October 1898; sponsored by Miss Nancy Leiter; and commissioned
16 September 1901, Captain G. A. Converse in command.
After shakedown and training in Chesapeake Bay, the new
battleship sailed 20 November 1901 for Algiers, La., where she
was used to test a new floating dry dock. She returned to
Newport News in January 1902 and from 15 to 28 February ILLINOIS
served as flagship for Rear Admiral R. D. Evans during the
reception for Prince Henry of Prussia. Bearing the flag of Rear
Admiral A. S. Crowninshield, the battleship departed New York
30 April 1902 and arrived Naples 18 May, where the Admiral took
command of the European Squadron. ILLINOIS carried out training
and ceremonial duties until 14 July 1902, when she grounded in
the harbor of Christiana, Norway, and had to return to England
for repairs. She remained at Chatham until 1 September 1902,
then proceeded to the Mediterranean and South Atlantic for fleet
maneuvers.
ILLINOIS was detached from the European Squadron 10 January
1903 and assigned to the North Atlantic. She engaged in fleet
maneuvers, gunnery and seamanship training, and ceremonial
operations until December 1907, when she joined the Great White
Fleet for the cruise around the world. Following a Presidential
review, the mighty battleships sailed from Hampton Roads on
their important voyage. The Atlantic Fleet joined the Pacific
Fleet 8 May 1908 in San Francisco Bay and after a review by the
Secretary of the Navy the combined fleets continued their
cruise. The ships visited Australia, Japan, Ceylon and other
countries, arriving Suez 3 January 1909. At Suez word of the
Sicilian earthquake sent ILLINOIS, CONNECTICUT, and CULOGA to
Messina. After rendering valuable aid to victims of the
disaster, the ships rejoined the fleet, returning to Hampton
Roads 22 February 1909. President Roosevelt reviewed the fleet
as it arrived, having given the world a graphic demonstration
of America's naval might. ILLINOIS decommissioned at Boston 4
August 1909.
The battleship was placed in reserve commission 15 April 1912
and recocommissioned 2 November 1912, in time to take part in
winter fleet exercises and battle maneuvers with the Atlantic
Fleet. During the summers of 1913 and 1914 ILLINOIS made
training cruises to Europe with Midshipmen. In 1919 the ship
was again laid up at Philadelphia Navy Yard and was later
loaned to the State of New York 23 October 1921 for use by the
Naval Militia.
Excluded from further use as a warship by the terms of the
Washington treaty, ILLINOIS was fitted out as a floating armory
at New York Navy Yard in 1924 and was assigned to the New York
Naval Reserve. She remained there for more than 30 years, though
reclassified IX-15 8 January 1941 and renamed PRAIRIE STATE to
allow her name to be assigned to a projected new battleship.
During World War II she served as a U. S. Naval Reserve
Midshipmen Training School at New York. Following the war, she
was retained on loan to the State as quarters for a Naval
Reserve unit until 31 December 1956.
Prairie State, after over 50 years of useful service to the Navy
and the Nation, was towed to Baltimore and sold for scrap to
Bethlehem Steel Co., 18 May 1956.
Transcribed and edited by"
Larry W. Jewell
[email protected]
