USS Rhode Island (BB-17)

Rhode Island underway
History
United States
Name:	Rhode Island
Namesake:	State of Rhode Island
Builder:	Fore River Shipyard
Laid down:	1 May 1902
Launched:	17 May 1904
Commissioned:	19 February 1906
Decommissioned:	30 June 1920
Fate:	Sold November 1, 1923 and broken up for scrap
General characteristics
Class and type:	Virginia-class battleship
Displacement:	Design: 14,948 long tons (15,188 t) Full load: 16,094 long tons (16,352 t)
Length:	441 ft 3 in (134 m)
Beam:	76 ft 3 in (23 m)
Draft:	23 ft 9 in (7 m)
Installed power:	19,000 ihp (14,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines 12 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Speed:	19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement:	812
Armament:	4 × 12 in (305 mm)/40 caliber guns 8 × 8 in (203 mm)/45 cal guns 12 × 6 in (152 mm)/50 cal guns 12 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal guns 12 × 3-pounder guns 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armor:	Belt: 6–11 in (152–279 mm) Barbettes: 10 in (254 mm) Turrets: 12 in (305 mm) Conning tower: 9 in (229 mm)

USS Rhode Island (BB-17) was the last of five Virginia-class battleships built for the United States Navy, and was the second ship to carry her name. She was laid down in May 1902, launched in May 1904, and commissioned into the Atlantic Fleet in February 1906. The ship was armed with an offensive battery of four 12-inch (305 mm) guns and eight 8-inch (203 mm) guns, and she was capable of a top speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).

The ship's career primarily consisted of training with the other battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. Rhode Island took part in the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907–09, and thereafter largely remained in the Atlantic. In late 1913, she cruised the Caribbean coast of Mexico to protect American interests during the Mexican Revolution. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Rhode Island was assigned to anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of the US. Starting in December 1918, after the end of the war, the ship was used to repatriate American soldiers. She carried over 5,000 men in the course of five trips. She was briefly transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1919 before being decommissioned in 1920 and sold for scrap in 1923 under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

Rhode Island was 441 feet 3 inches (134.49 m) long overall and had a beam of 76 ft 3 in (23.24 m) and a draft of 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m). She displaced 14,948 long tons (15,188 t) as designed and up to 16,094 long tons (16,352 t) at full load. The ship was powered by two-shaft triple-expansion steam engines rated at 19,000 indicated horsepower (14,000 kW) and twelve coal-fired Babcock & Wilcox boilers, generating a top speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). As built, she was fitted with heavy military masts, but these were quickly replaced by cage masts in 1909. She had a crew of 812 officers and enlisted men.

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