This is not a way to treat a lady!!
[American warships are referred to as "she"]
The USS Illinois. A battleship of the pre-dreadnought era, First commissioned in 1901, only being finally scrapped in 1956 [!!].
A warship of the U.S. Navy, performing faithful service in a variety of capacities, long beyond reasonable life expectancy from time of initial sailing!
"USS Illinois (BB-7) , the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 21st state, was a battleship, the lead ship of her class . . . commissioned on 16 September 1901"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVBvOhF6ewezh09Q3jnn5MQaRLIbjUGk8c_OpfOzOicwB8GtpkseWi1IvgJsgHpXKNLFYZoEcmVBewdoucJqse9wnAjG9VoAgRvJnPIqnsk5wDzPjNkmyTH__RSavZAkTxvupBY1yLYFw/s280/USS_Illinois_BB-7_sea_trials.jpg)
Post-war [World War One], removed from the rolls of active warships, converted into a "building", a floating armory, used for training by the Naval Reserve.
Continuing to serve as a training facility during the Second World War, and even in the aftermath thereof, only being broken apart for scrap in 1956!
"Excluded from further use as a warship by the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, Illinois was fitted out as a floating armory at New York Navy Yard in 1924 . . . She remained there for more than 30 years . . . she served as a Naval Reserve Midshipmen Training School at New York. Following the war, she was retained . . . as quarters for a Naval Reserve unit until 31 December 1956.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW1FvzVtPDbeHTBMjFq8MswQI4_hdK3T0rs5hIHp3MpnmhgnrjJcq3Zykzoj9e7PW79W3I9hiio3SXtSgRViMmearCXqnBvsvLE7Bmv_RRyU1LF52i-HaGAl-PPrWnB8neDDQ_Q7FT7B_/s280/USS_Prairie_State_IX-15.jpg)
These before and after images are quite striking, are they not? I wonder if the below deck guts of the ship were kept intact, as a training tool. Above deck the "building" served as class rooms, barracks, etc.
"Prairie State, after over 50 years of useful service to the Navy and the Nation . . . sold for scrap . . . 18 May 1956."
[during the lifetime of the ship, was known as the USS Illinois, IX-15 and Prairie State]
Proud service for a period of over fifty years, in whatever incarnation!
coolbert.
No comments:
Post a Comment