USS Illinois.

This is coolbert:

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"




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.

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.