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The USS ''Connecticut'', probably in San Diego harbor |
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| Authorized: | 1 July 1902 |
| Laid down: | 10 March 1903 |
| Launched: | 29 September 1904 |
| Commissioned: | 29 September 1906 |
| Decommissioned: | 1 March 1923 |
| Fate: | sold for scrap |
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| Displacement: | 16,000 tons |
| Length: | 456.3 feet |
| Beam: | 76.8 feet |
| Draft: | 24.5 feet |
| Speed: | 18 knots |
| Complement: | 827 officers and men |
| Armament: | four 12-inch guns, eight eight-inch guns, 12 seven-inch guns |
The fourth , the
Lead Ship of
Her Class of
Battleship was
Launched 29 September 1904 by the
New York Navy Yard sponsored by Miss A. Welles, granddaughter of Gideon Welles,
Secretary Of The Navy during the
American Civil War , and
Commissioned 29 September 1906 with Captain W. Swift in command.
Joining the Atlantic Fleet, ''Connecticut'' became flagship
16 April 1907 , and later that month joined in the Presidential Fleet Review and other ceremonies opening the
Jamestown Exposition . On
16 December 1907 , still flagship, she sailed from
Hampton Roads on the cruise round the world of the
Great White Fleet . On
8 May 1908 , the Atlantic Fleet joined the Pacific Fleet in San Francisco Bay for a review by the
Secretary Of The Navy , and the combined fleets continued their cruise, with ''Connecticut'' as flagship, showing the flag and bringing a show of American strength to many parts of the world. The fleet returned to Hampton Roads
22 February 1909 . Continuing to serve as flagship for the Atlantic Fleet until
1912 , ''Connecticut'' cruised the east coast and the
Caribbean Sea from her base at
Norfolk, Virginia , conducting training and joining in ceremonial observances. Between
2 November 1910 and
17 March 1911 , she made an extended cruise in European waters on a scouting problem. Between
1913 and
1915 , ''Connecticut'' served with the Fourth Division, Atlantic Fleet, usually as flagship. Aside from a brief cruise to the
Mediterranean Sea in October and November
1913 , she served in the Caribbean, protecting American citizens and interests during disturbances in
Mexico and
Haiti .
After repairs and temporary service as receiving ship at
Philadelphia Navy Yard in
1916 , ''Connecticut'' returned to full commission
3 October 1916 as flagship of the Fifth Division, Battleship Force, Atlantic Fleet. She operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until the
United States entered
World War I . Based in the
York River, Virginia , during the war, she exercised in
Chesapeake Bay , and trained both midshipmen and gun crews for merchant ships. At the close of the war, she was fitted out for transport duty, and between
6 January and
22 June 1919 made four voyages to return troops from France. On
23 June 1919 , she was reassigned, becoming flagship of Battleship Squadron 2, Atlantic Fleet.
In the summer of
1920 , ''Connecticut'' sailed to the Caribbean and the west coast on a midshipman and Naval Reserve training cruise. The next summer found her in European ports on similar duty, and upon her return to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , on
21 August 1921 , was assigned as flagship Pacific Fleet. She arrived at
San Pedro, California ,
28 October , and during the following year cruised along the west coast, taking part in exercises and commemorations. Entering
Puget Sound Navy Yard on
16 December 1922 , ''Connecticut'' was decommissioned there
1 March 1923 , and sold for scrapping
1 November 1923 , in accordance with the
Washington Naval Treaty for the limitation of naval armaments.
