Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: NH 60570

USS Illinois
(Battleship # 7)

Underway, circa 1918, showing modifications made to the ship during the First World War.
Despite the inscription on the print, this is NOT USS Alabama.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 

Identification note: The ship in this photograph has long been identified as USS Alabama (Battleship # 8). However, it is without doubt actually Illinois, for the following reasons:
(1) The shape of the "cage" masts. Illinois' masts were wide at the top and relatively narrow at the base, as seen here. Alabama's masts were narrow at the top and wide at the base;
(2) The heavy double hause casting at the bow, a feature seen on Illinois. Alabama had much lighter twin hause holes;
(3) Porthole spacing on the lower deck, forward of the bow casemate, which differed considerably between these two ships.
It is probable that this photograph and Photo # 19-N-1-11-3 were taken at the same time, and that their identifications were reversed at that time, with the error persisting for decades.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Image posted 26 December 2002
Corrected and reposted 6 February 2003