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Photo # NH 73976:  USS Iowa running builder's trials, 1897

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Iowa (Battleship # 4), 1897-1923.
Later renamed Coast Battleship # 4.

USS Iowa, a 11,410-ton battleship built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in June 1897. She operated along the Atlantic seaboard for the rest of that year and into 1898. During the Spanish-American War Iowa served off Cuba and on 3 July 1898 played an important role in the Battle of Santiago, an action that destroyed Spain's naval power in the Western Hemisphere. In October of that year, a few months after the conflict's end, the battleship was sent around South America to join the Pacific Squadron. She served along the West Coast until February 1902, when she began a year with the South Atlantic Squadron.

Iowa's return to the U.S. Atlantic Coast in early 1903 was followed by an overhaul and, from late 1903 until mid-1907, active service with the North Atlantic Fleet. She was then placed in reserve, recommissioning in May 1910 after a modernization that gave her a new "cage" mainmast. The next four years were spent on training service, including taking Naval Academy Midshipmen to European waters . Again out of commission from May 1914 until April 1917, Iowa was employed during the First World War as Receiving Ship at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and as a training and guard ship in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Decommissioned at the end of March 1919, the now thoroughly-obsolete Iowa was renamed Coast Battleship No. 4 a month later in order to free her name for use on the new South Dakota class battleship BB-53. In 1920 the old warrior was converted to the Navy's pioneer radio-controlled target ship. While serving in this role, she was sunk by the guns of USS Mississippi in March 1923.

This page features selected views of USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) as she was from 1897 to 1909, and provides links to other views concerning this ship, both as a battleship and as a target ship.

For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views taken circa August 1898;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views taken circa 1910-1920;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Actions and Activities, 1897-1919;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views On Board Ship; and
  • Coast Battleship No. 4 (ex- USS Iowa, Battleship # 4) -- As a Target Ship, 1921-1923.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: NH 73976

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Running builder's trials in 1897.
    She is flying the house flag of her builder, William Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 74097

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Running builder's trials in 1897.
    Note the house flag of her builder, William Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, flying from her mast head.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73391

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Underway, circa 1897 or early 1898.
    Photographed by Hart.

    Collection of Dr. Louis Duncan.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53257

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in 1897 or early 1898, with USS Columbia (Cruiser # 12) in the right background.
    Published in "Uncle Sam's Navy", 1898.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53258

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    In drydock, circa 1897-1898.
    This is a relatively coarse halftone image.

    Courtesy of Erik Heyl.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60249

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    At anchor, circa the early 1900s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60248-A

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Underway during the North Atlantic Fleet review, 1905.
    Photographed by the Burr McIntosh Studio.
    Note the semaphore "paddles" mounted on her foremast.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Rodgers Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105568

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Anchored off New York City, 1905.
    Photographed by C.C. Langill, New York.

    Collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 60KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61211

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    In a harbor, circa the early 1900s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63544

    USS Iowa
    (Battleship # 4)

    Anchored in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the Jamestown Exposition Naval Review, 2 May 1907.

    Courtesy of Howard I. Chapelle.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51108-KN (color)

    USS Iowa (Battleship # 4)

    Painting by Finllyson, 1898.

    Courtesy of William Cramp Scheetz.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     

    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views taken circa August 1898;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views taken circa 1910-1920;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Actions and Activities, 1897-1919;
  • USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) -- Views On Board Ship; and
  • Coast Battleship No. 4 (ex- USS Iowa, Battleship # 4) -- As a Target Ship, 1921-1923.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 13 April 2003
    New image added 12 April 2008