USS Kansas, a 16,000-ton Connecticut class battleship built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in April 1907. After a shakedown cruise off the east coast, she joined the Atlantic Fleet's battleships in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in time to take part in the cruise around the World that began in December 1907. For the next fifteen months, Kansas and her sister battleships cruised around South America to the U.S. west coast, then steamed across the Pacific to visit Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines and Japan. Continuing by way of the Indian Ocean, they called on Ceylon, transited the Suez Canal, passed through the Mediterranean and crossed the Atlantic to return to Hampton Roads in late February 1909.
At the end of this epic voyage, Kansas began an overhaul that greatly changed her appearance. She emerged with two new "cage" masts and grey paint in place of the previous "white and buff". During the next eight years, she mainly operated with the battle fleet in U.S. and Caribbean waters, but also made three trans-Atlantic cruises. In late 1911, Kansas called on ports in France and England. The next spring, she went to the Baltic and in 1913 visited Italy. In a diplomatic mission in July 1914, the battleship transported the body of the late Venezuelan Minister back to his country for burial.
After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Kansas served in training and escort roles until the conflict's end in November 1918. Next assigned work as a troop transport, she made five round-trips to France from then until mid-1919, helping to bring home veterans of the "Great War". In June 1920, Kansas passed through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, taking Naval Academy midshipmen on a training cruise that reached as far west as Hawaii. Returning to the Pacific in October 1920, she steamed to Samoa and Hawaii. She made a final voyage to Europe on a midshipmen's training cruise in mid-1921. Kansas was inactive after the conclusion of that trip. Decommissioned in December 1921, she was stricken from the Navy list in 1923 and broken up in 1924.
This page features, and provides links to, selected views concerning USS Kansas (Battleship # 21, later BB-21).
For more images related to this ship, see:
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 61136 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) Making 18.294 knots while running trials in 1906. Photographed by N.L. Stebbins, Boston, Massachusetts. Note that the ship's 7-inch broadside guns have not yet been installed. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 83959 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) Photographed soon after completion, circa 1907. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 104037 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) In an East Coast harbor, circa 1909. Donation of Jean L. Volz, 2006. The original photograph had belonged to the donor's mother, Mrs. May Arnold Volz, who had received it from Richard Smith, a member of USS Kansas' crew. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 540 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 2896 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) At anchor, circa 1912. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 535 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 52235 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) Underway in a harbor, circa 1912. Note the civilian sailboat off Kansas' starboard side. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 545 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 93862 USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) In a French port, probably Brest, during a post-World War I trooping voyage, circa January-June 1919. Note French sailing lugger in the foreground, with number C1667 on her mainsail. Kansas' seven-inch broadside guns have been removed. Battleships in the distance are: USS New Hampshire (left) and USS Connecticut (right). Courtesy of Paul Silverstone, 1982. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 92091 U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battleships Steaming in column, probably while departing Hampton Roads, Virginia, at the start of their cruise around the World, December 1907. Photographed by C.E. Waterman, Hampton, Va. USS Kansas (Battleship # 21) is at left, followed by USS Vermont (Battleship # 20). Collection of Roy D. France. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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For more images related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 8 May 2001
New images added and page divided 16 December 2007