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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Massachusetts (Battleship # 2, BB-2), 1896-1921, later renamed Coast Battleship # 2

USS Massachusetts, a 10,288-ton battleship of the Indiana class, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and commissioned in June 1896. Until 1898, she served along the U.S. east coast. The Spanish-American War took her to the West Indies, where she participated in blockade duty off Cienfuegos and Santiago, Cuba, and later operated off Puerto Rico.

After the war, Massachusetts was part of the North Atlantic Squadron. In 1910, she became a practice ship for the U.S. Naval Academy, and made two midshipmen cruises to Europe. During World War I, the old battleship supported gunnery training efforts off the east coast. She was renamed Coast Battleship # 2 and decommissioned in March 1919. In November 1920, she was struck from the Navy List and loaned to the War Department as a target. Sunk off Pensacola, Florida, in January 1921, her hulk remains there to this day.

This page features several views related to USS Massachusetts that have been cross-referenced from Spanish-American War coverage.

If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

Photo #: NH 46422

USS Massachusetts (BB-2)


Halftone photograph, taken prior to 1898. Copied from the contemporary publication Uncle Sam's Navy.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60,877 bytes; 740 x 613 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 46423

USS Massachusetts (BB-2)


Photographed by E.H. Hart off New York City, during the victory review, circa August 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59,480 bytes; 740 x 489 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 82638

USS Massachusetts (BB-2)


Photograph taken in 1898. The original photograph was copyright J.F. Jarvis, and printed on a stereograph card.

Courtesy of Captain George Atkins, USNR(DC), 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57,159 bytes; 588 x 640 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 82638-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 40,607 bytes; 575 x 360 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 82653

USS Massachusetts (BB-2)


At anchor, 1898. The original photograph was copyright 1898 by J.F. Jarvis, and published on a stereograph card.

Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64,754 bytes; 587 x 673 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 82653-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 53,825 bytes; 675 x 365 pixels

 


The following photograph shows USS Massachusetts in the background, with another ship as the main subject of the view:

Photo #: NH 78627-KN (Color)

"Before the War"


Painting by Carlton T. Chapman, depicting the U.S. North Atlantic Squadron anchored in Hampton Roads, Virginia, circa late March or early April 1898. Ships present are (left to right: USS New York, USS Indiana, USS Texas, USS Massachusetts, USS Columbia and USS Iowa.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC. Donation of Capt. R.G. Colbert, USN.
Navy Art Accession #: 63-33-B
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94,403 bytes; 570 x 780 pixels

 

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5 October 1998