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Photo # NH 73769:  USS Virginia underway, circa 1910-13

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

USS Virginia (Battleship # 13, later BB-13), 1906-1923

USS Virginia, lead ship of a class of 14,948-ton battleships, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned in May 1906, she operated along the U.S. northeastern coast until mid-September of that year, when she went to Havana, Cuba, for a month during a period of unrest in that nation. Virginia returned to Cuban waters in March and April 1907, then took part in ceremonies marking the tricentennial of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. In December 1907, she was one of the fleet of U.S. battleships that departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, to begin a historic cruise around the World. After steaming around South America, the ship visited the U.S. west coast, Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, China, Ceylon, and ports in the eastern Mediterranean before returning to Hampton Roads in February 1909.

Following repairs and alterations that lasted from February into June 1909, Virginia's appearance was transformed by the addition of a new "cage" foremast and the replacement of her original "white and buff" color scheme with the grey of the modern battle fleet. In addition to routine operations along the U.S. Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean area, she visited France and England in late 1909 and tested techniques for coaling at sea in 1910. She also received a second "cage" mast during this time. In 1913 and 1914, Virginia provided naval presence off Mexico, before and during the U.S. intervention at Vera Cruz.

When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Virginia was out of commission, receiving repairs at the Boston Navy Yard. Returning to active service in August 1917, she was kept busy training sailors for the rapidly-expanding Navy for the rest of that year and well into 1918, then operated as a convoy escort until the war ended in November. From December 1919 until July 1919, Virginia was employed as a troop transport, bringing home more than 6000 war veterans from France. Inactive after that, she received the hull number BB-13 in June 1920 and was decommissioned in the following August. USS Virginia was transferred to the War Department in August 1923 and sunk in aerial bombing tests off the North Carolina coast a month later.

This page features, and provides links to, selected views concerning USS Virginia (Battleship # 13, later BB-13).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Virginia (Battleship # 13, later BB-13) -- Part II.


    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 105570

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    In port, circa 1906-1907.

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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 68KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93057

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Dressed with flags and with her crew manning the rail, circa 1907-08.
    The occasion may be the Presidential Naval Review at Oyster Bay, New York, in September 1906, or the Jamestown Tricentennial Naval Review the following year.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85676

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Firing a salute to President Theodore Roosevelt, during the Naval Review at Oyster Bay, New York, 2-4 September 1906. The ship is dressed with flags, and her crew is manning the rails in the President's honor.
    Photo mounted on a stereograph card, published by the H.C. White Company.

    Courtesy of Captain George Atkins, USN(DC), 1977

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 630 x 675 pixels

    A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 85676-A

    Online Image of stereo pair: 79KB; 740 x 395 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 90776

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    At anchor, circa 1909, while fitted with only one "cage" mast. An Illinois class battleship is in the left distance, with a collier alongside.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60571

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Underway, circa 1910-13.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73769

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Underway, circa 1910-13.

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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105770

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Underway circa 1914-1916, with her crew in "Whites" manning the rails. She is flying a Rear Admiral's flag from her mainmast peak.
    Photographed by O.W. Waterman, Hampton, Virginia.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 135KB; 1200 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73323

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Underway prior to World War I, with her crew manning the rails.
    Photographed by O.W. Waterman, Hampton, Virginia.

    Courtesy of R.W. Cunningham, 1971.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-3-6-19

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Photographed at anchor, circa 1918, after receiving World War I alterations, among them the removal of her after six-inch broadside guns.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 104699

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    In a U.S. East Coast harbor, 1919.
    The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 76405

    USS Virginia
    (Battleship # 13)

    Arrives at Boston, Massachusetts, returning troops from Europe, 5 July 1919.
    Photographed with a rotating panoramic camera.

    Courtesy of Chief Boatswain's Mate Edward S. Snow, USN(Retired), 1972.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 1200 x 215 pixels

     


    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Virginia (Battleship # 13, later BB-13) -- Part II.


    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 30 September 2001
    New images added and page divided 31 May 2008