Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Atlantic Fleet Pre-Dreadnought Battleships, USS Rhode Island, USS Virginia with USS Nebraska pictured on manoeuvers in Chesapeake Bay in 1915.

Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Rhode Island pictured off New York in 1917..She was laid down in May 1902 at Fore River Shipyards, Quincy Massachusetts and launched in May 1904, and commissioned into the Atlantic Fleet in February 1906. She was armed with an offensive battery of four 12-inch guns and eight 8-inch guns, and she was capable of a top speed of 19 knots.
The ship's career primarily consisted of training with the other Battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. Rhode Island took part in the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907–1909, and thereafter largely remained in the Atlantic. In late 1913, she cruised the Caribbean coast of Mexico to protect American interests during the Mexican Revolution. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Rhode Island was assigned to Anti-Submarine patrols off the east coast of the US. Starting in December 1918, after the end of the war, the ship was used to repatriate American soldiers. She carried over 5,000 men in the course of five trips. She was briefly transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1919 before being decommissioned in 1920 and sold for scrap in 1923 under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

The last of the five Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleships, USS Rhode Island pictured at Brooklyn Navy Yard on July 21st 1910...She was laid down in May 1902 at Fore River Shipyards, Quincy, Massachusetts and launched in May 1904, and commissioned into the Atlantic Fleet in February 1906. She was armed with an main battery of four 12-inch guns and eight 8-inch guns, and was capable of a top speed of 19 knots.
The ship's career primarily consisted of training with the other Battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. Rhode Island took part in the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907–1909, and thereafter largely remained in the Atlantic. In late 1913, she cruised the Caribbean coast of Mexico to protect American interests during the Mexican Revolution. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Rhode Island was assigned to anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of the US. Starting in December 1918, after the end of the war, she was used to repatriate American soldiers. She carried over 5,000 men in the course of five trips. She was briefly transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1919 before being decommissioned in 1920 and sold for scrap in 1923 under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Virginia pictured in 1918.

Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Nebraska pictured on entry to Dry Dock No 2 at Mare Island Navy Yard on February 17th 1920.

Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship sisters USS Rhode Island and USS Georgia pictured during the Great White Fleet visit......Waitematā Harbour, Auckland..1908.

Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Virginia pictured on October 29th 1917.

Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Rhode Island pictured at Brooklyn Navy Yard during her refit in March 1909.

Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Nebraska pictured in the Hudson River in 1911.

Coaling Ship on Virginia Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship USS Georgia at Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1919.