NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Illinois

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
BB7	Illinois	21	Newport News	10.2.1897	4.10.1898	16.9.1901	to Naval Militia as armory 10.1921
BB8	Alabama	290	Cramp, Philadelphia	2.12.1896	18.5.1898	16.10.1900	to War dept. 9.1921
BB9	Wisconsin	49	Union Iron Wks, San Francisco	9.2.1897	26.11.1898	4.2.1901	stricken 7.1921

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	BB7, 8: 11565 BB9: 11653
Displacement full, t	12250
Length, m	BB7: 114.4 BB8, 9: 114.0
Breadth, m	22.0
Draught, m	BB7, 8: 7.16 BB9: 7.21
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 8 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	10000
Max speed, kts	16
Fuel, t	BB7: coal 1400 BB8: coal 1355 BB9: coal 1310
Endurance, nm(kts)	4190(10)
Armour, mm	Harvey steel - belt: 419 - 102, bulkheads: 305, deck: 127 - 70, barbettes: 381 - 254, turrets: 356 - 76, casemates: 140, CT: 254 - 51
Armament	BB7, 9: 2 x 2 - 330/35 Mk II, 14 x 1 - 152/40 Mk III, 16 x 1 - 57/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 6 x 1 - 37/40 Hotchkiss/Driggs-Schroeder Mk I, 4 x 1 - 7.6/90, 4 - 450 TT (beam) BB8: 2 x 2 - 330/35 Mk II, 14 x 1 - 152/40 Mk III, 16 x 1 - 57/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 37/40 Hotchkiss/Driggs-Schroeder Mk I, 4 x 1 - 7.6/90, 4 - 450 TT (beam)
Complement	536

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Authorized under the Act of 10.6.1896. Although of the same dimensions as the previous class, these ships were quite dissimilar. There was a forecastle deck as far as the mainmast giving a freeboard of 6.0m forward, and for the only time in US battleships the two funnels were abreast. 203mm guns were eliminated and 3300mm guns were installed in British type turrets. Slow maximal speed and rate of fire of main guns were important lacks.

Ship protection

Main belt had 2.29m height (1.07m over and 1.22m under waterline). It was 419mm thick at upper edge, tapered to 337mm at waterline and 241mm at lower edge from forward bulkhead of boiler room to the centerline of the after barbette. Thickness of main belt was gradually reduced to 267mm maximum at the centerline of fore barbette. Next 9.1m forward part of belt was 102mm. Fore bulkhead was 254mm and aft bulkhead was 305mm. There was 140mm upper belt. 70mm armoured deck over citadel was flat and connected with upper edge of main belt. It was sloped at ship ends and 76mm thick fore and 127mm aft. Main gun turrets had 356mm sides and 89mm crowns. 127mm guns were protected by 140mm casemate and 38mm splinter bulkheads between guns. CT had 254mm sides and 51mm crown.

Modernizations

1909 - 1912, all: - 12 x 1 - 57/40, 4 - 450 TT; + 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk III/V/VI; cage masts were installed.

1909 - 1912, Illinois: cylindrical boilers were replaced by 8 Mosher.

1919, all: - 6 x1 - 152/40 (may be temporarily); + 2 x 1 - 76/52 Mk X

Naval service

All were stricken after WWI; Illinois was used as a accommodation ship till 1955, Alabama was sunk as target for aircraft 27.9.1921.