USS Kansas (BB-21)

The USS Kansas (BB-21) was a Connecticut-Class battleship built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden.  She was launched in August of 1905, and commissioned in April 1907 with Captain Charles E. Vreeland in command.  After here shakedown cruise she received some modifications at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and on December 9th she joined the Atlantic Fleet to circumnavigate the globe.

 

The photo postcard at right was taken by Enrique Muller.  To see more of this collection follow this link:  Enrique Muller Photographers


During the trip Kansas visited Villefranche, France from January 11 to the 27, 1909.  Captain Hutchins remained in command of Kearsarge throughout the cruise.

Upon return to the States she began a peacetime routine of maneuvers and training including a trip to Europe as part of 2nd Battleship Division, visiting Cherbourg, France, Poland, and England.  Returning home via Santo Domingo and Cuba, she made a second trip to Europe in mid 1911 into the Baltic Sea visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm, Sweden, Kronstadt and Kiel.  In November 1911 she returned and received an overhaul at the Norfolk Navy Yard.

For the next couple of years she did training cruises for the Naval Academy and exercises off the Atlantic Coast.  In July of 1914 she supported forces occupying Veracruz, then to the earthquake in Haiti.

 

During World War I she as assigned as a training vessel in the Chesapeake Bay, then as a convoy escort ship for traffic to and from the European theater.  At the end or the war she made five trips to Brest, France to embarked returning soldiers.  In one trip, Kansas, and Georgia departed with over 2,732 soldiers returning home.  Her following years were as a training ship and eventually, in 1923, was scrapped to abide by the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty limiting the size of the fleet.


 


 


 

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