American battleship histories. American naval
battleship USS Florida. Battleship website dedicated to the history of USS
Florida from launch to participation in major wars also notice board for
naval historians and descendents of crew of USS Florida.
Image courtesy of Gary Fletcher
USS FLORIDA (BB30)
Built
at The New York Navy Yard and launched on the 12th May 1910 and commissioned
into the US navy on the 15th September 1911. The USS Florida along with
her sister ship USS Utah were the first US battleships engaged off Vera
Cruz during the 1914 crisis. Both ships landed 1,000 soldiers and marines
for the three day fighting lead by the Captain of USS Florida. The
Americans lost 94 casualties and the Mexicans lost a few hundred.
After The US entered World war One the USS Florida was attached to the British
Grand Fleet during 1917 - 1918, serving in the 6th Battle squadron.
USS Florida was the oldest battleships retained by the US under the Washington
Treaty. and underwent to modernization programme sin July 1924 and again
in June 1926. during which Curtis Turbines, anti Torpedo Bulges and eight
Anti Aircraft Guns were fitted.. But to comply with the terms of the
London naval treaty of 1930 USS Florida was scrapped in September 1932.
