Changes

The ''Connecticuts'' were big ships for their day, with fully a thousand tons more displacement than the largest earlier U.S. battleships. Their main battery of four 12-inch guns in two turrets followed the pattern established before, though these guns fired their shells at a higher velocity. In its secondary battery, eight 8-inch guns in twin turrets at the superstructure corners and twelve 7-inch guns in casemates in the hull sides, the ''Connecticut''-class design marked the end of a notable internal debate within the U.S. Navy. There were also twenty single-mounted three-inch guns to drive away hostile torpedo craft.

The ''Connecticuts'' were big ships for their day, with fully a thousand tons more displacement than the largest earlier U.S. battleships. Their main battery of four 12-inch guns in two turrets followed the pattern established before, though these guns fired their shells at a higher velocity. In its secondary battery, eight 8-inch guns in twin turrets at the superstructure corners and twelve 7-inch guns in casemates in the hull sides, the ''Connecticut''-class design marked the end of a notable internal debate within the U.S. Navy. There were also twenty single-mounted three-inch guns to drive away hostile torpedo craft.

At the end of their great world tour in early 1909, ''Connecticut'', ''Louisiana'', ''Vermont'', ''Kansas'' and ''Minnesota'', still resplendent in "white and buff" paint, were welcomed home by their final sister, ''New Hampshire'', wearing the grey recently adopted by the Navy. They were soon modernized, trading in their solid "military" masts and elaborate upperworks for "cage" masts and reduced superstructures, losing a few three-inch guns and gaining submerged tubes for 21-inch torpedos. They also got grey paint, bringing to an end two decades of the Navy's most attractive, if militarily useless, warship color schemes. ''New Hampshire'' received a similar overhaul in 1910.

At the end of their great world tour in early 1909, ''Connecticut'', ''Louisiana'', ''Vermont'', ''Kansas'' and ''Minnesota'', still resplendent in "white and buff" paint, were welcomed home by their final sister, ''New Hampshire'', wearing the grey recently adopted by the Navy. They were soon modernized, trading in their solid "military" masts and elaborate upperworks for "cage" masts and reduced superstructures, losing a few three-inch guns and gaining submerged tubes for 21-inch torpedoes. They also got grey paint, bringing to an end two decades of the Navy's most attractive, if militarily useless, warship color schemes. ''New Hampshire'' received a similar overhaul in 1910.

For the next eight years, the ''Connecticuts'' were kept busy with fleet maneuvers off the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean, and in a number of armed interventions in troubled nations "south of the border". Before [[World War I]] erupted in Europe there were also occasional trans-Atlantic voyages and spectacular Naval reviews in [[New York City|New York]] harbor. During the United States' participation in the "Great War", the ships were employed in training and convoy escort. They gave up their seven-inch guns and most of their three-inchers for use afloat on other ships and ashore as heavy field artillery, but received more weather-resistant upperworks. A half-year's duty as transports marked their immediate post-war service, followed by a variety of training, diplomatic and other duties. In 1920, naval designations were changed; All but ''Connecticut'' were decommissioned in 1920-21. She left the active fleet in 1923, the year that all were disposed of under the terms of the Washington naval limitations treaty.

For the next eight years, the ''Connecticuts'' were kept busy with fleet maneuvers off the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean, and in a number of armed interventions in troubled nations "south of the border". Before [[World War I]] erupted in Europe there were also occasional trans-Atlantic voyages and spectacular Naval reviews in [[New York City|New York]] harbor. During the United States' participation in the "Great War", the ships were employed in training and convoy escort. They gave up their seven-inch guns and most of their three-inchers for use afloat on other ships and ashore as heavy field artillery, but received more weather-resistant upperworks. A half-year's duty as transports marked their immediate post-war service, followed by a variety of training, diplomatic and other duties. In 1920, naval designations were changed; All but ''Connecticut'' were decommissioned in 1920-21. She left the active fleet in 1923, the year that all were disposed of under the terms of the Washington naval limitations treaty.

Upon her return to the United States, ''Connecticut'' was modernized, receiving new "cage" masts, grey paint and numerous other alterations. Thereafter, she mainly conducted routine operations in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. However, in 1910-11 and in 1913 the battleship crossed the Atlantic to visit European waters. During World War I, ''Connecticut was'' employed as a training ship off the U.S. east coast and in the Chesapeake Bay. In the first half of 1919, she served as a transport, making four trans-Atlantic voyages to bring home veterans from France.

Upon her return to the United States, ''Connecticut'' was modernized, receiving new "cage" masts, grey paint and numerous other alterations. Thereafter, she mainly conducted routine operations in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. However, in 1910-11 and in 1913 the battleship crossed the Atlantic to visit European waters. During World War I, ''Connecticut was'' employed as a training ship off the U.S. east coast and in the Chesapeake Bay. In the first half of 1919, she served as a transport, making four trans-Atlantic voyages to bring home veterans from France.

In 1920, the year she was given the hull number BB-18 (a change from "battleship #18"; all other warships followed suit), ''Connecticut'' made a training cruise through the [[Panama Canal]] to the west coast. She made another training voyage in 1921, this time to Europe, then transfered to the Pacific Fleet. USS ''Connecticut'' decommissioned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in March 1923 and was sold for scrapping in November of that year.

In 1920, the year she was given the hull number BB-18 (a change from "battleship #18"; all other warships followed suit), ''Connecticut'' made a training cruise through the [[Panama Canal]] to the west coast. She made another training voyage in 1921, this time to Europe, then transferred to the Pacific Fleet. USS ''Connecticut'' decommissioned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in March 1923 and was sold for scrapping in November of that year.

====USS ''Louisiana'' (BB 19)====

====USS ''Louisiana'' (BB 19)====

''Louisiana'' was commissioned in June 1906, and during that year and the next, she was active in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and [[Caribbean]] areas, including making a diplomatic visit to [[Havana]], [[Cuba]], in September 1906 and carrying President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] to Panama later in that year. From December 1907 until February 1909, ''Louisiana'' steamed around the World with the other battleships of the "Great White Fleet". During this cruise, she called on ports in [[Trinidad]], [[South America]], [[Mexico]], the U.S. west coast, [[Hawaii]], [[Australia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Ceylon]], and the [[Mediterranean]].

''Louisiana'' was commissioned in June 1906, and during that year and the next, she was active in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and [[Caribbean]] areas, including making a diplomatic visit to [[Havana]], [[Cuba]], in September 1906 and carrying President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] to Panama later in that year. From December 1907 until February 1909, ''Louisiana'' steamed around the World with the other battleships of the "Great White Fleet". During this cruise, she called on ports in [[Trinidad]], [[South America]], [[Mexico]], the U.S. west coast, [[Hawaii]], [[Australia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Ceylon]], and the [[Mediterranean]].

Overhauled following her return to the United States, ''Louisiana'' was fitted with the then-new "cage" masts. For the next six years, she primarily operated off the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area, participating in Atlantic Fleet battleship exercises. She also made two cruises to European waters in late 1910 and in mid-1911. In April–August 1914, Louisiana was one of many U.S. warships that took part in the occupation of [[Vera Cruz]], Mexico. From late 1915 until the the spring of 1917, she was employed on training duties when not in reserve.

Overhauled following her return to the United States, ''Louisiana'' was fitted with the then-new "cage" masts. For the next six years, she primarily operated off the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area, participating in Atlantic Fleet battleship exercises. She also made two cruises to European waters in late 1910 and in mid-1911. In April–August 1914, Louisiana was one of many U.S. warships that took part in the occupation of [[Vera Cruz]], Mexico. From late 1915 until the spring of 1917, she was employed on training duties when not in reserve.

''Louisiana's'' World War I service, from April 1917 until the Armistice of 11 November 1918, mainly consisted of gunnery and engineering training operations along the U.S. Atlantic coast and undertook convoy escort missions during the conflict's last two months. From December 1918 until mid-1919 she served as a troop transport, bringing servicemen back to the United States from Europe. USS ''Louisiana'' was reclassified BB-19 in July 1920 and decommissioned in the following October. After three years of inactivity, she was sold for scrapping in November 1923.

''Louisiana's'' World War I service, from April 1917 until the Armistice of 11 November 1918, mainly consisted of gunnery and engineering training operations along the U.S. Atlantic coast and undertook convoy escort missions during the conflict's last two months. From December 1918 until mid-1919 she served as a troop transport, bringing servicemen back to the United States from Europe. USS ''Louisiana'' was reclassified BB-19 in July 1920 and decommissioned in the following October. After three years of inactivity, she was sold for scrapping in November 1923.