USS Massachusetts was a small battleship built for the U.S. Navy in 1890. She served in the Spanish–American War as part of the Flying Squadron and took part in the blockades of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. decommissioned in 1906, for modernization, she was recommissioned and used for annual cruises for midshipmen during the summers. In 1921 she was scuttled in shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico, off Pensacola, Florida, and used as a target for experimental artillery.
About USS Massachusetts (BB-2) in brief
USS Massachusetts was a small battleship built for the U.S. Navy in 1890. She served in the Spanish–American War as part of the Flying Squadron and took part in the blockades of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. decommissioned in 1906, for modernization, she was recommissioned and used for annual cruises for midshipmen during the summers, and otherwise laid up in the reserve fleet, until her decommissioning in 1914. She was decomissioned for the final time in March 1919, under the name Coast Battleship Number 2 in anticipation that her name could be reused for USS Massachusetts . In 1921 she was scuttled in shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico, off Pensacola, Florida, and used as a target for experimental artillery. The wreck was never scrapped, and in 1956, it was declared the property of the State of Florida. Since 1993, the wreck has been a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve and it is included in the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as an artificial reef and diving spot. The ship class also pioneered the use of an intermediate battery. The ships were limited to coastal defense due to their moderate endurance, relatively small displacement and low freeboard which limited seagoing capability.
They were however heavily armed and armored; Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships describes their design as “attempting too much on a very limited displacement.” The original design was part of an ambitious naval construction plan to build 33 battleships and 167 smaller ships.Construction of the ships was authorized on 30 June 1890, and the contract for Massachusetts was awarded to William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia, who offered to build it for USD 3,020,000. The contract specified the ship had to be built in three years, but slow delivery of armor plates and guns caused a delay. Her keel was laid down on 25 June 1891, and she was launched two years later on 10 June 1893. She had her shakedown cruise between August and November 1896, followed by an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard. In February 1897, she made a short voyage to Charleston, South Carolina. The battleship departed New York, again in May, for Boston, where a celebration in her honor was held.
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