Ancient Vessels
Tall Ships
Pirate Ships
Sailboats
Riverboats
Classic Boats
Classic Yachts
Modern Yachts
Ocean Liners   
Cruise Ships   
Merchantmen
Exploration
Tugboats
Civil War
Spanish War
Warships
Aircraft Carriers
Coast Guard
Metal Models
Submarines
Other Types
Large Models
Small  Models
Unique Gifts
Display cases
Repair Service
Special Models
Remote Control
COMMISSIONING

   website security

View Cart
About Us
Why Us
Contact Us
Work Opportunity
Shipping
Guarantee

Feedback

News


   256-bit encryption
 $500,000 protection

    
 

 

 

USS MASSACHUSETTS BB-2
 

USS Massachusetts BB-2 is a Indiana-class battleship and the second United States Navy ship comparable to foreign battleships of its time. Authorized in 1890 and commissioned six years later, she was a small battleship, though with heavy armor and ordnance.  She pioneered the use of an intermediate battery.

USS Massachusetts served in the Spanish–American War (1898) as part of the Flying Squadron and took part in the blockades of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.  In March 1898,  she join the Flying Squadron for the blockade of Cuba.  On May 31th, in company with battleship Iowa (BB-4) and cruiser New Orleans, Massachusetts bombarded the forts at the entrance to Santiago de Cuba.  She exchanged fire with Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon, forcing the enemy ship to retire into the inner harbor of Santiago. 

The Massachusetts BB-2 remained on patrol off Santiago, intermittently bombarding Spanish fortifications, until July 3rd, when she stood out to coal at Guantanamo Bay. 

During the next 7 years, Massachusetts BB-2 cruised the Atlantic coast and eastern Caribbean as a member of the North Atlantic Squadron. Departing New York in January 1905, the battlewagon then steamed for the Caribbean on training maneuvers, operating there until she returned north to cruise off New England in May.  Putting into New York November 1905, she underwent inactivation overhaul and then decommissioned January 8th 1906.



USS Massachusetts was placed in reduced commission in May 1910 to serve as a summer practice ship for Naval Academy midshipmen. During the next 4 years she made three midshipman cruises—twice to Western Europe— before entering the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in September 1912.  In October, the warship returned to Philadelphia where she remained until decommissioning 23 May 1914.



Massachusetts BB-2 was recommissioned in June 1917 at Philadelphia.  Sailing in October, she arrived at the Naval Training Station, Newport, R.I., to embark Naval Reserve guncrews for gunnery training in Block Island Sound.  Continuing on this duty until May 1918, the old battleship then underwent repairs at Philadelphia Navy Yard.  Assigned to battle practice, "A" Division, Battleship force 1, Atlantic Fleet, June 1918 the veteran battlewagon steamed to Yorktown, Va., the same day, and for the remainder of World War I served as a heavy gun target practice ship in Chesapeake Bay and local Atlantic waters. 

Massachusetts was decommissioned for the final time on the May 31st, 1919. She was loaned to the War Department as a target ship. Scuttled off Pensacola Bar, Fla., 6 January 1921, the hulk was bombarded by batteries from Fort Pickens for 4 years and then returned to the Navy 20 February 1925. In November 1956, the ship was declared the property of the state of Florida. 

With her main turrets awash, the Massachusetts is now an underwater preserve. She is a diving site off Pensacola, Florida.

This primarily wood USS Massachusetts BB-2 model is 30" long (1/144 scale) model was built for a grandson of a sailor of the ship. If you'd like one, let us know of the size for a quote.