Description: Breech of a large Naval Gun. Photographed on board a battleship, circa 1913. The ship is probably USS Rhode Island (Battleship # 17), and the gun is presumably an 8/45 or 12/45. Note the name Emilie painted on it.
From the album of Francis Sargent; Courtesy of Commander John Condon, 1986. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Catalog #: NH 10108
Commissioned into the Atlantic Fleet in February 1906, Rhode Island was one of five Virginia-class pre-dreadnoughts built between the SpanAm War and WWI. She carried four 12″/40 (30.5 cm) Mark 4s in two twin turrets and eight 8″/45 (20.3 cm) Mark 6s in four twin turrets.
Made obsolete before she was commissioned by the arrival of the HMS Dreadnought, Rhode Island served in the Great White Fleet and in various sticky spots during the Wilson administration and was sold for scrap in 1923 under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, though her bell is on display at the Rhode Island State House. It doesn’t have the panache of Emile, however.
