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USS Louisiana (BB-19)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Louisiana (BB-19)

USS Louisiana (BB-19) was laid down 7 February 1903 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 27 August 1904; sponsored by Miss Juanita LaLande, and commissioned 2 June 1906, Capt. Albert R. Couden in command.

Following her shakedown off the New England coast, USS Louisiana (BB-19) sailed 15 September for Havana in response to an appeal by Cuban President Estrado Palma for American help in suppressing an insurrection. USS Louisiana (BB-19) embarked President Theodore Roosevelt at Piney Point, Md., 8 November for a cruise to Panama to inspect work on the construction of the Panama Canal. Returning she briefly visited Puerto Rico, where the President studied the administrative structure of the Commonwealth's government, before debarking him at Piney Point 26 November.

During 1906 and 1907, USS Louisiana (BB-19) visited New Orleans, Havana, and Norfolk; maneuvered out of Guantanamo Bay; and engaged in battle practice along the New England coast. On 16 December 1907 she departed Hampton Roads as one of the 16 battleships President Theodore Roosevelt sent on a voyage around the world. During the circumnavigation, USS Louisiana (BB-19) visited Port‑of‑Spain; Rio de Janeiro; Junta Arenas and Valparaiso, Chile; Callao, Peru; San Diego and San Francisco; Honolulu; Auckland; Sydney; Tokyo; Manila; Amey, China; Hong Kong; Manila; Columbo; Suez and Port Said; Smyrna; and Gibraltar before returning home 22 February 1909.

Between 6 July 1913 and 24 September 1915 USS Louisiana (BB-19) made three voyages from east coast ports to Mexican waters. Her second voyage (14 April to 8 August 1914) came at a time when tension between Mexico and the United States was at its peak during the shelling and occupation of Vera Cruz. Louisiana sailed a third time for Mexican waters to protect American interests again from 17 August to 24 September 1915.

Returning from the Gulf of Mexico, USS Louisiana (BB-19) was placed in reserve at Norfolk and, until the United States entered World War I, she served as a training ship for midshipmen and naval militiamen an summer cruises. During World War I, USS Louisiana (BB-19) was assigned as a gunnery and engineering training ship, cruising off the middle Atlantic coast until 25 September 1918. At that time she became one of the escorts for a convoy to Halifax. Beginning 24 December, she saw duty as a troop transport, making four voyages to Brest, France, to carry troops back to the United States. Following her final trip back from Brest, USS Louisiana (BB-19) reported to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she decommissioned 20 October 1920 and was sold for scrap 1 November 1923.

For a complete history of USS Louisiana (BB-19) please see its DANFS page.