Pre-Dreadnought Preservation
The U.S.S. Massachusetts

The U.S.S. Massachusetts today (dive site map).
Source: Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves

Commissioned in 1896, the U.S.S. Massachusetts is a Spanish American War veteran. Of the same class but not identical to the more famous Oregon, the once powerful Massachusetts was rendered obsolete by the advent of the Dreadnoughts. By 1921, she was being used as target practice and was scuttled outside of Pensacola bay in Florida.

With her main turrets awash, the Massachusetts is now an underwater preserve.

John Bunting took these pictures of the U.S.S. Massachusetts during a recent dive on the site:


Remnants of the U.S.S. Massachusetts above water.



Picture of the rudder on the U.S.S. Massachusetts.

Designated as BB-2, this first battleship to bear the name Massachusetts should not be confused with the later U.S.S. Massachusetts designated B-59 and still afloat in Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Additional photos of the Massachusetts may be found at the Battleship Photo Archive and the Naval Historical Center.

Apparently, there is a Friends of the U.S.S. Massachusetts (BB-2), Inc. society located in Pensacola, Florida. I have been unable to find a web site for them. There is also a book titled "USS Massachusetts (BB-2), One Hundred Years, Four Careers" written by local Pensacola historian James C. Coleman about the ship.

Bob Henneman has put up some excellent information on diving the U.S.S. Massachusetts on his Captial Ship Dive Sites web site. See also his site on the pre-Dreadnoughts which were still in existence during World War II.

If anyone has photos of the current condition of the Massachusetts, please email me at [email protected] so that I might arraign to host your pictures on the web.

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