USS Idaho (BB-24)

USS Idaho (BB-24), a Mississippi-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 43rd state.

Her construction was authorized on 3 March 1903 and her keel was laid down on 12 May 1904 by William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 9 December 1905 sponsored by Louise Gooding, daughter of Governor Frank Gooding of Idaho, and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 1 April 1908 with Captain S.W.B. Diehl in command.

Designed as cheaper "second class" battleships, the Mississippis suffered from rolling and poor sea-keeping.

The new battleship conducted a shakedown cruise to Cuba in April and May 1908, and after a visit to Panama returned to Philadelphia for alterations. The ship took part in the giant naval review in Hampton Roads on 22 February 1909 celebrating the return of the Great White Fleet from its around-the-world cruise. In March she returned to the Caribbean Sea for maneuvers, continuing to take part in training operations until October 1910. She sailed on 29 October for exercises in British and French waters, and upon her return participated in gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay from 19 March to 28 March 1911.

Idaho sailed from Philadelphia on 4 May 1911 for a cruise up the Mississippi River to Louisiana ports. She then steamed to the east coast of Florida for battleship maneuvers, and continued to operate off the coast and in the Caribbean until entering the reserve at Philadelphia on 27 October 1918. There she remained until 9 May 1914, when the ship sailed to the Mediterranean Sea with midshipmen for at sea training. After visiting various ports in North Africa and Italy and carrying out a rigorous training program, Idaho arrived at Villefrache, Greece on 17 July 1914, transferred her crew to Maine, and decommissioned 30 July. She was turned over to the government of Greece, whom she served as coastal defense ship Kilkis until being sunk at the naval base at Salamis Island by German aircraft in April 1941.