 USS Maine (BB-10) at anchor in December 1918
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maine class |
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Illinois class |
| Succeeded by | Virginia class |
| Built | 1899–1904 |
| In commission | 1902–1920 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Retired | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Pre-dreadnought battleship |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 393 ft 11 in (120.07 m) |
| Beam | 72 ft 3 in (22.02 m) |
| Draft | 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 561 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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The three Maine-class battleships—Maine, Missouri, and Ohio—were built at the turn of the 20th century for the United States Navy. Based on the preceding Illinois class, they incorporated several significant technological advances over the earlier ships. They were the first American battleships to incorporate Krupp cemented armor, which was stronger than Harvey armor; smokeless powder, which allowed for higher-velocity guns; and water-tube boilers, which were more efficient and lighter. The Maines were armed with four 12-inch (305 mm) guns and sixteen 6-inch (152 mm) guns, and they could steam at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), a significant increase over the Illinois class.
The three Maine-class battleships served in a variety of roles throughout their careers. Maine and Missouri remained in the Atlantic Fleet for their careers, though Ohio initially served with the Asiatic Fleet from 1904 to 1907. All three ships took part in the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907–1909, though Maine's excessive coal consumption forced her to proceed independently for most of the voyage. Missouri was used as a training ship for much of the rest of her career, and Ohio took part in the American intervention in the Mexican Revolution in 1914. All three ships were employed as training ships during World War I. After the war, all three ships were withdrawn from service between 1919 and 1920 before being sold for scrap in 1922 and 1923 and broken up.