USS Delaware (BB-28) was a pioneering dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy and the lead vessel of her class. Constructed at Newport News Shipbuilding, she was laid down in November 1907, launched in January 1909, and commissioned in April 1910. She measured approximately 518 feet 9 inches in length overall, with a beam of 85 feet 3 inches and a draft of 27 feet 3 inches, displacing around 20,380 long tons at designed load and up to 22,400 long tons at full load. Delaware’s hull featured an early example of a bulbous forefoot, enhancing her hydrodynamic profile. Powering her were two-shaft vertical triple-expansion engines rated at 25,000 shp, driven by fourteen coal-fired Babcock & Wilcox boilers, allowing her to reach a top speed of 21 knots, with a cruising range of 6,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. Notably, her engine bearings utilized forced lubrication instead of gravity feed, enabling her to steam at full speed for 24 hours continuously without engine damage—an engineering milestone at the time. Her armament comprised ten 12-inch/45 caliber Mark 5 guns in five twin turrets on the centerline, with two superfiring forward and three aft. Her secondary armament included fourteen 5-inch guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes. Armor protection featured an 11-inch belt, 12-inch gun turret faces, and an 11.5-inch conning tower, providing substantial defense. During her service, USS Delaware primarily operated with the Atlantic Fleet. She participated in peacetime maneuvers, fleet reviews, and goodwill visits, including a notable voyage carrying the Chilean ambassador’s remains to Chile. During World War I, she reinforced the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea as part of the 6th Battle Squadron, performing convoy escort duties and engaging in joint maneuvers. Although she saw no combat, her presence was vital in the Allied naval effort. After the war, Delaware continued fleet training and participated in international visits. Under the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty, she was decommissioned in 1923, disarmed, and sold for scrap in 1924. USS Delaware’s design and service exemplify the rapid technological advancements and strategic naval concepts of the early 20th century, marking her as a significant vessel in the evolution of American battleship development.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.