USS Florida (BB-30) was the lead ship of the Florida class of dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy. She had one sister ship, Utah. Florida was laid down at the New York Navy Yard in March 1909, launched in May 1910, and commissioned into the US Navy in September 1911. She was armed with a main battery of ten 12-inch (305 mm) guns and was very similar in design to the preceding Delaware-class battleships.
Florida circa 1921
Florida in 1911 shortly after her completion
Florida during fitting-out work in 1911
Florida in 1920
The Florida-class battleships of the United States Navy comprised two ships: Florida and Utah. Launched in 1910 and 1909 respectively and commissioned in 1911, they were slightly larger than the preceding Delaware class design but were otherwise very similar. This was the first US battleship class in which all ships received steam turbine engines. In the previous Delaware-class, North Dakota received steam turbine propulsion as an experiment while Delaware retained triple-expansion engines.
USS Florida (BB-30)
Port side view of Florida-class battleship, with ten 12"/45 caliber Mark 5 main guns arranged exactly the same as on the Delaware-class ships
Starboard forward battery of 5"/51 caliber guns on Utah
Florida during her final fitting out at the Brooklyn Navy Yard