Computer drawing of the Lemnos by Andreas Kendristakis
These 3rd rate battleships or pre dreadnoughts were after two years of negotiations sold to Greece in July 1914 for 6,267.638 American dollars, while the original building costs amounted 8,730,000 American dollars Due to German air raids in 23 April 1941 were both ships lying at the Salamis Naval based sunk. The wrecks remained before being salvaged to be scrapped in the 1950’s.
The Limnos was the former Mississippi, her sister ship Kilkis the former Idaho. Both ships of the Mississippi-class which just existed of two ships were built at the William Cramp & Sons shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both ships were by the United States Navy considered as inadequate despite the fact that with two years after being commissioned already so-called cage foremasts the elder ones replaced to obtain a more balanced appearance. The Mississippi became later an aviation support ship fitted out with seaplanes and was in this role active in the Vera Cruz operation of 1910.
The Mississippi (BB-23) which became the Limnos was laid in May 1904; launched in September 1905 and in American naval service commissioned in February 1908.
The Idaho (BB-24) which became the Kilkis was laid in May 1904; launched in December 1905 and commissioned in American naval service April 1908.
Their design specification were a displacement of 13,000 tons standard and 14.095 tons full load with as dimensions 382’0”' (overall) x 77’0” (extreme beam) x 24’7”. The triple-expansion reciprocating engines provided 10.000 or 14.000 hp (sources differs) allowing a speed of maximum 17 knots. They were armed with 4-12” guns in two twin turrets, 4-8” guns in twin turrets per side and 4-7” guns in single casemate mountings per side. The additional armament existed of 12-3”guns in single mountings and 2-21” torpedo tubes. The armour consisted of a belt with 9”, turrets with 12”, barbettes with 10”, secondary turrets with 6½”, the battery with 7”, the deck with 3”and finally the conning tower of 9” armour. In USN-service numbered the crew 744 men.
