Illinois-class
An item referred to the Naval&Military Record dated 14 January 1920 reporting that the US Navy intended to convert the old battleship Illinois (1) as target although still able to move under own power. The intention was to steam to the gunnery exercises area, disembark her crew and with a tightened rudder and full speed she made herself a circle. Her speed would slow down on short notice lacking enough steam power, but it was reckoned that there was enough time available for the exercises.
Note
1 Part of the Illinois-class consisting of the Illinois, Alabama and Wisconsin. Preceded by the Kearsage-class and succeeded by the Maine-class. Laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Newport News, Virginia, USA on 10 February 1897, launched by Miss Nancy Leiter on 4 October 1898, commissioned on 16 September 1901, training ship since 1912, lent to the State of New York on behalf of th New York States Militia in 1919, decommissioned on 15 May 1920, converted into a floating armoury in 1924, renamed Prairie State and reclassified as IX-15 on 8 January 1941, barracks ship after Second World War, stricken on 26 March 1956 and sold to the Bethlehem Steel Company be broken up on 18 May 1955.
