Dressed with flags, off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during Founders' Week, 1908. Note motor launch off the starboard quarter, with Mississippi's name painted on its stern, and the ship's name in large letters atop the after superstructure.
View on the foredeck, looking aft, with the forward 12"/45 gun turret trained to starboard, 1908. Note: anchor chain and capstans; hatches; bridge structure with ship's bell attached below its forward end. Photographed by Enrique Muller.
View looking forward from the ship's port bridge wing, 1908. Note the 12"/45 gun turret with grating hatches open; also winch and capstans, with decorated tops on the latter. An old fortification is in the left distance. Photographed by Enrique Muller.
Under attack by German JU 87 dive bombers, at the Greek naval base at Salamis, 23 April 1941. In the lower left, in the floating drydock, is the destroyer Vasilefs Georgios. Kilkis, the former USS Mississippi (Battleship # 23), was sunk in this attack. The floating dock and destroyer were also sunk (reportedly on 20 April ?), but Vasilefs Georgios was subsequently raised and placed in service by the German Navy as Hermes (ZG-3). Photograph and some caption information were provided by Franz Selinger.
Sunk at the Greek naval base at Salamis, after she was hit by German air attacks on 23 April 1941. Photographed from a German Heinkel HE 60 seaplane after the base was occupied by the German Army. Note bomb damage to the nearby pier. Kilkis was the former USS Mississippi (Battleship # 23). Photograph and some caption information were provided by Franz Selinger.
[Images courtesy of the DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER.]
Charles McCain is a lifelong student of World War Two. He grew up in South Carolina and is a graduate of Tulane University. An Honorable German is his first novel. After surviving a bout with cancer 3 years ago, Mr. McCain is at work on several writing projects. He lives in Washington, DC.
