USS Idaho,
Battleship (BB-24)
Later sold to Greece and renamed Kilkis
Act of 3 March 1903:

"._._. The President is hereby authorized to have constructed by the contract or in navy-yards ._._. three first class battle ships carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance for vessels of their class upon a trial displacement of not more than sixteen thousand tons, and to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action, and to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding four million two hundred and twelve thousand dollars each;  two first-class battle ships, carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance for vessels of their class, upon a trial displacement of not more than thirteen thousand tons, and to have the highest speed and great radius of action, and to cost, exclusive of armor and armament, not exceeding three million five hundred thousand dollars each; ._._. Said vessels ._._. in all their parts shall be of domestic machinery; and the steel material shall be of domestic manufacture, ._._. Not more than two of ._._. battle ships provided for in this act shall be built by one contracting party: ._._. Not more than two of the five battle ships provided for in this act shall be built by one contracting party: ._._."
The second Idaho (BB-24) was launched by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, 9 December 1905; sponsored by Miss Louise Gooding, daughter of the Governor of Idaho; and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 April 1808, Captain S. W. B. Diehl in command.
The new battleship conducted a shakedown cruise to Cuba April - May 1908, and after a visit to Panama returned to Philadelphia for alterations. The ship took part in the giant naval review in Hampton Roads 22 February 1909 celebrating the return of the Great White Fleet from its around the world cruise. In March she returned to the Caribbean for maneuvers, continuing to take part in Training operations until October 1910. Idaho sailed 29 October for exercises in British and French waters, and upon her return participated in gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay 19 to 23 March 1911.
Idaho sailed from Philadelphia 4 May 1911 for a cruise up the Mississippi River to Louisiana ports. She then steamed to the east coast of Florida for battleship maneuvers, and continued to operate off the coast and in the Caribbean until entering the reserve at Philadelphia 27 October 1913. There she remained until 9 May 1914, when the ship sailed to the Mediterranean with midshipmen for at sea training. After visiting various ports In North Africa and Italy and carrying out a rigorous training program, Idaho arrived Villefranche 17 July 1914, transferred her crew to Maine (BB-10), and decommissioned 30 July. She was turned over to the government of Greece, whom she served as coastal defense ship Kilkis until being sunk in Salamis harbor by German aircraft in April 1941.
Note: while the DANFS lists this ship as having been sold to Greece and renamed Kilkis, other sources state that she was renamed Lemnos.
USS Idaho, Battleship (BB-24) Specifications
1908
  • Length Overall: 382'
  • Extreme Beam: 77'
  • Normal Displacement:
    • Tons: 13,000
    • Mean Draft: 24'8"
  • Designed Complement:
    • Officers: 94
    • Enlisted: 710
  • Armor:
    • Belt: 9"
    • Turrets: 12"
    • Deck: 3" (aft)
    • Conning Tower: 9"
  • Designed Speed: 17
  • Designed Indicated Horsepower: 10,000
  • Engines:
    • Manufacturer: Cramp
    • Type: Vert. 3-Exp. Recip.
    • No.: 2
  • Screws: 2
  • Boilers:
    • Manufacturer: BW
    • No.: 8
  • Fuel (coal):
    • Tons: 1,800
  • Class: Mississippi
Armament:
  • Main:
    • (4) 12"/45
    • (8) 8"/45
    • (8) 7"/45
  • Secondary:
    • (12) 3"/50
    • (4) 1 pdr.
    • (12) 3 pdr.
    • (4) .30 cal.
  • Torpedo Tubes:
    • (4) 21" submerged

Bibliography
Larry W. Jewell, Who's Who of United States Battleships, (Internet publication), edition: 30 August, 1993.
James L. Mooney, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964), Vol.1 -- A-B, p. 192
James L. Mooney, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1968, Reprint 1977), Vol.3: G-K, p. 415-416

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