The Oklahoma had been authorized by act of Congress on March 4, 1911
and the keel was laid in 1912.
Two years were required to complete the hull of the ship. The navy required another three years to install the superstructure and the weapon systems, commission her and complete the shake down cruise.
Commissioning crew in 1916
She and her sister ship were the largest, most powerful ships of their day.
The first oil burners among the battleships and the first to have triple expansion cylinder engines.
World War I was in full swing and the Atlantic Fleet answered the call in 1917. While the fleet sailed to Europe, the Oklahoma had to remain in the Brooklyn Navy Yards to repair minor breakdowns.
The USS Oklahoma
Lenght - 583'
Width - 107' 9 1/4"
Height - 144' 10 1/4"
Displacement - 29,000 tons
Armament (1917) - Ten 14" guns
Twelve 5" - 51 caliber guns
Eight 5" - 25 caliber guns (anti-aircraft)
4 saluting guns
The Oklahoma joined the fight in August of 1918.
