Six of History's WEIRDEST Yet Useful Battleship Conversions

For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, battleships were the pinnacle of naval power. But as technology advanced, many of these once-mighty warships quickly became outdated. Instead of scrapping them, navies found creative ways to repurpose their aging battleships, leading to some of the strangest yet most useful conversions in naval history. In today’s video, we’ll explore some of the most unusual battleship conversions, from floating cranes to experimental missile platforms.

First up is USS Kearsarge, a pre-dreadnought battleship that underwent a dramatic transformation into Crane Ship No. 1. Equipped with a massive 250-ton crane, Kearsarge played a critical role in lifting, repairing, and rearming U.S. Navy warships. From hoisting turret assemblies to aiding in ship construction, this former battleship became an essential asset, operating well into the 1950s.

Next, we examine USS Mississippi, which transitioned from a battle-hardened warship to an experimental weapons test ship. In 1946, she was converted into EAG-128, testing new naval gun systems, radar-guided fire control, and, most notably, Terrier surface-to-air missiles. This marked a shift in naval warfare, as guided missiles began to replace traditional naval artillery.

Another unique conversion was USS Wyoming, a World War I-era battleship transformed into an anti-aircraft gunnery training ship. Stripped of her 12-inch guns, Wyoming was armed with a wide array of 5-inch and 40mm anti-aircraft weapons, earning her the nickname "Chesapeake Raider". She trained thousands of gunners during World War II, preparing them to defend the fleet from enemy air attacks.

One of the most tragic conversions was USS Utah, which was disarmed under the London Naval Treaty and repurposed as a radio-controlled target ship. Retaining her battleship appearance but lacking armament, Utah was used for naval gunnery and aircraft bombing practice. However, on December 7, 1941, she was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, becoming one of the first casualties of the war.

From the Royal Navy, we have HMS Centurion, a World War I-era battleship converted into a radio-controlled target ship before taking on an even stranger role in World War II—being disguised as a modern King George V-class battleship. Fitted with fake turrets and a false superstructure, Centurion served as a deception vessel to mislead Axis forces into thinking the Royal Navy had more modern battleships than it actually did.

Lastly, we look at SMS Hessen, a German pre-dreadnought that became a radio-controlled target ship for the Kriegsmarine in the 1930s. Unlike most of her kind, Hessen continued serving long after World War II, being transferred to the Soviet Navy and operating as a target vessel until the 1960s—one of the longest-serving battleship hulls in history.

These conversions highlight how battleships, even after their front-line days were over, continued to serve in vital roles. Let me know in the comments which conversion you found the most fascinating, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to support the channel and see more naval history content!

Sources/Other Reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Castles-Steel-Britain-Germany-Winning/dp/0345408780

https://www.amazon.com/British-Battleships-World-War-One/dp/1591140536

https://www.amazon.com/Jutland-1916-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/030436648X

https://www.amazon.com/Jutland-Unfinished-Personal-History-Controversy-ebook/dp/B01LXCAJJ1/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=580696069162&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9016045&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=415891371355601087&hvtargid=kwd-174868812550&hydadcr=22569_13493349&keywords=jutland+the+unfinished+battle&qid=1686091014&s=books&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/Kaisers-Battlefleet-German-Capital-1871-1918/dp/1848322291

https://www.amazon.com/Ironclads-Dreadnoughts-Development-Battleship-1864-1918/dp/1804511846

https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Battleships-Illustrated-Design-History/dp/1682477584

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/wyoming-iii.html

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/battleships/utah-bb-31.html

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