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USS RHODE ISLAND BB-17
"AMERICA'S GREAT WHITE FLEET"
Joseph Ballard Murdock, (sometimes listed as Murdoch) was Captain of the USS Rhode Island, a prominent ship of “Great White Fleet”. He entered the navy as midshipman from the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts July 26, 1866, and graduated in June 1870. He was born February 13, 1851, and was due for age retirement in 1913. He became an ensign in 1871 and was assigned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1873. The next year was spent in the USS Monongahela, cruising in the South Atlantic; and in 1874 he went to the USS Lancaster. For five years, beginning 1875, he was connected with the Coast Survey. In 1879 he went with the training squadron in the USS Constitution. Becoming a lieutenant in March, 1880, he shortly after returned to the Naval Academy for several years teaching physics, and was in 1884 given special duty at Philadelphia for nearly a year. For a year from December, 1885, he was on the USS Dolphin; then at the Torpedo Station for several years; and in 1888 he was ordered to Pensacola, on the North Atlantic Station, for several months, going from there to the Asiatic Station in the USS Omaha, for three years. Upon is return fro the Orient in 1891 he was ordered to special duty in Europe, and immediately after that he was assigned to electrical duty at the New York Navy Yard. He was executive officer of the U.S.S. Panther during the Spanish-American War. In April, 1906, he was made a member of the Naval examining and retiring boards. Captain Murdock was placed in command of the USS Rhode Island as part of President Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, 1907-1909. He then returned to New York, Naval District 3 as Rear Admiral, November 20, 1909, and Commendant of the Navy Yard, 1909-1910. Rear Admiral Murdock flew his flag on the battleship Minnesota (BB-22) as Commander, Battleship Division 3, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1910 until April 1911. In 1911 untll July 1912 he commanded the Asiatic Fleet and won distinction during the Chinese Revolution of 1911. He retired, by operation of law, February 13, 1913 after 43 years of service. For a year, during WWI he returned to duty as president of the general court martial at Portsmouth, from May 2, 1918 to May 1, 1919.
Joseph Murdock entered New Hampshire politics and served as Chairman of the House Committee on National Affairs, and a member of the Appropriations and Forestry Committees/Commission from 1921-1927. His memberships included the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin Institute, Union Club of Boston, Army and Navy Club of Washington, the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Colonial Wars. He died March 20, 1931, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Other Comments:
America's (Great White) Fleet - Captain Murdock
Souvenir of the Visit of America's Fleet 1908. Captain Murdock was commander of the USS Rhode Island, BB-17.
Note the US and Australian flags, this example was printed for the stop in Sydney Australia.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS
SERVICE IN THE ARMY OR NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
RECORD OF THE PATRIOTIC WORK DONE BY THE SOCIETY PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE
GENERAL COUNCIL NEW YORK 1899
RHODE ISLAND SOCIET Joseph Ballard Murdock, Lieutenant, U.S.N., U.S.S. Panther
Virginia Class Battleship: Displacement 14,948 Tons, Dimensions, 441' 3" (oa) x 76' 3" x 26' (Max). Armament 4 x 12"/40 8 x 8"/40, 12 x 6"/50 12 x 3"/50, 4 21" tt. Armor, 11" Belt, 12" Turrets, 3" Decks, 9" Conning Tower. Machinery, 19,000 IHP; 2 vertical, inverted, triple expansion engines, 2 screws. Speed, 19 Knots, Crew 812.
The following analysis is by historian Chuck Haberlein, formerly of the Naval Historical Center:
According to "Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990" (by Stephen S. Roberts & K. Jack Bauer), three of the BB-13 class had their names changed on 7 March 1901 (before any of them were laid down). Battleship # 13 was originally named New Jersey. Battleship # 14 was originally to be Pennsylvania, and Battleship # 16 was to be Virginia. After the renamings, Virginia and New Jersey had swapped places, Nebraska (originally intended for Armored Cruiser # 4) swapped ships with Pennsylvania. Again, according to that book: "The construction of the first two ships (ie BBs 13 & 14) was delayed because of Congressional limitations on the price that could be paid for armor plate and because of lengthy debates within the navy on the arrangement of the guns" (presumably the superposed 8"/12" turrets). (my comments are in parentheses). Same book's Armored Cruiser # 4 class entry states: "The refusal of manufacturers to sell armor within the price limits set by Congress delayed the ships' construction." Both classes (BB-13 & ACR-4) were originally authorized in Fiscal Year 1900, but the first of them were not laid down until 7 August 1901 (Pennsylvania, as Armored Cruiser # 4) and 31 August 1901 (Georgia, as Battleship # 15). It looks to me like there may have been some political log rolling involved in the renamings. PERHAPS (this is purely a guess) some Pennsylvania politicos wanted "their" name on a ship ASAP, so it was given to the first available keel. Then again, maybe builder location had something to do with it. Cramp built Armored Cruiser # 4, while none of the Virginia class battleships were built in Pennsylvania.
Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Fore River, Shipbuilding, Quincy MA., May 1 1902. Launched May 17 1904. Commissioned February 19 1906. Decommissioned June 30 1920. Stricken July 12 1922.
Fate: Sold November 1 1923 and broken up for scrap.
