The lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships for the US Navy, USS South Carolina (BB-26) was launched on 11 July 1908 and commissioned on 1 March 1910. The first dreadnought battleship built for the US Navy, she incorporated several revolutionary aspects, primarily the superfiring guns of her main battery.
USS South Carolina spent much of her career patrolling the east coast of the USA. During the Mexican Revolution, she took part in the United States occupation of Veracruz.
She was mostly used as a training ship after the US entered World War One, while also performing convoy escort duty. Post war she repatriated US Servicemen from Europe.
Along with her sister ship USS Michigan, she was scrapped under the terms of the Washington Treaty. Before being scrapped, the hulk was used to test the effectiveness of anti-torpedo bulges. South Carolina was decommissioned on 15 December 1922 and sold for scrap in 1924.
Touchup work on the stern of the soon to be USS South Carolina BB-26 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 1 July, 1909USS South Carolina (BB-26) on 5 March 1910, probably at the Philadelphia Navy YardUSS South Carolina (BB-26). Off New York City, probably in early October 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26), 2 November 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26), 2 November 1911USS South Carolina (BB-26) drydocked at the Brooklyn Navy yard, September 1912USS South Carolina (BB 26). Bow decoration, photographed by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 18 November 1909USS South Carolina (BB-26) circa 1918USS South Carolina (BB-26) in Gaillard Cut, just South of Cucaracha Slide, Panama Canal 13 June 1920USS South Carolina BB-26. Crew manning the rails and firing salutes, 28 April 1921USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26 at the New York Navy YardUSS South Carolina (BB-26)USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26Main Armament of USS South Carolina BB-26Main Armament of USS South Carolina BB-26USS South Carolina BB-26 being dismantled in Philadelphia Navy Yard in December 1923South Carolina (BB-26) being used as a test hulk for anti-torpedo bulges on 26 May 1924
