USS Minnesota ( BB - 22 ) USS " Minnesota " ( BB - 22 ) , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy in honor of the 32nd state , and the 24th battleship of the US Navy ( was numbered in the armored cruiser sequence , and second - class battleship was never numbered ) . " Minnesota " was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News , Virginia on 27 October 1903 . She was launched on 8 April 1905 sponsored by Miss Rose Marie Schaller , daughter of Minnesota State Senator Schaller ; and commissioned on 9 March 1907 , Captain John Hubbard in command . Pre - World War I . Following her shakedown off the New England coast , " Minnesota " was assigned to duty in connection with the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk , Virginia from 22 April – 3 September 1907 . On 16 December , she departed Hampton Roads as one of the 16 battleships sent by President Theodore Roosevelt on a voyage around the world . The cruise of the " Great White Fleet " , lasting until 22 February 1909 , served as a deterrent to possible hostilities in the Pacific ; raised American prestige as a global naval power ; and , most importantly , impressed upon Congress the need for a strong navy and a thriving merchant fleet to keep pace with the United States ' expanding international interests and her far - flung possessions . Returning from her world cruise , " Minnesota " resumed operations with the Atlantic Fleet . During the next three years , she operated primarily along the east coast , with one brief deployment to the English Channel . In 1912 , her employment schedule began to involve her more in inter - American affairs . During the first half of that year , she cruised in Cuban waters and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base from 7 – 22 June to support actions aimed at establishing order during the Cuban insurrection . The following spring and summer she cruised in Mexican waters . In 1914 , she twice returned to Mexican waters — from 26 January – 7 August and 11 October – 19 December — as that country continued in the throes of political turmoil . In 1915 , she resumed east coast operations , with occasional cruises to the Caribbean area , which she continued until November 1916 , when she became flagship , Reserve Force , Atlantic Fleet . World War I . On 6 April 1917 , as the United States entered World War I , " Minnesota " rejoined the active fleet at Tangier Sound , Chesapeake Bay , and was assigned to Division 4 , Battleship Force ( BatDiv 4 ) . During the war , she was assigned as a gunnery and engineering training ship , cruising off the middle Atlantic seaboard until 29 September 1918 . On that date , 20 mi ( 30 km ) from Fenwick Island Light , she struck a mine , apparently laid by " U - 117 " . Suffering serious damage to the starboard side , but with no loss of life , she managed to reach Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , where she underwent five months of repairs . On 11 March 1919 , she put back to sea as a unit of the Cruiser and Transport Force . Assigned to that force until 23 July , she completed three round trips to Brest , France to return over 3 , 000 veterans to the United States . Inter - war period . Primarily employed thereafter as a training ship , " Minnesota " conducted two midshipmen summer cruises in 1920 – 1921 before being decommissioned on 1 December 1921 . Struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day , she was dismantled at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and on 23 January 1924 she was sold for scrap .