orionclass

The collier could be either USS Orion (AC-11) or sister ship USS Jason (AC-12). However, since this is one photo among those taken during Al Boileau's (USNA 1926) midshipmen's cruise to Europe in the summer of 1923, this would have to be USS Orion (AC-11) with USS North Dakota (BB-29). The midshipmen cruise to Europe in the summer of 1923 included the battleships USS Delaware (BB-28), USS Arkansas (BB-33), USS Florida (BB-30) and USS North Dakota (BB-29). The cruise began from Hampton Roads on June 9th, making port calls at Copenhagen, Denmark; Greenock, Scotland; Cadiz, Spain; and Gibraltar, concluding at Annapolis on August 28th. This would be the last hurrah as capital ships for both USS Delaware and USS North Dakota, as the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty required their decommissioning upon the completion USS Colorado (BB-45) and USS West Virginia (BB-48), then under construction. Accordingly, Delaware was decommissioned on August 30, 1923, as was North Dakota on November 22nd of that year. During the spring and summer of 1923, USS Jason (AC-12) was sailing the Pacific. In fact, there's a photo of Jason dockside delivering Douglas DT-2 Torpedo Bombers to Pearl Harbor on July 18, 1923 (US Navy photo # NH 52195 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center). Since Jason was in San Diego on May 5, 1923, that makes it a virtual certainty that it is USS Orion (AC-11) captured in the photo above. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_North_Dakota_(BB-29) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Delaware_(BB-28) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Orion_(AC-11) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jason_(AC-12)

with war looming, more money was spent on a larger ship, giving her a more refined look than earlier classes. Also the first British class (Orion) to have all Big guns on the center line, and using he new 13.5 inch instead of 12 inch guns. She had an eventful career en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Monarch_(1911)

The follow on class, with fire control forward of the stacks, was Iron Duke- or at least I'm pretty sure it was.

almost! Preceded by:Colossus class Succeeded by:King George V class then the Iron Dukes

Ah well, that'll teach me to do it from memory!

US Navy supply ship, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jason_(AC-12) the date on the photo indicates it is the mission listed in Wiki: Jason was once again involved in a humanitarian gesture as she sailed from New York 14 November, bearing Christmas gifts for the Mediterranean fleet and the people of Europe.

Thanks for pointing out the date and context. We'll add some information when we update the description.

Better link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jason_(AC-12)