Commissioned in 1896, the USS Massachusetts was once hailed as a symbol of American naval power,but its troubled service history quickly earned it a reputation as one of the worst battleships ever ...

The First USS Massachusetts: The Worst Ever Though a “battleship” in name with heavy armor and ordnance, the Indiana -class pre-dreadnought was designed for coastal defense.

Summary and Key Points: The USS Massachusetts (BB-2), commissioned in 1896, is often considered the worst battleship in U.S. Navy history due to its numerous design flaws and operational issues.