Editing Kearsarge-class battleship (section)

===Modifications===
After the US Navy introduced rapid-firing for main guns in 1903, ''Kearsarge'' and ''Kentucky'' had automatic shutters installed in the ammunition hoists to prevent an explosion in the turret from traveling down to the magazines. After a propellant charge was accidentally detonated by an electrical short aboard ''Kentucky'' in April 1906, most electrical equipment was removed from the ships' turrets and additional precautions were installed, including bulkheads between the guns in each turret and gas evacuators in the [[Breechloader|breeches]] of the guns to prevent propellant gasses from blowing back into the turrets.{{sfn|Friedman 2011|p=152}}

Between 1909 and 1911, most of the 57&nbsp;mm guns were removed and four more 5-inch guns were installed. The original military masts were replaced with [[lattice mast]]s, and the torpedo tubes were also removed. The ships also had their original boilers replaced with eight Mosher boilers.{{sfn|Campbell|p=141}} The ships underwent another refit by 1919 that included the removal of all but eight of the 5-inch guns. The guns that were removed were used to arm merchant ships to defend themselves against German [[U-boat]] attacks. A pair of [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{cvt|3|in}}]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s were installed aboard each vessel.{{sfn|Campbell|p=141}} At some point in the ships' careers, splinter bulkheads were added to the 5-inch battery to improve survivability.{{sfn|Friedman 1985|pp=175, 427}}