Today, tourists walk the decks of preserved battleships like the USS Texas or the Japanese Mikasa . They admire the turrets, the captains’ quarters, and the engine rooms. But few realize that just a century ago, identical vessels in different harbors served not as museums, but as floating dungeons.
Despite the harsh conditions, prison battleships also played a significant role in the rehabilitation of prisoners. Many prisoners were given the opportunity to work on deck or in the ship's galley, where they could earn privileges and improve their chances of being pardoned. prison battleship