Cincinnati-class cruiser

Last updated
USS Cincinnati (C-7).jpg
USS Cincinnati
Class overview
NameCincinnati class
Builders
OperatorsFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by USS Olympia (C-6)
Succeeded by Montgomery class
Cost$1,100,000 each
Built1889–1894
In service1894–1920
In commission1894–1919
Planned2
Completed2
Scrapped2
General characteristics
Type Protected cruiser
Displacement
Length305 ft 9 in (93.19 m)
Beam42 ft (13 m)
Draft18 ft (5.5 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × screws
Speed19 knots (35 km/h)
Range8,652  nmi (16,024  km; 9,957  mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement312
Armament
Armor
General characteristics (1903)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × screws
Speed18 knots (33 km/h)
Armament

The Cincinnati-class cruisers were two small protected cruisers built for the United States Navy in the early 1890s. [1] [2] They were smaller and more lightly armed and protected than most previous US cruisers, and were intended for commerce raiding. [3] They may also be referred to as Raleigh-class cruisers, as Raleigh was launched and commissioned prior to Cincinnati. [4]

Contents

The Cincinnati-class cruisers were authorized by an Act of Congress approved on 7 September 1888, in the same bill with New York, Olympia and the Montgomery class. [2] [5]

Design and construction

As the U.S. Navy began to rebuild its fleet with steel-hulled vessels to keep pace with the advance of naval technology in the 1880s, it explored a wide range of design concepts. Among the approaches to the protected cruiser design was that of a small and fast commerce raider. Thus, in the 1888 naval appropriations bill, Congress set aside money to build five such vessels, two Cincinnati class of 3,000 tons and three Montgomery class of 2,000 tons. [1] [3] [5]

In May 1889, the Department of the Navy invited proposals for the construction of two cruisers of about 3,000 tons displacement each, at a cost of not more than $1,100,000 each. William Cramp & Sons was the only shipbuilder to respond, but with a bid in excess of the limit; the Department of the Navy exercised an option in the appropriation bill to construct the cruisers in its own yards; Cincinnati was built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, while Raleigh was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard. [2] [3]

Armament

The as-built main armament of the ships was one 6 in (152 mm)/40 caliber gun [6] on the forward deck and ten 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber guns [7] (two side-by-side on the aft deck, the remainder in sponsons along the sides). [8] Secondary armament was eight 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) rapid fire guns, [9] two 1-pounder (37 mm (1.5 in)) rapid fire guns, [10] along with one Gatling gun and four 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. [3] [8] Along with Olympia and the Montgomery class, these were among the first US Navy ships to carry 5-inch guns.

Armor

The protective deck was 2 in (51 mm) to 2.5 in (64 mm) on the sloped sides and 1 in (25 mm) in the flat middle. 4 in (102 mm) of armor was provided for the gun sponsons on the sides, and the conning tower was 2 in (51 mm) thick. [8]

Engineering

The as-built engineering plant included six coal-fired cylindrical boilers, which produced steam for two vertical triple expansion engines totaling 10,000  ihp (7,500  kW ) (designed) for a designed speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph). [8] Cincinnati reached 19.91 knots (36.87 km/h; 22.91 mph) at 7,070  ihp (5,270  kW ) on trials; Raleigh reached 21.12 knots (39.11 km/h; 24.30 mph) but the horsepower is unknown. [3] Some references state the class carried fore-and-aft sails as built, other references state they were never carried. [3] [8] The ships normally carried 556 tons of coal for a designed range of 8,652  nmi (16,024  km ; 9,957  mi ) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph); this could be increased to 700 tons. [3] The as-built propulsion plant proved to have a high coal consumption and could not maintain 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) for long; the boilers and engines were replaced in refits circa 1901. [4]

Refits

Cincinnati was refitted in 1899-1901; Raleigh followed in 1899-1903. [8] The lone 6-inch gun was replaced by an additional 5-inch/40 caliber gun and the torpedo tubes were removed. [8] Eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers were installed, along with lower powered but more fuel-efficient triple-expansion engines totaling 8,500  ihp (6,300  kW ) for a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). [4] Two 5-inch guns, for a total of nine remaining, were removed by 1918. [8]

Service

Both ships were engaged in the Spanish–American War, Cincinnati off Cuba and Raleigh in the Philippines. Raleigh is credited with firing the first shot of the Battle of Manila Bay from a 5-inch/40 caliber gun in 1898. [7] Raleigh also engaged in the early part of the Philippine–American War, while Cincinnati protected American citizens and interests during political unrest in the Caribbean. Both served in East Asia 1903–1907, after which both were decommissioned until 1911. Cincinnati then spent six years in East Asia, followed by patrol duty in the Gulf of Mexico during World War I. Raleigh operated in Mexico and Central America 1913–1916, followed by a yard period. After the US entered World War I in 1917, Raleigh operated from Brazil, and in mid-1918 joined Cincinnati in the Gulf of Mexico. In mid-1919 both ships were decommissioned, and both were scrapped in 1921. [11] [12]

Ships in class

The two ships of the Cincinnati class were: [4]

ShipShipyardLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFate
USS Cincinnati (C-7) New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York 29 January 189010 November 189216 June 189420 April 1919Sold for scrap 5 August 1921
USS Raleigh (C-8) Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia 19 December 188931 March 189217 April 189421 April 1919Sold for scrap 5 August 1921

Note: It appears that the hull numbers PG-25 and PG-26 (patrol gunboat) were reserved for these ships as part of a fleet-wide redesignation in 1920, but the ships were ordered sold before the redesignation took effect on 17 July 1920. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Brooklyn</i> (ACR-3) United States Navy armored cruiser

USS Brooklyn (ACR-3/CA-3) was the third United States Navy armored cruiser, the only one to be named at commissioning for a city rather than a state.

USS <i>New York</i> (ACR-2) Second United States Navy armored cruiser so designated

USS New York (ACR-2/CA-2) was the second United States Navy armored cruiser so designated; the first was the ill-fated Maine, which was soon redesignated a second-class battleship. Due to the unusually protracted construction of Maine, New York was actually the first armored cruiser to enter U.S. Navy service. The fourth Navy ship to be named in honor of the state of New York, she was later renamed Saratoga and then Rochester. With six 8-inch guns, she was the most heavily armed cruiser in the US Navy when commissioned.

USS <i>Boston</i> (1884) One of the U.S. Navys first four steel ships

The fifth USS Boston was a protected cruiser and one of the first steel warships of the "New Navy" of the 1880s. In some references she is combined with Atlanta as the Atlanta class, in others as the Boston class.

USS <i>Chicago</i> (1885) Protected cruiser of the US Navy

The first USS Chicago was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy, the largest of the original three authorized by Congress for the "New Navy" and one of the U.S. Navy's first four steel ships.

<i>Colorado</i>-class battleship Dreadnought battleship class of the United States Navy

The Colorado-class battleships were a group of four United States Navy super-dreadnoughts, the last of its pre-Treaty battleships. Designed during World War I, their construction overlapped the end of that conflict and continued in its immediate aftermath. Though all four keels were laid, only three ships entered service: Colorado, Maryland, and West Virginia. Washington was over 75% completed when she was canceled under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922. As such, the 16" gun Colorado-class ships were the last and most powerful battleships built by the U.S. Navy until the North Carolina class entered service on the eve of World War II.

<i>Pennsylvania</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The Pennsylvania class of six armored cruisers served in the United States Navy from 1905 to 1927. All six were renamed for cities 1912–1920, to make the state names available for the new battleships beginning with the Pennsylvania-class battleships. All of these served during World War I, with California being the only ship of the class to be lost. The remaining five armored cruisers were scrapped between 1930 and 1931 in accordance with the London Naval Treaty.

<i>Bainbridge</i>-class destroyer Destroyer class of the US Navy

The Bainbridge-class destroyers were a class of United States Navy Torpedo Boat Destroyers (TBDs) built between 1899 and 1903. The first class so designated, they comprised the first 13 of 16 TBDs authorized by Congress in 1898 following the Spanish–American War(the remaining three authorised comprised the Truxtun-class destroyers). One ship of the class was lost at sea during service in World War I: Chauncey, which collided with the British merchant ship SS Rose in 1917. The balance were decommissioned in 1919 and sold postwar in 1920, eleven to Joseph G. Hitner of Philadelphia, and the Hopkins to the Denton Shore Lumber Company in Tampa, Florida.

<i>New Orleans</i>-class cruiser (1896) United States Navy protected cruiser class

The New Orleans class of protected cruisers of the United States Navy consisted of two ships which were building for the Brazilian Navy at Elswick, near Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, by Armstrong Whitworth. The Brazilian Navy had ordered four Elswick cruisers, but had already sold the first ship during construction to Chile as Ministro Zenteno. One ship was delivered to Brazil, named Almirante Barroso. The third ship was fitting out as Amazonas, and the fourth was on order as Almirante Abreu.

<i>Chester</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The three Chester-class cruisers were the first United States Navy vessels to be designed and designated as fast "scout cruisers" for fleet reconnaissance. They had high speed but little armor or armament. They were authorized in January 1904, ordered in fiscal year 1905, and completed in 1908. In 1920 all scout cruisers were redesignated as "light cruisers" (CL).

<i>Erzherzog Karl</i>-class battleship Austro-Hungarian battleship class

The Erzherzog Karl class was a class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy built before World War I. All of the battleships of the Erzherzog Karl-class were built in the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyards in Trieste. The first battleship, Erzherzog Karl was laid down in 1902. Construction on the remaining two battleships, Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and Erzherzog Friedrich continued up to 1905. Erzherzog Karl was commissioned in 1906, while Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and Erzherzog Friedrich were commissioned in 1907. The three Erzherzog Karl-class battleships were considered relatively modern by the time they were commissioned. However, small docking space and budget restraints resulted in the class being fairly compact. Nevertheless, they were well designed and properly protected. The Erzherzog Karl class were the last and largest pre-dreadnoughts built by the Austrian Navy. They were named after members of the Austrian Royal family.

<i>Derfflinger</i>-class battlecruiser Battlecruiser class of the German Imperial Navy

The Derfflinger class was a class of three battlecruisers of the Imperial German Navy. The ships were ordered for the 1912–13 Naval Building Program of the German Imperial Navy as a reply to the Royal Navy's two new Lion-class battlecruisers that had been launched a few years earlier. The preceding Moltke class and the incrementally improved Seydlitz represented the end of the evolution of Germany's first generation of battlecruisers. The Derfflinger class had considerable improvements, including a larger primary armament, all of which was mounted on the centerline. The ships were also larger than the preceding classes. The Derfflinger class used a similar propulsion system, and as a result of the increased displacement were slightly slower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6-inch/47-caliber gun</span> Naval gun

The 6-inch/47 caliber Mark 16 gun was used in the main batteries of several pre-war and World War II US Navy light cruisers. They were primarily mounted in triple turrets and used against surface targets. The Mark 16DP gun was a dual purpose fitting of the Mark 16 for use against aircraft as well as surface ships. It was installed in the post-war Worcester-class light cruisers and the anti-aircraft gunnery training ship Mississippi.

<i>St. Louis</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The St. Louis-class cruisers were a class of three cruisers that served in the United States Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. Authorized in fiscal year 1901 by an Act of Congress of 7 June 1900 as part of the naval buildup touched off by the Spanish–American War, the St. Louis-class cruiser initially began as an improved Olympia. However, during the design phase, decisions were made that increased the size of the vessel from 6,000 long tons (6,100 t) to 9,700 long tons (9,900 t), including adding protection that resulted in the designation "semi-armored cruiser". This led to a larger power plant, and other decisions were made to try to increase speed and range, such as using smaller 6-inch (152 mm) guns instead of 8-inch (203 mm) guns, and adding coal capacity. The completed ship at 9,700 long tons was the same displacement as a full armored cruiser without the same armor. One reference describes the class as "among the earliest well-documented examples of creeping growth in warship design".

<i>Columbia</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The Columbia-class cruisers were two protected cruisers constructed in 1890 and 1891 and used by the United States Navy. They were lightly gunned ships with only moderate armor that were built for the speed needed to overtake and destroy the fast ocean liners of the day as commerce raiders. However, the light armament and armor left these ships over-specialized and outclassed by ordinary similar sized protected cruisers that they might encounter. Also, the engines were expensive to operate and at full power the ships' range was greatly decreased. Due to the ongoing size and speed race in ocean liners, by 1907 they were outclassed in speed by the ill-fated Lusitania and the German liner Kronprinzessin Cecilie.

<i>Denver</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The Denver-class cruisers were a group of six protected cruisers in service with the United States Navy from 1903 through 1929. Authorized by Congress in 1899 as part of the naval buildup touched off by the Spanish–American War, they were designed with peacetime duties on foreign stations and tropical service in mind, specifically patrolling Latin America and the Caribbean. However, they had insufficient armament, armor, and speed for combat with most other cruisers. Thus, they were also called "peace cruisers" and were effectively gunboats. They were intended to augment the Montgomery class in these roles.

SMS <i>Erzherzog Karl</i> Austro-Hungarian Navys Erzherzog Karl-class battleship

SMS Erzherzog Karl  was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian navy in 1902. The lead ship of the Erzherzog Karl class, she was launched on 3 October 1903. They were assigned to the III Battleship Division.

SMS <i>Erzherzog Ferdinand Max</i> Austro-Hungarian Navys Erzherzog Karl-class battleship

SMS Erzherzog Ferdinand Max was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1902. The second ship of the Erzherzog Karl class, she was launched on 21 May 1905. She was assigned to the III Battleship Division.

SMS <i>Erzherzog Friedrich</i> Austro-Hungarian Navys Erzherzog Karl-class battleship

SMS Erzherzog Friedrich  was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1902. The second ship of the Erzherzog Karl class, she was launched on 30 April 1904. She was assigned to the III Battleship Division.

<i>Montgomery</i>-class cruiser Class of American naval ships

The Montgomery-class cruisers were three unprotected cruisers built for the United States Navy in the early 1890s. They had a thin water-tight protective deck, and also relied for protection upon their coal bunkers, cellulose packing, and numerous compartments. Roomy accommodations were provided for officers and crew, these cruisers being mainly intended for long cruises on distant stations.

The Neptune class was a proposed class of cruisers planned for the British Royal Navy in the latter years of the Second World War. They were large ships which were to be armed with twelve 6-inch (152 mm) dual-purpose guns and with a heavy secondary armament. Although five ships of the class were planned in 1944, they were cancelled following the end of the war and before construction could begin.

References

  1. 1 2 Burr, p. 16
  2. 1 2 3 "C-7 Cincinnati". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Friedman, pp. 27-33, 461-462
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Bauer and Roberts, p. 144
  5. 1 2 The Statutes at Large of the United States. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1889. p. 472. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  6. DiGiulian, Tony, 6"/30, 6"/35, and 6"/40 US Navy guns at NavWeaps.com
  7. 1 2 DiGiulian, Tony, 5"/40 US Navy guns at NavWeaps.com
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 153
  9. DiGiulian, Tony, 6-pdr (57 mm) US Navy guns at NavWeaps.com
  10. DiGiulian, Tony, 1-pdr (37 mm) US Navy guns at NavWeaps.com
  11. "Cincinnati II (C-7)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  12. "Raleigh (C-8) ii". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.

Bibliography