USS Minneapolis (C-13)

Last updated
USS Minneapolis (C-13).jpg
USS Minneapolis (C-13), photographed while at anchor, 1898.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameMinneapolis
NamesakeCity of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ordered2 March 1891
Awarded31 August 1891
Builder William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Cost$2,690,000 (contract price of hull and machinery)
Yard number273
Laid down16 December 1891
Launched12 August 1893
Sponsored byMiss Elizabeth Washburn
Commissioned13 December 1894
Decommissioned15 March 1921
ReclassifiedCA-17, 17 July 1920
Stricken26 January 1922
Identification
FateSold for scrap, 5 August 1921
General characteristics (as built) [1] [2]
Class and type Columbia class protected cruiser
Displacement
  • 7,350 long tons (7,468  t) (standard)
  • 8,270 long tons (8,403 t) (full load)
Length
  • 413 ft 1 in (125.91 m) oa
  • 411 ft 7 in (125.45 m)pp
Beam58 ft 2 in (17.73 m)
Draft22 ft 7 in (6.88 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
  • 23.07 knots (42.73 km/h; 26.55 mph) (Speed on Trial)
Complement45 officers 338 enlisted men
Armament
Armor
  • Deck: 4 in (100 mm) (slope)
  • 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) (flat)
  • Conning Tower: 5 in (130 mm)
  • Shields: 4 in (100 mm)
General characteristics (1914) [1]
Armament
  • 3 × 6 in (150 mm)/45 caliber Mark 10 gun
  • 8 × 4 in (102 mm)/40 guns
  • 2 × 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) saluting guns
General characteristics (1920) [2] [3]
Armament

The first USS Minneapolis (C-13/CA-17) was a United States Navy Columbia-class protected cruiser. She was named for the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Contents

Minneapolis was laid down 16 December 1891 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia; launched 12 August 1893, sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Washburn, daughter of Senator William D. Washburn of Minnesota; and commissioned at Philadelphia, 13 December 1894, Captain George H. Wadleigh, in command. [4] The class was originally designed with three funnels; however, Columbia was built with four and Minneapolis with two. This may have been to make them resemble specific passenger liners. [5]

Early duties

Assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron, the new cruiser took part in maneuvers and cruises along the eastern seaboard and in the West Indies until she was assigned to the European Squadron 27 November 1895, arriving Gibraltar, 13 December. After cruising in the Mediterranean Sea, she visited Kronstadt, Russia, 13 May to 19 June, as flagship of Rear Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge Jr., representing the United States at the coronation of Czar Nicholas II. Following visits to principal ports of northern Europe, she returned to Turkey and Greece. She departed Gibraltar 21 June 1897 and arrived at Philadelphia 6 July. The next day, she was placed in reserve at League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia. [4]

Spanish–American War

Upon outbreak of the Spanish–American War, Minneapolis was assigned to the Northern Patrol Squadron operating along the north Atlantic coast of the United States. In April 1898, she was dispatched for scouting duty in the West Indies, searching for Admiral Cervera's fleet as far as the coast of Venezuela, and returning to Santiago de Cuba, 19 May 1898, en route to Key West, Florida. [4]

Peace time duties

She decommissioned at Philadelphia 18 August 1898 and remained in ordinary in League Island Navy Yard until recommissioned as a receiving ship, 23 April 1902. She again decommissioned at League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, 2 June 1903 and recommissioned 5 October 1903. She took part in the Louisiana Purchase Celebration at New Orleans, Louisiana from 16 to 28 December, and spent much of the next year cruising the West Indies. [4]

Minneapolis arrived New London, Connecticut 23 May 1905 to participate in the unveiling of the John Winthrop Monument, then was assigned to a Special Service Squadron with collier Caesar and screw steamer Dixie, under the command of Rear Admiral Colby Mitchell Chester, to make astronomical and other scientific observations off the coast of Spain and Africa. [4]

She sailed from New York 3 July 1905 and arrived at Gibraltar on the 17th, carrying scientists to observe the solar eclipse, 30 August 1905. She departed the Mediterranean 10 November 1905 and sailed via France and England to the United States arriving Hampton Roads, 23 December. [4]

She was at Annapolis, Maryland, 20 April to 5 May 1906, for ceremonies commemorating the arrival of the body of John Paul Jones, and, after taking midshipmen on a practice cruise, conducted training cruises for men of the naval militias of New York and Connecticut. She decommissioned at Philadelphia on 7 November 1906 and remained in ordinary until the United States entered World War I. [4]

World War I

Recommissioned 2 July 1917, Minneapolis got underway from Philadelphia 15 September for Hampton Roads, and departed that base 26 October for Colon, Panama Canal Zone, where she joined British transports Arawa and Corinthia. The vessels sailed from Colon 6 November and steamed by way of Hampton Roads to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The cruiser continued to operate along the Atlantic coast until assigned to transatlantic convoy duty 24 February 1918. During the next 8 months, she made four escort voyages, departing New York and sailing to ocean rendezvous where the convoys were turned over to British destroyers. On her last voyage, she departed New York on 9 October as escort for a convoy to Sydney, Nova Scotia, and returned to New York, 19 October. [4]

Post war and final decommissioning

Minneapolis was then assigned to the Pacific Station as flagship, arriving in San Diego, California on 7 February 1919. She was decommissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard two years later, on 15 March 1921, and sold on 5 August 1921. [4] Her mast is preserved on the northeastern shore of Bde Maka Ska near the Lake Street boat launch in Uptown, Minneapolis ( 44°56′55.0″N93°18′23.0″W / 44.948611°N 93.306389°W / 44.948611; -93.306389 ). The bell is currently in use at Minnetonka High School.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Cleveland</i> (C-19) Denver-class cruiser

USS Cleveland (C-19/PG-33/CL-21) was a United States Navy Denver-class protected cruiser.

USS <i>West Virginia</i> (ACR-5) United States Navy Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser

The first USS West Virginia (ACR-5/CA-5), also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 5", and later renamed Huntington, was a United States Navy Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser.

USS <i>Newark</i> (C-1) Protected cruiser

The first USS Newark (C-1) was a United States Navy protected cruiser, the eighth protected cruiser launched by the United States. In design, she succeeded the "ABC" cruisers Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago with better protection, higher speed, and a uniform 6-inch gun armament. Four additional protected cruisers were launched for the USN prior to Newark.

USS <i>Dixie</i> (1893) Tender of the United States Navy

The first USS Dixie was a United States Navy auxiliary cruiser and later a destroyer tender. The Dixie was the first ship of the United States Navy to have this name.

USS <i>Philadelphia</i> (C-4) US naval vessel (1890–1902)

The fourth USS Philadelphia (C-4) was the sixth protected cruiser of the United States Navy. Although designed by the Navy Department, her hull was similar to the preceding British-designed Baltimore, but Philadelphia had a uniform main armament of twelve 6-inch guns.

USS <i>Raleigh</i> (C-8) Cincinnati class cruiser

USS Raleigh (C-8) was a United States Navy protected cruiser of the Cincinnati class, commissioned in 1894 and in periodic service until 1919.

USS <i>Birmingham</i> (CL-2) Chester-class scout cruiser of the US Navy, in service from 1908 to 1923

USS Birmingham (CS-2/CL-2), named for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, was a Chester-class scout cruiser, reclassified a light cruiser in 1920. Entering service in 1908, the ship became known for the first airplane takeoff from a ship in history in 1910. During World War I, Birmingham escorted convoys across the Atlantic. The cruiser was decommissioned in 1923 and sold for scrap in 1930.

USS <i>St. Louis</i> (C-20) St. Louis-class cruiser

The USS St. Louis (C-20/CA-18), was the lead ship of her class of protected cruisers in the United States Navy. St. Louis was launched on 6 May 1905 by the Neafie & Levy Company, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was sponsored by Miss Gladys Bryant Smith and commissioned on 18 August 1906 with Captain Nathaniel R. Usher in command.

USS <i>Philip</i> (DD-76) Wickes-class destroyer

The first USS Philip (DD–76) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Lancaster. She was named for John Woodward Philip.

USS <i>Galveston</i> (CL-19) Denver-class cruiser

USS Galveston (C-17/PG-31/CL-19) was a Denver-class protected cruiser in the United States Navy during World War I. She was the first Navy ship named for the city of Galveston, Texas.

USS <i>Salem</i> (CL-3) Chester-class cruiser

USS Salem (CS-3/CL-3), Scout Cruiser No. 3, was a Chester-class scout cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the first Navy ship named for the city of Salem, Massachusetts.

USS <i>Marblehead</i> (C-11) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The second USS Marblehead (C-11/PG-27) was a Montgomery-class unprotected cruiser in the United States Navy, authorized in the naval appropriations bill of September 7, 1888. Marblehead served in the Spanish–American War and World War I, and was the last ship of her class in service.

USS <i>Columbia</i> (C-12) Columbia-class cruiser

The fourth USS Columbia (C-12/CA-16) was a protected cruiser in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War and World War I. She was the lead ship of her class of two cruisers; her sister ship was Minneapolis (C-13). The class was originally designed with three funnels; however, Columbia was built with four and Minneapolis with two. This may have been to make them resemble specific passenger liners.

USS <i>Lancaster</i> (1858) Sloops-of-war of the United States Navy

The first USS Lancaster was a screw sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War through the Spanish–American War.

USS <i>Fox</i> (DD-234) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Fox (DD-234/AG-85) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth ship named for Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War.

USS <i>Juniata</i> (1862) Sloops-of-war of the United States Navy

The first USS Juniata was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

USS <i>Pocahontas</i> (1852) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The first USS Pocahontas, a screw steamer built at Medford, Massachusetts in 1852 as City of Boston, and purchased by the Navy at Boston, Massachusetts on 20 March 1855, was the first United States Navy ship to be named for Pocahontas, the Algonquian wife of Virginia colonist John Rolfe. She was originally commissioned as USS Despatch – the second U.S. Navy ship of that name – on 17 January 1856, with Lieutenant T. M. Crossan in command, and was recommissioned and renamed in 1860, seeing action in the American Civil War. As Pocahontas, one of her junior officers was Alfred Thayer Mahan, who would later achieve international fame as a military writer and theorist of naval power.

USS <i>Jamestown</i> (1844) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

The first USS Jamestown was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

USS <i>San Francisco</i> (C-5)

The first USS San Francisco (C-5) was a steel protected cruiser in the United States Navy. She was later named Tahoe and then Yosemite, becoming the third US Navy ship to bear the name Yosemite. She generally resembled her predecessor Newark, with a main armament of twelve 6-inch guns.

USS <i>Topeka</i> (PG-35) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Topeka (PG-35) was a gunboat of the United States Navy.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels, 1911-". US Naval Department. 1 January 1914. pp. 36–39. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 Toppan, Andrew (8 September 1996). "US Cruisers List: Protected Cruisers and Peace Cruisers". Hazegray.org. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels". US Naval Department. 1 July 1920. p. 58. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Minneapolis I (C-13)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Norman (1984). U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 39–40. ISBN   0-87021-718-6.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to USS Minneapolis (C-13) at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.