_in_1891_(50118931986).jpg) USSAtlanta in 1891 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Atlanta |
| Namesake | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Ordered | 3 March 1883 |
| Laid down | 8 November 1883 |
| Launched | 9 October 1884 |
| Sponsored by | Jessie Lincoln |
| Commissioned | 19 July 1886 |
| Decommissioned | September 1895 |
| Recommissioned | 15 September 1900 |
| Decommissioned | 23 March 1912 |
| Stricken | 24 April 1912 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 10 June 1912 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Protected cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,189 long tons (3,240 t) |
| Length | 283 ft 0 in (86.26 m) |
| Beam | 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 16.3 kn (18.8 mph; 30.2 km/h) on trials, 13 kn (15 mph; 24 km/h) designed |
| Range | 3,390 nmi (6,280 km; 3,900 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 284 |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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| Notes | One of theU.S. Navy's first foursteel ships |
USSAtlanta was aprotected cruiser and one of the first steel warships of the "New Navy" of the 1880s. In some references she is combined withBoston as theAtlanta class, in others as theBoston class.
Atlanta was laid down on 8 November 1883 atChester, Pennsylvania byDelaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works; launched on 9 October 1884; sponsored by MissJessie Lincoln, the daughter ofSecretary of WarRobert Todd Lincoln and granddaughter of PresidentAbraham Lincoln; and commissioned at theNew York Navy Yard on 19 July 1886,CaptainFrancis M. Bunce in command.[1]
Atlanta was ordered as part of the "ABCD" ships, the others being the cruisersBoston andChicago and thedispatch vesselDolphin. All were ordered from the same shipyard,John Roach & Sons ofChester, Pennsylvania. However, whenSecretary of the NavyWilliam C. Whitney initially refused to acceptDolphin, claiming her design was defective, the Roach yard went bankrupt andAtlanta was completed at the New York Navy Yard, which had little experience with steel-hulled ships.[2]
As-built armament included two8-inch (203 mm)/30 caliber Mark 1 guns,[3] six6-inch (152 mm)/30 caliber Mark 2 guns,[4] two6-pounder (57 mm (2.24 in))rapid fire guns, two3-pounder (47 mm (1.85 in))Hotchkiss revolving cannon, two 1-pounder (37 mm (1.46 in)) Hotchkiss revolving cannon, and two.45 caliber (11.4 mm)Gatling guns.[2] The 8-inch guns were initially in openbarbettes with gun shields added later.[5]
Armor protection was light, with 2-inch (50.8 mm)gun shields andconning tower, and a 1.5-inch (38.1 mm) deck extending 100 feet (30 m) over the machinery spaces.[6]
The as-built engineering plant included eight coal-fired cylindricalfire-tube boilers producing 100 psi (690 kPa) steam and a horizontalcompound engine producing 3,500 ihp (2,600 kW) driving one shaft.[2][5][6] Like the other "ABCD" ships,Atlanta was built with a sail rig to increase cruising range, though it was later removed. The ship carried up to 490 tons of coal, with a cruising range as built of 3,390 nmi (6,280 km; 3,900 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph).[2][7]
In 1897–1899Atlanta received a newtriple-expansion steam engine of 4,030 ihp (3,010 kW) and the 6-inch guns were converted to rapid firing with brass case ammunition replacing powder bags.[6]
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Atlanta remained at New York fitting out and undergoing modifications until July 1887, when she joined the North Atlantic Squadron. For a little over two years, she cruised the Atlantic coast, theGulf of Mexico, and theWest Indies. On 30 September 1889, she was reassigned to theSquadron of Evolution with which she voyaged toEurope and theMediterranean that winter. On the return voyage the protected cruiser paid a friendship visit to the Republic ofBrazil before returning to New York at the end of July 1890. There, she resumed duty along the east coast and in the West Indies. Between February and April 1891, she cruised the Gulf of Mexico. From May–October, the ship operated along the Atlantic coast and participated in exercises and maneuvers at Boston and New York, training members of the Naval Militia. Between October 1891 and July 1892, she served successively along the east coast, in the West Indies, and inSouth American waters.[1]
On 2 September 1892, the cruiser was transferred from the Squadron of Evolution back to the North Atlantic Squadron. Between December 1892 and February 1893, she operated in the West Indies protecting American interests. From March–May, the warship participated in theNaval Review held atHampton Roads, Virginia. In May–June, she returned to the Gulf of Mexico. On 18 July 1893,Atlanta was placed out of commission atNorfolk, Virginia. There, she remained until recommissioned on 2 April 1894. She returned to duty on the North Atlantic station for the next 17 months. During that assignment, she put a landing party ashore at Boca del Toro,Colombia, on 8 March 1895 to protect American lives and property threatened by a Liberal Party revolt and the activity of filibusters. In September 1895, she was placed out of commission at the New York Navy Yard where she was laid up for the next five years.[1]
On 15 September 1900, she was placed back in commission at New York, Comdr. E. C. Pendleton in command. Late in October, the ship put to sea to join the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil. She cruised those waters until November 1902 when she was transferred to theCaribbean Squadron. During the latter tour of duty, she again landed shore parties to protect American interests; first atSanto Domingo in April 1903 and then at Porto Bello,Panama, the following December. She made a voyage to the Mediterranean in 1904 and returned in October, via the western coast ofAfrica andCape Town, to the South Atlantic station. She arrived back at Hampton Roads on 26 December and, in January 1905, moved toAnnapolis, Maryland, where she was placed in reserve on 12 January.Atlanta remained inactive only until 8 May, at which time she was returned to full commission for service in the Coast Squadron to participate in midshipman training missions. In November 1905, the warship moved to Norfolk where she served as abarracks ship for sailors of the Torpedo Flotilla until 1909. At that time, she moved toCharleston, South Carolina, where she resumed duty as a barracks ship. On 23 March 1912,Atlanta was relieved of duty, and on 24 April her name was struck from theNavy List. The ship was sold at Charleston on 10 June to Frank Rijsdyk'sScheepsslooperij (ship scrapping yard).[1]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.