 The crew is out on a Sunday in 1909 in dress whites. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | |
| Ordered | 4 May 1898 |
| Awarded | 19 October 1898 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works,Bath, Maine |
| Cost | $1,851,313.22 |
| Laid down | 17 April 1899 |
| Launched | 24 November 1900 |
| Commissioned | 5 March 1903 |
| Decommissioned | 1 July 1920 |
| Renamed |
|
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold, 26 January 1922 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Arkansas-classmonitor |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (mean) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | |
| Complement | 13 officers 209 men |
| Armament | |
| Armor |
|
The firstUSSNevada, amonitor, was ordered on 4 May 1898. She was awarded to theBath Iron Works,Bath, Maine on 19 October 1898[1] and laid down asConnecticut, 17 April 1899.Connecticut was launched 24 November 1900; sponsored by Miss Grace Boutelle; renamedNevada, January 1901; and commissioned on 5 March 1903,CommanderThomas B. Howard in command.[2] The total cost for the hull, machinery, armor and armament was $1,851,313.22.[3]
Nevada was renamedTonopah in 1909 to free up the name fora new battleship.
TheArkansas-class monitors had been designed to combine a heavy striking power with easy concealment and negligible target area. They had a displacement of 3,225long tons (3,277 t; 3,612short tons), measured 255 feet 1 inch (77.75 m) inoverall length, with abeam of 50 feet 1 inch (15.27 m) and adraft of 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m). She was manned by a total crew of 13 officers and 209 men.[4][5]
Nevada was powered by twovertical triple expansion engines driving twoscrew propellers with steam generated by fourNiclausse boilers.[6] The engines inNevada were designed to produce 2,400indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) with a top speed of 12.5knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph), however, onsea trials she was only able to produce 1,970 ihp (1,470 kW) but with a top speed of 13.04 kn (24.15 km/h; 15.01 mph).[7]Nevada was designed to provide a range of 2,360nautical miles (4,370 km; 2,720 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4][5]
The ship was armed with amain battery of two12-inch (305 mm)/40 caliber guns, either Mark 3 or Mark 4, in a Mark 4 turret.[8][9][4] The secondary battery consisted of four4-inch (102 mm)/50 caliber Mark 7 guns[10] along with three6-pounder 57 mm (2.2 in) guns. The mainbelt armor was 11 in (280 mm) in the middle tapering to 5 in (130 mm) at the ends. Thegun turrets were between 10 and 9 in (250 and 230 mm), with 11 to 9 in (280 to 230 mm)barbettes.Nevada also had a 1.5 in (38 mm)deck.[4][5]
On 2 March 1909, the monitor was renamedTonopah to allowBattleship Number 36 to be namedNevada. Assigned to theAtlantic Fleet'ssubmarine force as atender,Tonopah operated along theeast coast fromMassachusetts toKey West until January 1918. Then briefly assigned toBermuda, she was ordered toPonta Delgada,São Miguel Island,Azores in February. Between then and December she tended the submarinesK-1,K-2,K-3,K-5, andE-1 and submarine chasers operating in the strategic area of the Azores.[2]
In December, she was towed toLisbon, and, upon her return to theUnited States, decommissioned atPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, on 1 July 1920. She was one of several vessels sold on 26 January 1922, toHenry A. Hitner's Sons Company of Philadelphia.[2]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere. This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.