 Protected steel cruiser USSPhiladelphia | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Philadelphia |
| Namesake | Philadelphia,Pennsylvania |
| Builder | William Cramp & Sons,Philadelphia |
| Yard number | 257 |
| Laid down | 22 March 1888 |
| Launched | 7 September 1889 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Minnie Wanamaker, daughter of merchant and philanthropistJohn Wanamaker |
| Commissioned | 28 July 1890 |
| Decommissioned | 22 September 1902 |
| Notes | housed over as receiving ship 1904 |
| Reclassified | Receiving ship, 12 May 1904 |
| Reclassified | Prison ship, 4 November 1912 |
| Reclassified | Receiving Ship, 19 January 1916 |
| Reclassified | IX-24, 17 July 1920 |
| Stricken | 24 November 1926 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold, 1927 |
| General characteristics (as built)[1][2] | |
| Type | Protected cruiser |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) |
| Draft |
|
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 ×screws |
| Speed | |
| Range | 6,354 nmi (11,768 km; 7,312 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 384 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | |
| Armor |
|
| General characteristics (1914)[1][2] | |
| Installed power | |
| Complement | 187 enlisted men |
| Armament | all armaments removed |
| Notes | ship listed as "Unserviceable for War Purposes" |
The fourthUSSPhiladelphia (C-4) (laterIX-24) was the sixthprotected cruiser of theUnited States Navy. Although designed by the Navy Department, her hull was similar to the preceding British-designedBaltimore, butPhiladelphia had a uniform main armament of twelve 6-inch guns.[3][4][5]
She was laid down 22 March 1888 byWilliam Cramp & Sons,Philadelphia, launched 7 September 1889, sponsored by Miss Minnie Wanamaker, daughter of merchant and philanthropistJohn Wanamaker; and commissioned 28 July 1890, Capt.Albert S. Barker in command.[6]
Philadelphia was built to Navy Department plans, with twelve6-inch (152 mm)/30caliber guns.[7] Two guns each were on the bow and stern, with the remainder insponsons along the sides. Secondary armament was four6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) guns, four3-pounder (47 mm (1.85 in))Hotchkiss revolving cannon, two 1-pounder (37 mm (1.5 in)) Hotchkiss revolving cannon, and two.45 caliber (11.4 mm)Gatling guns.[3][5] Some of the weapons listed as Hotchkiss revolving cannon may actually have beenrapid-firing guns. Four 14-inch (356 mm)torpedo tubes were included in the design but never mounted.[4]
References vary as to the ship's armor.Philadelphia probably had 3 in (76 mm)gun shields and a 3 in (76 mm)conning tower. The armored deck was up to 4 in (100 mm) thick.[3]
The engineering plant included an unusual mix of boilers: fourScotch return-tube double-ended, one single-ended, and fourlocomotive boilers.[5] These produced 160 psi (1,100 kPa) steam for two horizontaltriple expansion engines totaling 10,500 ihp (7,800 kW) (designed) for a designed speed of 19knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).[5] This speed was attained on trials but the trial horsepower was only 8,814 ihp (6,573 kW).[5] As with other contemporary Navy Department designs, sails were fitted but soon removed.Philadelphia carried 525 tons of coal for a designed range of 6,354 nmi (11,768 km; 7,312 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph).[5]
The ship's 6-inch guns were converted torapid-firing in 1898.[4] All armament was removed whenPhiladelphia was converted into a receiving ship in 1904.[4]
While fitting out at theNew York Navy Yard,Philadelphia was designated on 18 August asflagship ofRear AdmiralBancroft Gherardi, commanding theNorth Atlantic Squadron. The squadron departed New York on 19 January 1891 to cruise theWest Indies for the protection of American interests until May. It was during this time Fred J. Buenzle had served aboard thePhiladelphia, as noted inBluejacket; An Autobiography, a part of theClassics of Naval Literature series. Then to the northern waters as far asHalifax, Nova Scotia. Early the following year, the flagship called atMontevideo, Uruguay, 6–18 February, after which she resumed cruising in the West Indies.[6]
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Philadelphia continued operations with the Atlantic Squadron along the eastern seaboard of the United States and in the West Indies until 1 March 1893. She was then assigned to theNaval Review Fleet as flagship of Rear AdmiralBancroft Gherardi. Charged with conducting theInternational Rendezvous and Review, with a fleet of twelve American ships, he received the visiting foreign ships as they commenced arrival inHampton Roads on 8 April. The fleet steamed to New York 24 April, where it joined additional foreign visitors to form a combined fleet of 35 men-of-war. PresidentGrover Cleveland reviewed the Fleet 27 April, after which appropriately festive ceremonies took place, initiating a parade through the streets of New York. The Naval Review Fleet disbanded 31 May andPhiladelphia departed New York 30 June 1893, bound for thePacific Squadron viaRio de Janeiro, Brazil, andCallao, Peru.[6]
Philadelphia arrived San Francisco 22 August 1893. As the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station, she cruised with the squadron, engaging in drills and maneuvers, and visiting various ports on the west coast of the United States, Mexico, and South America, and in theHawaiian Islands. She arrived at theMare Island Navy Yard 14 October 1897 and decommissioned there 18 December.[6]
Philadelphia recommissioned 9 July 1898 and became the flagship of Rear AdmiralJ. N. Miller, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station. She steamed from San Francisco 2 July to participate in the ceremonies attending theassumption of sovereignty by the United States over the Hawaiian Islands. FlagshipPhiladelphia arrivedHonolulu 3 August, and nine days hence her officers and those of thesteam sloopMohican, with a force under arms from the two warships, represented the US Navy at the ceremonies transferring the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.[6]
In March 1899, with Commander-in-Chief Rear AdmiralAlbert Kautz embarked,Philadelphia steamed to theSamoan Islands for duty in connection with the settlement ofcivil difficulties by the Samoan Commissioners of the United States, Great Britain, and Germany. A landing party fromPhiladelphia went ashore in the vicinity ofVailele 1 April to act in concert with a British landing party. The combined force, ambushed by adherents ofChief Mataafa, sustained seven killed and seven wounded, including two American officers, LieutenantPhilip Lansdale and EnsignJohn R. Monaghan, and twosailors killed, including SeamanNorman Edsall, and five bluejackets wounded.Philadelphia remained in the Samoan Islands until 21 May 1899, when she steamed for the west coast via Honolulu.[6]
Philadelphia served as flagship of the Pacific Station until 6 February 1900, when Rear Admiral Kautz transferred his flag toIowa (BB-4). The cruiser continued Pacific operations until 1902, conducting training cruises, drills, target practice, and port visits.[6]
Returning from a six-month cruise off the Panamanian coast,Philadelphia arrived San Francisco 17 July 1902. Needing extensive repairs, she was ordered to thePuget Sound Navy Yard for decommissioning. ArrivingBremerton, Washington 23 August, she decommissioned at Puget Sound 22 September 1902.[6]
Philadelphia was housed over and became areceiving ship at Puget Sound Navy Yard 12 May 1904. She continued this service until 4 November 1912, when she became aprison ship. Resuming service as a receiving ship 10 January 1916, she was redesignated with thehull numberIX-24 (unclassified miscellaneous) on 17 July 1920.[4] She was struck from theNavy List on 24 November 1926.[6]
CruiserPhiladelphia was sold atpublic auction at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in 1927 toLouis Rotherberg.[6]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.