US Cruisers List: Protected Cruisers and Peace Cruisers
Revised 08 Sept 1996
Version 1.10
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
URL: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/cruisers/
This list includes all US Protected (2nd class) and Peace (3rd class)
Cruisers designated in the Cruiser series.
Type Desig. Notes
Protected Cruiser C- 3rd class cruiser
Peace Cruiser C- 2nd class cruiser
Protected and Peace cruisers were numbered in a single series until
1920, when the series was broken up and most survivors became CAs and PGs.
PGs and some CAs later changed to CL.
Displ: 4,592 tons full load
Dim: 327 x 49 x 18.5 ft
Prop: HTE engines, 4 160 psi boilers, 8,500 hp, 2 shafts, 18 knots
Crew: 374
Arm: 12 6/30, 4 6 lb, 4 Hotchkiss, 4 Gatling, 6 14 inch TT
Armor: 2-3 inch deck, 2 inch gun protection, 3 inch CT
An improvement on the Chicago design.
C-1 Newark
Built by Cramp. Laid down 12 June 1888, launched 19 March 1890,
commissioned 2 Feb 1891. Modernized 1897-1898, 12 6/40 replaced
old guns. Decommissioned 29 July 1901, partially reconstructed,
recommissioned 3 Nov 1902. Reserve training 1907-1908.
Decommissioned 16 June 1913. Stricken 16 June 1913, Public Heath
Service quarantine hulk until 1918, then annex to Naval Hospital
at Newport, returned to Public Health service May 1919. Returned
to USN for disposal 7 July 1926, sold 7 Sept 1926.
Charleston protected cruiser
Displ: 4,390 tons full load
Dim: 320 x 46 x 20.5 ft
Prop: HC engines, 6 boilers, 7,500 hp, 2 shafts, 18.9 knots
Crew: 360 (including 30 Marines)
Arm: 2 8/35, 6 6/30, 4 6 lb, 2 3 lb, 2 1 lb, 4 37 mm, 2 Gatling, 4 14" TT
Armor: 2-3 inch deck, 2 inch gun protection, 2 inch CT
Built to foreign plans, based on Japanese cruiser Naniwa.
Designed with 10" guns, completed with 8".
C-2 Charleston
Built by Union. Laid down 20 Jan 1887, launched 19 July 1888,
commissioned 26 Dec 1889. Decommissioned 27 July 1896.
Recommissioned 5 May 1898. Wrecked in the Philippines 2 Nov 1899.
Displ: 5,436 tons full load
Dim: 335 x 48.5 x 19.5 ft
Prop: HTE engines, 8 boilers, 10,750 hp, 2 shafts, 20 knots
Crew: 300
Arm: 4 8/35, 6 6/30, 4 6 lb, 2 3 lb, 2 1 lb, 4 37 mm, 2 Gatling, 5 14" TT
Armor: 2.5-4 inch deck, 2 inch gun protection, 1-3 inch CT
Built to foreign plans.
C-3/CM 1 Baltimore
Built by Cramp. Laid down 5 May 1887, launched 6 Oct 1888,
commissioned 7 Jan 1890. Decommissioned 17 Feb 1896.
Recommissioned 12 Oct 1897. Decommissioned 17 Sept 1900,
partially reconstructed 1901, 8" and 6" replaced by
12 6/40, recommissioned 6 May 1903, Decommissioned 15 May 1907,
receiving ship 1911-1912. Converted to minelayer at
Charleston, 1913-14, recommissioned 8 March 1915. Designated CM
17 July 1920. Decommissioned 15 Sept 1922, stricken 14 Oct 1937,
sold 16 Feb 1942.
Displ: 5,304 tons full load
Dim: 335 x 48.5 x 19 ft
Prop: HTE engines, 9 160 psi boilers, 10,500 hp, 2 shafts, 19 knots
Crew: 384
Arm: 12 6/30, 4 6 lb, 4 3 lb, 2 1 lb, 3 37 mm, 4 Gatling, 4 14 inch TT
Armor: 2.5-4 inch deck, 2 inch gun protection, 3 inch CT
Hull identical to Baltimore.
C-4/IX 24 Philadelphia
Built by Cramp, laid down 22 March 1888, launched 7 Sept 1889,
commissioned 28 July 1890. Decommissioned 18 Dec 1897,
recommissioned 9 July 1898. Decommissioned due to poor condition
22 Sept 1902, housed over as receiving ship 1904, prison ship
1912-1916, receiving ship 10 Jan 1916, designated IX 24 17 July 1920,
stricken 24 Nov 1926, sold 1927.
Displ: 4,583 tons full load
Dim: 328 x 49 x 18.5 ft
Prop: HTE engines, 4 135 psi boilers, 2 shafts, 19 knots
Crew: 384
Arm: 12 6/30, 4 6 lb, 4 3 lb, 2 1 lb, 3 37 mm, 4 Gatling
Armor: 2-3 inch deck, 2 inch gun protection, 3 inch CT
Hull identical to Newark.
C-5/CM 2 San Francisco
Built at Union. Laid down 14 Aug 1888, launched 26 Oct 1889,
commissioned 15 Nov 1890. Decommissioned 25 Oct 1898,
reconstructed 1899, recommissioned 2 Jan 1902. Decommissioned
31 Dec 1904. Ordered refitted as a mine vessel June 1908, rearmed
with 8 5 inch 1910, recommissioned 21 Aug 1911. Redesignated mine
planter 19 Dec 1912, renamed Tahoe, designated CM 17 July 1920.
Decommissioned 21 Dec 1921, renamed Yosemite 1 Jan 1931, stricken
8 June 1937, sold 20 April 1939.
Displ: 6,558 tons full load
Dim: 344 x 53 x 21.5 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 4 160 psi boilers, 13,500 hp, 2 shafts, 20 kt.
Crew: 428
Arm: 2 dual 8/35, 10 5/40, 14 6 lb, 7 1 lb, 4 Gatling, 6 18 inch TT
Armor: 2-4.75 inch deck, 3.5-4.5 inch turrets, 4 inch barbettes
New design commerce raiding cruiser.
C-6/CA 15/CL 15/IX 40 Olympia
Built by Union. Laid down 17 June 1891, launched 5 Nov 1892,
commissioned 5 Feb 1895. Dewey's flagship at Manilla.
Decommissioned 8 Nov 1899, partially reconstructed 1901-1903,
recommissioned Jan 1902. Decommissioned 2 April 1906. Midshipmen
cruises 1906, 1907, 1908; barracks ship 1912-1916. Recommissioned
1916, rearmed with 10 5/51 in place of old 8" and 5", 1917-1918.
Designated CA 17 July 1921, to CL 8 Aug 1921. Decommissioned
9 Dec 1922. Redesignated IX 30 June 1931 (to clear cruiser tonnage).
Stricken and donated for museum at Philadelphia 11 September 1957.
Displ: 3,640 tons full load
Dim: 306 x 42 x 19.5 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 6 boilers, 2 shafts, 10,000 hp, 19 knots
Crew: 312
Arm: 1 6/40, 10 5/40, 8 6 lb, 2 1 lb, 1 Gatling, 4 TT
Armor: .5-2 inch deck, 4 inch gun protection, 2 inch CT
C-7 Cincinnati
Built by New York Navy. Laid down 20 Jan 1890, launched
10 Nov 1892, commissioned 16 June 1894. Refitted with
8,500 hp machinery 1900-1902, additional 5" replaced 6".
Decommissioned 12 Oct 1907. Recommissioned 11 Oct 1911.
Decommissioned 20 April 1919, sold 4 Aug 1921, stricken
5 Aug 1921.
C-8 Raleigh
Built by Norfolk Navy. Laid down 19 Dec 1889, launched
31 March 1892, commissioned 17 April 1894. Refitted with
4,500 hp machinery 1900-1902, additional 5" replaced 6".
Decommissioned 10 June 1899. Recommissioned 21 Feb 1911.
Decommissioned 21 April 1919, sold 4 Aug 1921, stricken
5 Aug 1921.
Displ: 2,235 tons full load
Dim: 269.5 x 37 x 16 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 6 boilers, 2 shafts, 5,400 hp, 18 knots
Crew: 274
Arm: 2 6/40, 8 5/40, 6 6 lb, 1 lb, 2 Gatling, 3 TT
Armor: ~.5 inch deck, 2 inch CT
Small gunboat/cruisers. Forward 6" replaced by 5", aft 6" removed.
C-9 Montgomery
Built by Columbian. Laid down Feb 1890, launched 5 Dec 1891,
commissioned 20 July 1894. Decommissioned 15 Sept 1900,
recommissioned 15 May 1902, decommissioned 15 Sept 1904.
Recommissioned 2 Jan 1808, converted to torpedo practive
ship 1909, with all weapons except 4 6 lb, 6 TT removed.
Renamed Anniston 14 March 1918. Decommissioned 16 May 1918,
stricken 25 Aug 1919, sold 14 Nov 1919.
C-10 Detroit
Built by Columbian. Laid down Feb 1890, launched 28 Oct 1891,
commissioned 20 July 1894. Decommissioned 23 May 1900.
Recommissioned 23 Sept 1902. Decommissioned 1 Aug 1905,
stricken 12 July 1910, sold 22 Dec 1910.
C-11/PG 27 Marblehead
Built by City Point. Laid down Oct 1890, launched 26 July 1892,
commissioned 2 April 1894. Decommissioned 30 April 1900,
recommissioned 10 Nov 1902, decommissioned 1 Oct 1906.
Reserve training 1910-1917, recommissioned 6 April 1917.
Decommissioned 21 Aug 1919, to PG 17 July 1920, stricken & sold
5 Aug 1920.
Displ: 8,270 tons full load
Dim: 413 x 58 x 22.5 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 10 boilers, 3 shafts, 21,000 hp, 22.5 knots
Crew: 459
Arm: 1 8/40, 2 6/40, 8 4/40, 12 6 lb, 4 1 lb, 4 Gatling, 4 14 inch TT
Armor: 1.5-2.5 inch deck
Commerce raiding cruisers, originally planned with 4 6/40,
aft 2 replaced by 1 8/40. Designed with 3 stacks, Colombia
had 4, Minneapolis 2. TT removed 1910, 8 inch replaced by
one 6/45. In 1919, armament had been altered to 3 6 inch, 4 4 inch.
C-12/CA 16 Columbia
Built by Cramp. Laid down 30 Dec 1890, launched 26 July 1892,
commissioned 23 April 1894. Decommissioned 13 May 1897,
recommissioned 15 March 1898, decommissioned 31 March 1899.
Recommissioned 31 Aug 1902, decommissioned 3 May 1907, recommissioned
22 June 1915. Decommissioned 29 June 1921, designated CA 17 July 1920,
renamed Old Columbia 17 Nov 1921, stricken 26 Jan 1922,
sold 21 June 1922.
C-13/CA 17 Minneapolis
Built by Cramp. Laid down 16 Dec 1891, launched 12 Aug 1893,
commissioned 13 Dec 1894. Decommissioned 18 Aug 1898,
receiving ship 1902-1903, recommissioned 5 Oct 1903.
Decommissioned 17 Nov 1906, recommissioned 2 July 1917.
Decommissioned 15 March 1921, designated CA 17 July 1920,
stricken & sold 5 Aug 1921.
Displ: 3,750 full load
Dim: 308 x 44 x 16.5
Prop: VTE engines, 6 boilers, 2 shafts, 4,700 hp, 16.5 knots
Crew: 327
Arm: 10 5/40, 8 6 lb, 2 1 lb, 4 .30 cal
Armor: 1.75 inch gun protection
3rd class cruisers/gunboats. Main battery was 8 5/40
during WWI, one 3/23 AA added postwar.
C-14/PG 28/CL 16 Denver
Built by Neafie & Levy. Laid down 28 June 1900, launched
21 June 1902, commissioned 17 May 1904. Decommissioned
12 March 1910, recommissioned 15 July 1912. To PG 7 July 1920,
to CL 8 Aug 1921. Decommissioned 14 Feb 1931, stricken
12 March 1931, sold 13 Sept 1933.
C-15/PG 29/CL 17 Des Moines
Built by Fore River. Laid down 28 Aug 1900, launched 20 Sept 1902,
commissioned 5 March 1904. To PG 7 July 1920. Decommissioned
9 April 1921, to CL 8 Aug 1921, stricken 13 Dec 1929, sold
11 March 1930.
C-16/PG 30/CL 18 Chattanooga
Built by Crescent. Laid down 29 March 1900, launched 7 March 1903,
commissioned 11 Oct 1904. Decommissioned 17 Sept 1910,
recommissioned 21 April 1914, to PG 7 July 1920. Decommissioned
19 July 1921, to CL 8 Aug 1921, stricken 13 Dec 1929, sold
8 March 1930.
C-17/PG 31/CL 19 Galveston
Built by Trigg. Laid down 19 Jan 1901, launched 23 July 1903,
commissioned 15 Feb 1905. To PG 7 July 1920, to CL 8 Aug 1921,
decommissioned 30 Nov 1923. Recommissioned 5 Feb 1924.
Decommissioned 2 Sept 1930, stricken 1 Nov 1930, sold 13 Sept 1933.
C-18/PG 32/CL 20 Tacoma
Built by Union. Laid down 27 Sept 1900, launched 2 June 1903,
commissioned 30 Jan 1904. To PG 7 July 1932, to CL 8 Aug 1921.
Wrecked at Vera Cruz 16 Jan 1924, stricken 7 Feb 1924, sold
5 Sept 1924.
C-19/PG 33/CL 21 Cleveland
Built by Bath Iron. Laid down 1 June 1900, launched 28 Sept 1901,
commissioned 2 Nov 1903. Decommissioned 3 Aug 1910, recommissioned
31 Aug 1912, to PG 7 July 1920, to CL 8 Aug 1921. Decommissioned
1 Nov 1929, stricken 13 Dec 1929, sold 7 March 1930.
St. Louis large protected cruisers
Displ: 10,964 tons full load
Dim: 426 x 66 x 25 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 16 250 psi boilers, 2 shafts, 21,000 hp, 22 kt.
Crew: 564 as flagship
Arm: 14 6/50, 18 3 inch, 12 3 lb, 4 1 lb, 8 1 lb RF, 10 .30 cal
Armor: 4 inch belt, 2-3 inch deck, 2-4 inch gun protection, 3-5 inch CT
"Semi-Armored" cruisers, based on enlarged Olympia.
Intended for 8/45 guns. Two 6/50 and 14 3 inch removed during
WWI, 2 3/50 AA added postwar.
C-20/CA 18 St. Louis
Built by Neafie & Levy. Laid down 21 July 1902, launched
6 May 1905, commissioned 18 Aug 1906. Decommissioned 3 May 1910,
recommissioned 7 Oct 1911. Rreserve training 1912-1913, to sub
tender 1916. Designated CA 17 July 1920. Decommissioned
3 March 1922, stricken 20 March 1930, sold 13 Aug 1930.
C-21 Milwaukee
Built by Union. Laid down 30 July 1902, launched 10 Sept 1904,
commissioned 10 Dec 1906. Decommissioned 3 May 1910,
recommissioned 17 June 1913. Stranded off Eureka, CA 13 Jan 1917
during salvage operations for submarine H-3. Attempt
to salvage cruiser failed, decommissioned 6 March 1917, hulk
wrecked 18 Nov 1917, stricken 23 June 1919, sold 5 Aug 1919.
C-22/CA 19 Charleston
Built by Newport News. Laid down 30 Jan 1902, launched 23 Jan 1904,
commissioned 17 Oct 1905. Decomissioned 8 Oct 1910, receiving ship
1912-1916, sub tender 1916-1917. Recommissioned 6 April 1917.
Designated CA 17 July 1920. Decommissioned 4 Dec 1923, stricken
25 Nov 1929, sold 6 March 1930.
The US Cruiser List
Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
Copyright © 1995-2003 by Andrew Toppan
Reproduction, reuse or distribution without permission is prohibited