USSWashington(ACR-11)
 USSWashington(ACR-11) offSeattle,Washington, with theOlympic Mountainsin the distance, 1908.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake |
|
| Ordered | 1 July 1902 |
| Awarded | 10 February 1903 |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding Corporation,Camden, New Jersey |
| Cost | $4,035,000 (contract price of hull and machinery) |
| Laid down | 23 September 1903 |
| Launched | 18 March 1905 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Helen Stewart Wilson |
| Commissioned | 7 August 1906 |
| Decommissioned | 28 June 1946 |
| Renamed | Seattle,9 November 1916 |
| Reclassified |
|
| Stricken | 19 July 1946 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold for scrap 3 December 1946 |
| General characteristics (as built)[1] | |
| Class and type | Tennessee-classarmored cruiser |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 72 ft10+1⁄2in (22.212 m) |
| Draft | 25 ft (7.6 m) (mean) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | |
| Complement | 83 officers 804 enlisted 64Marines |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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| General characteristics (1921)[2] | |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics (1935)[3] | |
| Armament |
|
The seventhUSSWashington(ACR-11/CA-11/IX-39),also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 11", and later renamedSeattleand reclassifiedCA-11andIX-39,was aUnited States NavyTennessee-classarmored cruiser.She was laid down on 23 September 1903 atCamden, New Jersey,by theNew York Shipbuilding Corporation,launched on 18 March 1905, sponsored by MissHelen Stewart Wilson,daughter ofUnited States SenatorJohn L. WilsonofWashingtonstate, and commissioned at thePhiladelphia Navy Yardon 7 August 1906,CaptainJames D. Adamsin command.[4]
Pre-World War I
[edit]Washingtonwas fitted out there until 1 November when she got underway forHampton Roads,whence she departed a week later as an escort forLouisianawhich was then carrying PresidentTheodore RoosevelttoPanamafor an inspection of progress of work constructing thePanama Canal.During that voyage, the armored cruiser touched at Hampton Roads andPiney Point, Maryland;Colón, Panama;Chiriquí Lagoon;andMona Passagebefore she returned toNewport Newson 26 November. She headed back toward theDelaware Capeson 8 December, arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on the 11th, and remained there undergoing repairs into the spring of 1907.[4]
WashingtondepartedLeague Islandon 11 April and arrived at Hampton Roads the next day. She remained there into May participating in festivities of theJamestown Expositionwhich commemorated the founding ofJamestown, Virginia,in 1607. She returned northward soon thereafter, spending most of May undergoing docking and tests at theNew York Navy Yard.She then shook down offTompkinsville, New York(Staten Island), from 28 May to 5 June before she returned to Hampton Roads for further observances at the Jamestown Exposition.[4]
Washingtondeparted Hampton Roads on 11 June and proceeded viaBradford, Rhode Island,to Newport where she joinedTennesseebefore heading across the Atlantic on the 14th, bound for European waters. The sister ships visited the French ports ofRoyan,Île-d'Aix,La Pallice,andBrestfrom 23 June – 25 July, before returning to Tompkinsville in August to run speed trials.[4]
Following those trials and a period of yard work at the New York Navy Yard,Washingtonset sail for the Pacific Station, again in company withTennessee.The two armored cruisers subsequently called at Hampton Roads;Port of Spain,Trinidad;Rio de Janeiro,Brazil;Montevideo,Uruguay;Punta Arenas, Chile;Callao,Peru;Acapulco,Mexico;andPichilinque Bay,Mexico; before they joined thePacific Fleetin time to fire target practices with them atMagdalena Bay,Mexico, from late December 1907 – January 1908.Washingtonsubsequently operated both in company with the Fleet and on independent tactical exercises out of Magdalena Bay into March, operating also offSanta Barbara,San Francisco,andSan Diego,as well asSan Pedro, California.Other ports visited by the armored cruiser into the summer of 1908 includedRedondo Beach,Venice,Monterey,andAngel IslandinCalifornia;andPort Townsend,Port Angeles,Seattle,Tacoma,andBremertonin Washington. She was among the units of the Fleet reviewed by theSecretary of the Navyat San Francisco between 6 and 17 May.[4]
Washingtonoperated off the west coast into 1909 before she made preparations to sail in company with theArmored Cruiser Squadronto "show the flag" in theFar East.She accordingly got underway from San Francisco on 5 September 1909 and called, in succession, atHonolulu,Hawaii;from 10–20 September; andNares Harbor,Admiralty Islands,where she coaled ship from 17–25 October, before she arrived atManila,Philippine Islands,on 30 October.[4]
After visitingWoosung(nearShanghai), China, from 14–30 December 1909,Washingtonand her sisters called atYokohama,Japan, from 3–20 January 1910, and Honolulu from 31 January – 8 February, before returning to the west coast.Washingtonmade port back at San Francisco viaPort Discovery, Washingtonand Bremerton on 3 March. She then returned to Bremerton where she commenced a period of repairs on 21 March.[4]
Washingtonnext operated off the west coast into the autumn of 1910, holding target practices offSanta Cruz, California,before returning to San Francisco. She coaled ship atTiburon, California,on 7–8 August before shifting to San Francisco to prepare for her next deployment. On 14 August, she departed San Francisco, bound for South America on the first leg of her voyage to the east coast to join theAtlantic Fleet.With the ships of the 1st Division of the Pacific Fleet,WashingtonvisitedValparaíso,Chile,and took part in the observances of theChilean Centennial Celebrationfrom 10–23 September. She then resumed her voyage around South America, touching atTalcahauanoand Punta Arenas, Chile; Rio de Janeiro;Carlisle Bay,Barbados;andSt. Thomas,Danish West Indies;before she arrived atCulebra, Puerto Ricoon 2 November to prepare for target practice with the Fleet.[4]
Washington's next area of operations was the Tidewater area of Virginia, especially Hampton Roads andLynnhaven Bay,before the armored cruiser underwent repairs at theNorfolk Navy Yardfrom 20 December 1910 – 2 January 1911. The armored cruiser subsequently underwent another period of repairs at thePortsmouth Navy Yardbefore heading south with stores and material for delivery to the 5th Division of the Fleet inCubanwaters. She arrived atGuantánamo Bayon 20 March and remained there into the summer, conducting trials and exercises with the 5th Division. She then returned northward and stopped at Hampton Roads from 21–24 June before pushing on to New York, where she arrived on the 25th.[4]
The armored cruiser operated off the northeastern seaboard through the summer, holding exercises and maneuvers in areas ranging fromCape Cod BaytoHampton Roads.During that time, she cruised briefly with theNaval Militiafrom 19–21 July; acted as a reference ship for torpedo practice off Sandwich Island,Cape Cod, Massachusetts,on 2 August; witnessed theDelawareas that ship fired at the target hulkSan Marcos(formerUSSTexas) on 27–28 August, and then conducted battle practice with the Fleet off the southern drill grounds. In early November,Washingtonwas among the ships of the Fleet reviewed by PresidentWilliam Howard Taft.[4]
The cruiser then participated in a search problem out of Newport, R.I. from 9–18 November before she sailed for the West Indies in company withNorth Carolina,arriving atSanto Domingo,Dominican Republic,on 26 November.Washingtonsubsequently returned home to Hampton Roads in company with her sister ship and went into drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard three days before Christmas of 1911.[4]
After returning to the Fleet and participating in maneuvers in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in late January and early February 1912,Washingtonsteamed back to the Norfolk Navy Yard where, between 13 and 19 February, she underwent special preparations to embark theSecretary of Stateand his party. The armored cruiser then shifted toKey Westwhere she embarked the Secretary on 23 February. In the ensuing weeks,WashingtoncarriedPhilander C. Knoxand his guests to such ports as Colón, Panama;Port Limón,Costa Rica;Puerto Barrios,Guatemala;La Guaira,Venezuela;Santo Domingo; St. Thomas;Puerto Cabello,Venezuela; San Juan;Port-au-Prince;Guantánamo Bay;Kingston, Jamaica;andHavana,before disembarking her distinguished guests atPiney Point, Maryland,on 16 April.[4]
The high point of the spring of 1912 forWashingtonwas her service as temporaryflagshipfor the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, while she was at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 19 April – 3 May. The warship subsequently paused at New York from 9–12 May and at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for an inspection by theBoard of Inspection and Surveyfor ships before she conducted maneuvers out ofProvincetownand Newport and then receivedRear AdmiralHugo Osterhaus,the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, aboard on 26 May. After shifting to Hampton Roads,Washingtonembarked a detachment of additional Marines on 27 May, took on stores; and set out that day for Key West. There, she awaited further orders from 30 May – 10 June, while President Taft concentrated a strong naval force there to prepare for possible action which might be required by internal problems in Cuba.[4]
In the late spring and early summer, a rebellion on that Caribbean island occasioned a show of force by the United States.Washingtonaccordingly departed Key West on 10 June and arrived at Havana later that day. She remained there on "duty in connection with the Cuban rebellion" until 1 July, when she shifted to Guantánamo. The rebellion on the island was put down by the Cuban Government, resulting in the withdrawal of the American naval and marine representation there. Accordingly,Washingtonsailed to Hampton Roads, where she discharged her marines and equipment and went into "first reserve" at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 9 July.[4]
Washingtonremained inactive until 8 October, when she sailed for New York to participate in theNaval Reviewheld there from 10–15 October and then resumed her reserve status at Portsmouth on 17 October. Shifted subsequently from Portsmouth to the New York Navy Yard, viaPresident Roads,Massachusetts, and Tompkinsville, Staten Island,Washingtonwas assigned duty asreceiving shipat the navy yard on 20 July.[4]
The armored cruiser was placed in commission again on 23 April 1914, CaptainEdward W. Eberlein command. Later that spring, the armored cruiser took aboard drafts of men from Norfolk andPort Royal, South Carolinaon 30 April and 2 May; touched at Key West, and proceeded to Santo Domingo.[4]
Once again there was unrest in the Dominican Republic. A revolution in the northern province of Santiago, against the rule of Provisional PresidentJosé Bordas Valdez,had been quelled; but one in the province ofPuerto Plata,near the capital of Santo Domingo itself, continued unchecked and was marked by severe fighting, fighting so severe that "marked apprehension" existed inWashington.[4]
On 1 May,Petrelhad been ordered to Dominican waters, but a further show of force seemed to be in order. Accordingly,Washingtonwas chosen to "show the flag" in those troubled waters. She departed Key West on 4 May and arrived at the beleaguered city of Puerto Plata on 6 May to protect American interests, joining thePetrel.Six days later, Captain Eberle invited representatives of both warring parties – the insurgents and the government – out to his ship, in an attempt to persuade both sides to come to an amicable settlement.[4]
Unfortunately, the attempt failed, and the fighting continued. The insurgents were aided by a recent large consignment of guns and ammunition smuggled across theHaitianborder that had given them new blood. The revolutionaries soon recaptured the key city ofLa Vegaand were successfully holding Puerto Plata. Government forces, laying siege to that port and shelling the insurgents, clearly endangered the lives of the neutral citizens still living in the city. Captain Eberle objected to the bombardment and warned President Valdés repeatedly.[4]
Washingtondeparted Puerto Plata on 6 June with the conflict between the insurgents and the government of President Valdes still unresolved. Her place had been taken byMachias.Washingtoncoaled ship and took on stores at Guantánamo Bay from 7–10 June before she sailed forVeracruz,Mexico. She then remained in Mexican waters from 14–24 June before she shifted to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, to protect American interests there during an outbreak of violence that summer.[4]
Washingtonremained atCap-Haïtieninto July. In the meantime, the situation in the Dominican Republic had worsened when government shellings of rebel positions in Puerto Plata resulted in an inevitable "incident". On 26 June, a stray shell killed an English woman in Puerto Plata causing the gunboatMachiasto shift to a berth in the inner harbor and shell one of President Valdes' batteries, silencing it with a few well placed shots. During early July,Machiasagain fired her guns in anger when stray shots hit the ship.[4]
In view of those developments,Washingtonreturned to Puerto Plata on 9 July and remained there into the autumn, keeping a vigil to protect American lives and property and standing by to land her landing force if the situation required it. That August, Captain Eberle's attempts to bring about a conference finally bore fruit. The United States government sent a commission consisting ofJohn Franklin Fort,the former governor ofNew Jersey,James M. Sullivan,the American Minister to Santo Domingo; and Charles Smith, a New Hampshire lawyer, to mediate a peace in the Dominican Republic.[4]
Both sides ultimately accepted the American suggestions which provided for the establishment of a constitutional government and the institution of elections under United States "observation."[4]
Washingtonleft Santo Domingo on 20 November; but, later that month, continued high feelings over the closely contested election resulted in further unrest – unrest met by the dispatch of additional Marines to Santo Domingo. ForWashington,however, her part in the Dominican intervention of 1914 was over. She sailed for home and arrived at Philadelphia on 24 November and became flagship of the Cruiser Squadron.[4]
Following an overhaul at the Portsmouth Navy Yard from 12 December 1914 – 11 January 1915,Washingtonsailed via President Roads, Massachusetts (where she took on ammunition on 11 January), for Hampton Roads, arriving there on 14 January. After a five-day visit, during which she took on stores and provisions and an expeditionary force of Marines,Washingtonsailed for the Caribbean once more.[4]
Two revolutions had rocked Haiti in 1914; a third, in January 1915, led by GeneralVilbrun Guillaume Sam,had resulted only in further unrest for that troubled nation.Washingtonarrived at Cap-Haïtien on 23 January, a week after General Sam's troops had invested it. The armored cruiser, flying the flag of Rear AdmiralWilliam B. Capertonand commanded by CaptainEdward L. Beach, Sr.,the father of the futurenaval officerwho would win fame as a famous submariner and author, stayed in port there until the 26th investigating "political conditions" before she shifted to the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on 27 January. There, she again observed local political conditions in the wake of General Sam's takeover of the government before sailing, via Guantánamo, for Mexican waters.[4]
Washingtonconducted sub-caliber practices, observed political conditions, and conducted torpedo practices off the ports ofTampico,Tuxpan,Progreso,and Veracruz into the summer. Receiving provisions and stores from the supply shipCelticoff Progreso on 26–27 June, the armored cruiser sailed for Guantánamo where she coaled and took on water on 30 June. She sailed the same day for Cap-Haïtien, as all reports from the American minister there indicated that yet another crisis was brewing.[4]
WhileWashingtonawaited further developments at Cap-Haïtien, events in Port-au-Prince deteriorated, moving Americanchargé d'affairesDavis to send a telegram on 27 July to the Secretary of State,Robert Lansing,reporting the troubled conditions. He reported that President Sam and some of his men had been surrounded in the presidential palace and that the presence of American war vessels was desirable.[4]
In accordance with that message, the Navy dispatchedWashingtonto that port. Meanwhile, Sam took refuge in the French legation where he hoped that diplomatic immunity would prevail. The mobs of angry Haitians, however, were not concerned with such international niceties; they invaded the legation at 10:30 on 28 July 1915, forcibly removed former President Sam, killed and dismembered him, and paraded portions of his body on poles around the city.[4]
Washingtonarrived at Port-au-Prince that day. Upon reviewing the situation, Admiral Caperton acted quickly. He ordered marines and a landing force ashore from his flagship to protect not only American interests but those of other foreign nations as well.Washingtonremained at Port-au-Prince into the winter. During that time, the United States effectively ran Haiti. On 12 August,Philippe Sudré Dartiguenavewas elected president; and his government was recognized by the United States on 17 September.[4]
Ending that lengthy in-port period,Washingtondeparted Port-au-Prince on 31 January 1916 and arrived at Guantánamo the following day. There, she transferred passengers and stores to other ships of the Fleet and later transferred a company of Marines to Norfolk soon after her arrival in Hampton Roads on 5 February. The armored cruiser steamed north, via New York and Boston; reachedPortsmouth, New Hampshireon 29 February; and began an overhaul in the navy yard there which lasted until the end of March. Then, on 31 March, she was placed in reserve.[4]
The ship was renamedSeattleon 9 November 1916—in order that her original name might be used for the newColorado-classbattleshipUSSWashington(BB-47)---but retained her classification as Armored Cruiser No. 11. She was simultaneously taken out of reserve and recommissioned for duty as flagship of the Destroyer Force.[4]
World War I
[edit]Seattle's peacetime duties as flagship for the Destroyer Force were short. On 6 April 1917, the United States, after attempting to remain neutral despite repeated incidents on the high seas, finally entered World War I.[4]
Seattlearrived at New York on 3 June to be fitted out at the New York Navy Yard for war service. She sailed on 14 June as anescortfor the first Americanconvoyto European waters and as flagship forRear AdmiralAlbert Gleaves.At 22:15 on 22 June, she encountered her first enemysubmarinesat48°00′N25°50′W/ 48.000°N 25.833°W.[4]
Shortly before the convoy was attacked,Seattle's helm jammed; and she sheered out of formation sharply, sounding her whistle to warn the other vessels. A few minutes later, the ship was brought back on course. Soon lookouts noted a white streak in the water 50 yd (46 m) ahead of the vessel, crossing from starboard to port at right angles toSeattle's course. Admiral Gleaves, asleep in thecharthouseat the time, awoke and was on the bridge in time to see the armored cruiser's gun crews manning their weapons and the transportDe Kalbopening fire on the U-boat.[4]
Subsequently, the destroyerWilkesattacked an enemy submersible but failed to sink the German submarine. Later information indicated that the enemy, probably aware of the approach of the first American expeditionary forces, had dispatched a pair of submarines to lie in wait for it. The attack, conducted under "ideal" conditions, was, fortunately for the Americans, unsuccessful. Admiral Gleaves, in his report to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, on 12 July, reported unequivocally: "their [the enemy's] failure to score hits was probably due to the attack being precipitated by the fortuitous circumstances of theSeattle's helm jamming and the sounding of her whistle, leading the enemy to suppose he had been discovered. "[4]
Seattleoperated on comparatively uneventful escort duties for the remainder of World War I, completing her ninth round-trip voyage at New York on 27 October 1918.[4]
Inter-war period
[edit]After the armistice of 11 November 1918,Seattle— like many other ships – was fitted with extra accommodations to enable her to function as a transport, and she brought backdoughboysfrom France until 5 July 1919. Later, after all of her special troop fittings had been removed,Seattlesailed for the west coast to join the Pacific Fleet.[4]
Reviewed by PresidentWoodrow Wilsonon 12 September at her namesake city – Seattle – the armored cruiser shifted to thePuget Sound Navy Yardwhere she was placed in "reduced commission". While in that inactive status,Seattlewas reclassified —CA-11— on 17 July 1920.[4]
Placed in full commission again on 1 March 1923, Captain GeorgeL. P. Stonein command,Seattlebecame the flagship for the Commander in Chief,United States Fleet.In that role, over the next four years, she wore the four-starred flags of a succession of officers:AdmiralsHilary P. Jones,Robert Coontz,Samuel S. Robison(who was embarked in the ship at the time of the Australian cruise of 1925), andCharles F. Hughes.During that time, the armored cruiser operated from Seattle to Hawaii and from Panama to Australia.[4]
Subsequently returning to the Atlantic in June 1927,Seattlepassed in review before PresidentCalvin Coolidgeon 3 June. After a cruise along the east coast, the ship arrived at New York on 29 August to assume duties as the receiving ship at that port. On 1 July 1931, the ship's classification was changed to "unclassified."[4]
Asreceiving ship,Seattleserved as a floating barracks – a "clearance house for personnel" — at New York into the 1940s. Ships and stations transferred men to her for attending various schools in the3rd Naval District;she provided men for tugs and other district craft, as well as naval escorts for patriotic functions (parades and funerals, etc.) and, on board her, crews for ships preparing to go into commission were assembled. Among those ships was thelight cruiserHonolulu.[4]
On 17 February 1941, the erstwhile armored cruiser was again reclassified, this time asIX-39and served asreceiving shipfor the duration ofWorld War II.She was ultimately placed out of commission at New York on 28 June 1946 and was struck from theNavy Liston 19 July of the same year. Sold on 3 December toHugo Neuof New York City, the former flagship of the United States Fleet and receiving ship at New York was subsequently scrapped.[4]
Awards
[edit]- Mexican Service Medal
- Haitian Campaign Medal
- World War I Victory Medalwith "ESCORT" clasp
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
References
[edit]- ^"Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels".US Naval Department. 1 January 1914. pp. 24–31.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels, 1921-".US Naval Department. 1 July 1921. p. 50.Retrieved20 September2015.
- ^"Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels".US Naval Department. 1 July 1935. p. 231.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaq"Washington".Naval History and Heritage Command. 8 June 2015.Retrieved12 November2015.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.
Bibliography
[edit]- Alden, John D.American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1989.ISBN0-87021-248-6
- Friedman, Norman.U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1984.ISBN0-87021-718-6
- Musicant, Ivan.U.S. Armored Cruisers: A Design and Operational History.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985.ISBN0-87021-714-3
- Taylor, Michael J.H. (1990).Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I.Studio.ISBN1-85170-378-0.
- Sieche, Erwin F. (1990). "Austria-Hungary's Last Visit to the USA".Warship International.XXVII(2): 142–164.ISSN0043-0374.
External links
[edit]
- Photo galleryof USS 'Washington'(ACR-11) at NavSource Naval History
- USS Washingtonfrom theLibrary of CongressatFlickr Commons