USS Chattanooga (CL-18)
 USS Chattanooga (C-16), USN photograph, unknown date.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Chattanooga |
| Namesake | City of Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Ordered | 3 March 1899 |
| Awarded | 14 December 1899 |
| Builder | Crescent Shipyard, Elizabethport, New Jersey |
| Cost | $1,039,966 (contract price of hull and machinery) |
| Laid down | 29 March 1900 |
| Launched | 7 March 1903 |
| Sponsored by | Miss L. N. Chambliss |
| Acquired | 3 March 1905 |
| Commissioned | 11 October 1904 |
| Decommissioned | 19 July 1921 |
| Reclassified |
|
| Stricken | 13 December 1929 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 8 March 1930 |
| General characteristics (as built)[1][2] | |
| Class and type | Denver-class protected cruiser |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 44 ft (13 m) |
| Draft | 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m) (mean) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
| Speed | |
| Complement | 31 officers 261 enlisted men |
| Armament | |
| Armor | |
| General characteristics (1921)[2][3] | |
| Armament |
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USS Chattanooga (C-16/PG-30/CL-18) was a Denver-class protected cruiser in the United States Navy during World War I. She was the second Navy ship named for the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Construction
Chattanooga was one of six Denver-class protected cruisers ordered for the US Navy on 14 December 1899.[4] She was laid down at the Crescent Shipyard of Elizabethport, New Jersey on 29 March 1900,[5] and launched on 7 March 1903.[6] Construction was much slower than contracted (the contracted completion date was 14 June 1902), and when the shipbuilding trust that owned the Crescent Shipyard, the US Government cancelled the contract and took possession of the part-completed ship, which was moved to the New York Navy Yard for finishing in October 1903.[5]
Chattanooga was commissioned on 11 October 1904.[6] After sea trials in January 1905, during which she reached a speed of 16.65 knots (30.84 km/h; 19.16 mph) in a four-hour trial,[7] she reported to the Atlantic Fleet.[6]
Service history
Pre-war service
Chattanooga's first cruise following shakedown was to the Caribbean, from which she returned to New York City to join the squadron which cleared for Cherbourg, France 18 June 1905. At Cherbourg, USS Brooklyn (CA-3) received on board the body of John Paul Jones, which the squadron brought home to the United States Naval Academy, arriving at Annapolis 23 July. Through the remainder of the year, Chattanooga aided in training men of the Maine and Massachusetts Naval Militia, and cruised briefly in the Caribbean. On 28 December she cleared San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the Suez Canal and duty in the Pacific. Between 29 April 1906, when she arrived at Cavite, P.I., and 10 August 1910, when she reported at Puget Sound Navy Yard for inactivation, Chattanooga joined the Asiatic Fleet in its winter operations in the Philippines and summer cruises to China, aiding in representing America's strength and interest in the Orient. Chattanooga was decommissioned at Puget Sound Navy Yard 17 September 1910.[6]
World War I
Chattanooga was placed in reserve commission 31 August 1912, remaining at Puget Sound, and in full commission 21 April 1914, for duty in Mexican waters. Through 1915 and 1916, she cruised to protect American interests from the disorder of the Mexican Revolution, and this duty continued after America's entrance into World War I until May 1917. Chattanooga then sailed through the Panama Canal for several months of patrol duties in the Caribbean, searching for German raiders. From July 1917, she escorted convoys from the Atlantic coast to rendezvous with other escorts in the approaches to French ports. This rugged duty across the stormy mid-Atlantic was broken only by two escort missions to Nova Scotia.[6]
Chattanooga took part in the Victory Fleet Review taken by the Secretary of the Navy in New York harbor 26 December 1918. After an overhaul, the cruiser carried a party of Liberian officials to Monrovia, then turned north for Plymouth, England, which she reached 7 May. As flagship of U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters, Chattanooga sailed among English and French ports until June, though on 1st April, 1919, she, along with USS Tallahassee, took part in the closure of the United States Navy facilities on White's Island and Agar's Island in the British Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, 640 miles off North Carolina.[8] On 29 June, she served as leading honor escort guarding President Woodrow Wilson's departure from France in George Washington, then sailed on to call at German and Belgian ports before arriving in the Mediterranean for service as flagship for U.S. Naval Forces, Turkish Waters. Cruising primarily in the Black Sea, she also served in the Adriatic in connection with the disposal of ships of the former Austro-Hungarian Navy. From January through May 1921, she conducted regular patrols with the cruiser squadron assigned to European waters, and on 1 June, returned to the United States. She was decommissioned at Boston 19 July 1921, and laid up at Portsmouth Navy Yard until sold 8 March 1930.[6]
Chattanooga's bell was at a now-closed American Legion post in Shelbyville Tennessee, in late 2015 was at the National Medal of Honor Museum in the Northgate Mall, and soon will be incorporated into a memorial to the victims of the attack on the recruiting station at Chattanooga, Tennessee.[9]
References
- ^ "Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels". US Naval Department. 1 January 1914. pp. 40–47. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ a b Toppan, Andrew (8 September 1996). "US Cruisers List: Protected Cruisers and Peace Cruisers". Hazegray.org. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ "Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels". US Naval Department. 1 July 1921. pp. 60–67. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ White Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers February 1905, p. 104.
- ^ a b White Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers February 1905, p. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f "Chattanooga II (C-16)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ White Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers February 1905, pp. 115–121.
- ^ "CLOSING OF THE U.S. NAVAL BASE: Fitting Ceremony at Whites Island When the Allied Forces Depart". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 3 April 1919.
On Tuesday morning, April 1st, an interesting and unique ceremony took place in Hamilton Harbour when the United States nava1 base on White's Island was closed and the American naval establishment which had occupied the island since 1st April, 1918, was withdrawn.
At 11 a.m. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by his staff, embarked from the Club Steps on the W. D. S. L. "Lord Kitchener" and proceeded to the Island where he was welcomed by Captain R. H. Jackson, U. S. N., Senior Officer present, and his staff; Vice-Admiral Morgan Singer and staff having previously landed on the Island. The whole party then proceeded to the flagstaff where a guard of honour of American bluejackets was drawn up. His Excellency the Governor, having inspected the guard, thanked Captain Jackson for the honour offered to him (the Governor) in mounting the guard on this occasion. Captain Jackson, addressing His Excellency, said:
"Your Excellency: I now hand over this Island and Agars Island which have been utilized by the American Navy in this Colony for the maintenance of its organization in the war which we have been privileged to wage side by side with the British nation
"We have received throughout our stay here the most cordial assistance and support at all times and in all our duties.
"When the history of this war comes to be written no feature of it will prove to be of more lasting significance than the close and effective cooperation between the British and American nations in the great fight now happily concluded for justice, humanity and peace."
The American flag was then lowered to the sound of the general salute, all present standing at the salute during the lowering of the colours.
His Excellency in reply said:
"Captain Jackson. I appreciate most heartily the kind words you have spoken. It has been a great pleasure to us to have you in our midst and I thank you for the unfailing courtesy and ready help which we in these Islands have invariably received from your great Navy.
"I recall with pleasure that it was my privilege on the 4th of July last to entertain a large contingent from the American Navy at Government House, a memorable occasion which will ever remain among my proudest recollections, an occasion which was a signal example of the close and abiding friendship between two great branches of the Anglo Saxon race - a friendship which we pray will last for ever, and which no enemy can withstand.
"I thank you warmly for the honour you have done me in mounting this guard on this occasion. You carry away with you the best wishes of all the inhabitants of these Islands and I wish you and all officers and men of the United States Navy Godspeed and good fortune where ever your duties may call you."
After the lowering of the flag His Excellency and staff, Vice-Admiral Morgan Singer and staff followed Captain Jackson on board the U. S. S. Tallahassee, which had been anchored in the harbour between the Club Steps and White's Island, and were piped "over the side" with the usual naval honours.
Cordial farewells were exchanged and upon the Governor leaving the ship a salute of 17 guns was fired.
Immediately upon the conclusion of the salute the Tallahassee weighed anchor and steamed out of the harbour. Captain Jackson later embarked on the U. S. S. Chattanooga, which after saluting the Vice-Admiral on this station with 15 guns, proceeded to sea, firing a salute of 21 guns as she passed the Ducking Stool, The land Saluting Battery near that point returned this salute with a similar number of guns.
It is the first time in Bermuda's history that a government of an alien nation has been granted authority to establish a base in this colony.
In order to meet various exigencies the establishment was opened shortly after the United States declared war on Germany. During its occupation, White's Island, Agar's Island, and other places have been under the control of the naval authorities, a number of naval units being stationed at each place.
The existence of this base has been a boon to Bermuda in several ways, and Bermudians generally will regret its closing down and the departure of Uncle Sam's naval forces from the Colony. - ^ Mark Kennedy, "Ship's Bell finds a home, a purpose", Chattanooga Times Free Press, 31 December 2015
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.- White, W. W. (February 1905). "The U.S.S. Chattanooga: General Description—Standardization and Official Trials". Journal of the American Society of Naval Engineers. Vol. XVII, no. 1. pp. 104–122.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Chattanooga (CL-18) at NavSource Naval History