US Cruisers List: Miscellanous Cruisers
Revised 18 July 1999
Version 1.11
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
URL: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/cruisers/
This list includes various US "cruiser type" ships not formally
designated/numbered as cruisers.
Type Desig. Notes
Unnumbered Cruisers (none) Various types
War Prizes (var.) Taken 1898 and 1946
Auxiliary Cruisers (none) Converted merchant ships
Gunboats PG Selected vessels only
Hunter-Killer Cruisers CLK Changed to DL
Unnumbered Cruisers
Displ: 3,189 tons normal
Dim: 283 x 42 x 17 ft
Prop: HC engines, 8 100 psi boilers, 3,500 hp, 1 shaft, 13 knots
Crew: 269
Arm: 2 8/30, 6 6/30, 2 6 lb, 2 4 lb, 2 1 lb, 2 47 mm, 2 37 mm, 2 Gatling
Armor: 1.5 inch deck, 2 inch barbettes, 2 inch CT
First "modern" US ships, obsolete upon completion.
(none) Atlanta
Built by Roach. Laid down 8 Nov 1883, launched 9 Oct 1884,
commissioned 19 July 1886. Decommmissioned 18 July 1893,
recommissioned 2 April 1894, refitted 1895, decommissioned 1895.
Recommissioned 15 Sept 1900 as barracks ship. Decommissioned
23 March 1912, stricken 24 April 1912, sold 10 June 1912.
(none)/IX 2 Boston
Built by Roach. Laid down 15 Nov 1883, launched 4 Dec 1884,
commissioned 2 May 1887. Decommissioned 4 Nov 1893, recommissioned
15 Nov 1895, decommissioned 15 Sept 1899. Recommissioned 11 Aug 1902,
refitted 1907, decommissioned 10 June 1907. Militia training
1911-1916, with 2 8/30, 2 6/30, 1 4/40. Conversion to hospital
ship cancelled, commissioned as receiving ship 18 June 1918.
Designated IX 17 July 1920, renamed Despatch 9 Aug 1940,
scuttled at sea 8 April 1946, stricken 17 April 1946.
Displ: 4,864 tons full load
Dim: 334 x 48 x 20 ft
Prop: COB engines, 14 100 psi boilers, 5,000 hp, 2 shafts, 14 knots
Crew: 300
Arm: 4 8/30, 8 6/30, 2 5/30, 2 6 lb, 2 1 lb, 4 47 mm, 2 Gatling
Armor: 1.5 inch deck, 3 inch CT
Obsolete upon completion.
(none)/CA 14/IX 5 Chicago
Built by Roach. Laid down 29 Dec 1883, launched 5 Dec 1885,
commissioned 17 April 1889. Decommissioned 1 May 1895,
refitted, re-engined, 14 5/40 replaced all guns but 8 inch,
displacement 5000 tons normal, recommissioned 1 Dec 1898.
Decommissioned 3 Dec 1903, recommissioned 15 Aug 1904,
decommissioned 27 Aug 1908. Briefly in service for training,
1909, then reserve training ship 1910-1917, with additional
8 5/40, 6 4/40. Commissioned as sub force flagship 6 April 1917,
armed with 4 5/50, 2 3 inch, designated CA 17 July 1920, redesignated
IX 5 1 July 1921. Decommissioned 30 Sept 1923. Barracks hulk,
renamed Alton 16 July 1928. Sold 15 May 1936, sank under tow
from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, 8 July 1936.
Vesuvius dynamite cruiser
Displ: 930 tons
Dim: 252 x 26 x 9 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 4 boilers, 3200 hp, 2 shafts, 21 knots
Crew: 70
Arm: 3 15" pneumatic guns, 3 3 pound
Armor: none
Very unusual cruiser, armed with "dynamite guns". The guns were built
into the hull on an angle. Aim was controlled by turning the ship and
changing the compressed air charge used to fire the guns. The
projectiles contained a mixture of nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose,
not true dynamite. Later used for experimental purposes.
(none)/IX Vesuvius
Built by Cramp. Laid down 9/1887, launched 23 April 1888,
commissioned 2 June 1890. Decommissioned for overhaul 25 April 1895,
recommissioned 12 Jan 1897. Served as a dispatch boat during the
Spanish American War, fired a few projectiles against shore targets.
Decommissioned 16 Sept 1898, converted to torpedo test vessel 1904.
Dynamite guns removed, fitted with 3 18 inch and 1 21 inch torpedo
tubes, recommissioned 21 June 1905. Decommissioned for overhaul
27 Nov 1907, recommissioned 14 Feb 1910. Redesignated IX
(no number) 17 July 1920. Decommissioned (and stricken?) 21 Oct 1921,
sold 19 April 1922, scrapped.
Displ: 2,255 tons
Dim: 259 x 35 x 19.5 ft
Prop: HC engines, 4 boilers, 2200 hp, 2 shafts, 16 knots
Crew: 167
Arm: 6 4 inch, 6 3 pound, 2 1 pound, 1 MG
Armor: none
A small cruiser purchased for the Spanish-American War,
used as a gunboat.
(none)/PG 35/IX 35 Topeka (ex Diogenes)
Built by Howaldt 1881 for Peru, not delivered, sold to Thames Iron
Works. Sold to Japan 1895, not delivered. Purchased from Thames
Iron Works 2 April 1898, commissioned that day. Converted at New
York Navy. Served as gunboat, decommissioned at Boston 15 Feb
1899. Recommissioned for training 15 Aug 1900, overhauled at
Norfolk 5 Sept 1902-10 Dec 1902, then used as a patrol ship and
a test & trials ship. Decommissioned 7 Sept 1905, station ship
at Portsmouth, prison ship. Recommissioned 14 June 1916.
Receiving ship at New York until decommissioned 14 Sept 1916,
towed back to Portsmouth for use as a training ship. Recommissioned
24 March 1919, decommissioned at Charleston 21 Nov 1919. To PG
17 July 1920, to IX 1 July 1921. Offered for sale 1 July 1922,
not sold. Recommissioned 2 July 1923 as training ship. Decommissioned
2 Dec 1929, stricken 2 Jan 1930, sold 2 Jan 1930.
Displ: 3,437 tons normal
Dim: 354 x 43.5 x 17 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 7,500 hp, 20 knots
Crew: 307
Arm: 6 6/50, 4 4.7/50, 10 6 lb, 4 1 lb, 4 .30 cal, 4 18 inch TT
Armor: 1.25-3.5 inch deck, 4,5 inch gun protection, .75-4 inch CT
Brazilian ships acquired from the builder for the Spanish-
American War. 4.7 inch guns replaced with 5 inch guns in 1903;
6 inch guns replaced with 5 inch in 1907. Changed to 8 5 inch in
1913. Torpedo tubes removed 1903, two 5" removed, 1 3" added
during WWI.
(none)/PG 34/CL 22 New Orleans (ex Amazonas)
Built by Armstrong. Laid down 1895, launched 4 Dec 1896, acquired
1898, commissioned 18 March 1898. Decommissioned 6 Feb 1905,
recommissioned 15 Nov 1909, decommissioned 14 Feb 1912,
recommissioned 31 Dec 1913. Reserve training 1914, to PG
17 July 1920, to CL 8 Aug 1921. Decommissioned 16 Nov 1922,
stricken 13 Nov 1929, sold 11 Feb 1930.
(none)/PG 36/CL 23 Albany (ex Almirante Abreu)
Built by Armstrong. Laid down 1897, acquired 1898, laucnched
14 Jan 1899, commissioned 29 May 1900. Decommissioned 16 June 1904,
recommissioned 10 June 1907, decommissioned December 1914.
Reserve training June 1915 to 12 May 1916, recommissioned
12 May 1916, to PG 7 July 1920, to CL 8 Aug 1921. Decommissioned
10 Oct 1922, stricken 13 Nov 1929, sold 11 Feb 1930.
War Prizes
Reina Mercedes 3rd class cruiser
Displ: 3,042 tons
Dim: 292 x 43 x 20 ft
Prop: compound engines, 1 shaft, 4400 hp, 17 knots
Crew: 370
Arm: 6 6.4 inch. 8 6 pound, 6 3 pound, 5 14 inch TT
Armor: none
Spanish cruiser captured during the Spanish American War.
Information listed above is as-built, not as used by USN.
(none)/IX 25 Reina Mercedes
Built by Cartagena. Launched 9 Sept 1887. Served as station
ship and harbor defense ship at Santiago, Cuba. Heavily damaged by
US forces, scuttled in the channel 3 July 1898, raised 1 March
1899. Temporary repairs at Norfolk Navy, permanent repairs
at Porstmouth Navy. Converted to a recieving ship from 10 Dec 1902,
served at Newport, then Annapolis after overhaul in 1912. Refitted
1916, to IX 17 July 1920, overhauled 1927, 1932, 1939, 1951. Needed
overhaul 1957, stricken 6 Sept 1957, officially decommissioned 6 Nov
1957, scrapped.
Prinz Eugen heavy cruiser
Displ: 19,042 tons full load
Dim: 654 x 72 x 26 ft
Prop: Steam turbines, 12 boilers, 3 shafts, 132,000 hp, 32 knots
Crew: 1,600
Arm: 4 dual 8 inch, 6 dual 4.1 inch, 18 40 mm, 6 dual 37 mm, 22 dual 20 mm,
12 21 inch TT
Armor: 3 inch belt, 1 inch deck.
German heavy cruiser taken over after WWII.
IX 300 Prinz Eugen
Built by Germania Werft, Kiel. Laid down 1936, launched 22 Aug 1938,
commissioned 1 Aug 1940. Mined 23 April 1941. Helped sink Hood,
stern destroyed by torpedo after the Channel Dash. Repaired at Kiel
through 10/42, used as training and experimental ship. To the RN
5/45, then to USN the same month, departed Germany for Boston
13 Jan 1946. Sent to Bikini Atoll for atom bomb tests, towed to
Kwajalein after tests, sank 22 Dec 1947.
Sakawa light cruiser
Displ: 8,534 tons full load
Dim: 571 x 50 x 18.5 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 6 boilers, 4 shafts, 100,000 hp, 35 knots
Crew: 730
Arm: 3 dual 6/50, 2 dual 3/65 AA, 32 25 mm, 8 24 inch TT
Armor: 2 inch belt, .7 inch deck, 1 inch turrets
Japanese cruiser taken over after WWII.
(none) Sakawa
Built by Sasebo. Laid down 21 Nov 1942, launched 9 April 1944,
completed 31 Nov 1944, never commissioned. Taken over at
the end of the war, towed to Bikini Atoll, sunk in atom
bomb tests 2 July 1946.
Auxiliary Cruisers
St. Louis class auxiliary cruisers
Displ: 14,910 tons
Dim: 554 x 63 x 30 ft
Prop: VQE engines, 2 shafts, 20,000 hp, 22 knots
Crew: 377
Arm: 4 5 inch, 8 6 pound (St. Paul: 6 5 inch)
Armor: none
Trans-Atlantic liners chartered for military service in the
Spanish American War.
(none)/SP-1644 St. Louis (ex merchant St. Louis)
Built by Cramp. Launched 12 Nov 1894, completed 5/1895. Chartered at
Southampton early April 1898, converted at New York late April 1898.
Equipped with special drags to cut undersea cables. Cut several
cables during the war, later served as prisoner transport.
Reconversion to merchant use started 24 Aug 1898, decommissioned
and returned 2 Sept 1898. Armed with 3 6 inch guns 17 March 1917,
rammed a U-Boat 30 May 1917. Taken into naval service, renamed
Lousville, commissioned as troop transport (SP-1644) 23 April 1917.
Decommissioned 9 Sept 1919, returned to owners 11 Sept 1919, renamed
St. Louis. Destroyed by fire while being reconverted to civilian
use, early Jan. 1920. Scuttled at the pier, later raised, hulk
resold several times, sold 1925 and towed to Genoa, Italy for scrap.
(none)/SP-1643 St. Paul
Built by Cramp. Launched 10 April 1895, completed 1895. Chartered
early April 1898, commissioned 20 April 1898. Engaged several enemy
ships, then operated as transport. Reconveresion started 22 Aug 1898,
decommissioned and returned 2 Sept 1898. Rammed and sank cruiser
HMS Gladiator 25 April 1908. Taken into naval service 27 Oct 1917,
transferred to the Navy April 1918, designated SP-1643. Capsized while
being towed from drydock 28 April 1918, righted 11 Sept 1918,
transferred to 3rd Naval District 17 Oct 1918. Sent to New York Navy
for repairs 18 Oct 1918, cancelled, temporarily commissioned
14 Jan 1919. Reconverted to civilian use, returned 24 March 1919.
Scrapped in Germany 1923.
Yale class auxiliary cruisers
Displ: 13,000 tons
Dim: 527.5 x 63 x 23 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 2 shafts, 20,600 hp, 21.8 knots
Crew: 436
Arm: 8 5/40, 4 6 pound
Armor: none
Passenger ships chartered for Spanish American War service.
(none) Yale (ex merchant City of Paris, ex merchant Paris)
Built by Thompson, Glascow. Launched 10/88, completed 1889. Chartered
27 April 1898, renamed, commissioned 2 May 1898. Patrol duties during
the war. Decommissioned 23 Aug 1898, returned to owner 2 Sept 1998,
stricken 3 July 1899. Merchant City of Paris, then Philadelphia,
attempeted mutiny during first voyage (1920), laid up at Naples upon
completion of the trip, scrapped 1923.
(none) Harvard (ex merchant New York, City Of New York)
Built by Thompson, Glascow. Launched 15 March 1888, completed
19 July 1888. Renamed New York 1922. Commissioned
26 April 1898, decommissioned 2 Sept 1898. Refitted at Cramp 1901-1903,
new engines. US Navy service 24 May 1918 to 6 Oct 1919 as armed
transport Plattsburgh. Scrapped at Genoa 1923.
Displ: ~6,880 tons (Yosemite: 6179 tons)
Dim: 406 x 48 x 20-22 feet (Dixie, Yosemite: 391 feet)
Prop: VTE engines, 3800 hp, 14.5-16 knots
Crew: 181 to 297
Arm: see notes
Armor: none
Passenger liners purchased as auxiliary cruisers for the
Spanish American War. Varied in details.
(none)/AD 1 Dixie (ex merchant El Rio)
Built by Newport News. Launched 1893, completed 1893. Purchased
15 April 1898, commissioned 19 April 1989. Converted to auxiliary
cruiser at Newport News. Carried 10 6/30, 6 6 pound.
Decommissioned 7 March 1899. To War Dept. as transport 15 March
1899 to 15 July 1899. Recommissioned as training ship 15 Nov 1899,
decommissioned 21 July 1902. Recommissioned as transport 1 Oct
1903, decommissioned 23 Oct 1905. Again recommissioned as transport
2 June 1906, decommissioned 1 Nov 1907. Commissoned as destroyer
tender 2 Feb 1909, designated as AD 17 July 1920. Decommissioned
and stricken 30 June 1922, sold 25 Sept 1922.
(none)/AD 5 Prairie (ex merchant El Sol)
Built by Cramp. Launched 1890, purchased 6 April 1898,
commissioned 8 April 1898. Carried 10 6/30, 6 6 pound.
Served as a patrol ship, decommissioned 15 March 1899. Placed in
reserve commission for training 22 March 1899, decommissioned
18 Feb 1901. Recommissioned as training ship 9 Nov 1901,
decommissioned 14 June 1905. Recommissioned as transport 20 Sept
1906, then training ship, converted to destroyer tender 1917.
Designated AD 17 July 1920. Decommissioned and stricken
22 Nov 1922, sold 22 June 1923.
(none) Yankee
Built by Newport News. Launched 1892, purchased 6 April 1898,
commissioned 6 April 1898. Carried 10 5/40, 6 6 pound.
Served in blockade duty during the war, engaged several enemy
vessels, served as ammnition trasnport. Decommissioned 16 March 1899.
Recommissioned 1 May 1903, patrol and training duties, then served
to support US forces in Central America, decommissioned 25 Sept
1906. Recommissioned 15 June 1908 as a training ship, ran aground
23 Sept 1908, refloated 4 Dec 1908, capsized and sank under tow
4 Dec 1908, stricken 17 April 1912.
(none)/AD 8 Buffalo (ex Brazilian Nictheroy, ex merchant El Cid)
Built by Newport News. Launched 1892, purchased by Brazil and
renamed 1894. Original armament 20 rapid fire guns and one 15"
dynamite gun. Purchased 1898, commissioned 22 Sept 1898,
was in very poor condition and spent the entire war in overhaul.
Carried 2 5/40, 4 4/40, 6 6 pound. Training ship 1900-1906,
transport 1906-1917, to destroyer tender 1918. Designated AD
17 July 1920, barracks ship 1922-1927, stricken 27 May 1927,
sold 1927, merchant Sirius.
(none) Yosemite (ex merchant El Sud)
Built by Newport News. Launched 1982, purchased 6 April 1898,
commissioned 13 April 1898. Carried 10 5/40, 6 6 pound.
Station ship at Guam from 7 Aug 1899, driven ashore and then out
to sea by typhoon 13 Nov 1900, scuttled 15 Nov 1900.
Badger auxiliary cruiser
Displ: 4,800 tonss
Dim: 336 x 42 x 18.5 feet
Prop: VTE engines, 3200 ihp, 1 shaft, 16 knots
Crew: 235
Arm: 6 5/40, 6 3 pound
Armor: none
(none) Badger (ex merchant Yumuri)
Built by John Roach. Launched 1890, acquired 19 April 1898,
commissioned 25 April 1898. Transferred to the War Dept. as
transport Lawton 4/1900. Returned to USN 11/1902 as a
supply ship. Sold 1907, merchant Rose City, barge 1930.
Panther auxiliary cruiser
Displ: 4,260 tons
Dim: 324 x 40.5 x 18 ft
Prop: VTE engines, 3200 hp, 13 knots
Crew: 138
Arm: 6 5/40, 2 4/40, 6 3 pound
Armor: none
Passenger ship/auxiliary cruiser purchased for Spanish American
War service. Later became a destoyer tender.
(none)/AD 6 Panther (ex merchant Austin)
Built by Cramp. Launched 1889, purchased 12 April 1898,
commissioned 22 April 1898. Patrol duties during the war. To
reserve 20 Oct 1899, recommissioned 10 June 1902, training duties.
Some service as a station ship in Central America,
Decommissioned 21 Oct 1903, recommissioned 18 Nov 1907
as a repair ship, later destroyer tender, designated AD
17 July 1920. Decommissioned May 1922, stricken and sold
24 March 1923.
Resolute auxiliary cruiser
Displ: 4,175 tons
Dim: 310 x 40 x 18 ft
Prop: unknown, 16 knots
Crew: 87
Arm: 4 6 pound
Armor: none
Passenger liner acquired for Spanish American War service.
(none) Resolute (ex merchant Yorktown)
Built by Delaware River SB & Engine, Chester, PA. Launched
10 Feb 1894, purchased 21 April 1898, renamed, commissioned 11 May
1898. Used as patrol ship and prisoner transport, then troopship
and trials ship postwar. Decommissioned 15 Dec 1899, to the War
Dept. as a transport 22 Jan 1900, renamed Rawlins.
Merchant Powhatan 1902, then Cuba, then Seneca,
burned and sank 1926, raised 2 Sept 1928, scrapped.
Gunboats (selected ships)
Displ: 2,705 tons full load
Dim: 328.5 x 41.5 x ?? ft
Prop: Steam turbines, 2 330 psi boilers, 2 shafts, 6,200 hp, 20 knots
Crew: 231
Arm: 4 single 6/47, 4 quad 1.1 inch AA
Armor: 3.5 inch belt, 1.24-4 inch CT
Small cruisers, essentially updated versions of the old "Peace
Cruisers".
PG 50 Erie
Built by New York Navy. Laid down 17 Dec 1934, launched
29 Feb 1936, commissioned 8 July 1936. Torpedoed 12 Nov 1942,
towed to harbor for repairs, capsized and sank 5 Dec 1942,
salvaged and scuttled as sea 12/1952.
PG 51 Charleston
Built by Charleston Navy. Laid down 27 Oct 1934, launched
25 Feb 1936, commissioned 8 July 1936. Decommissioned 10 May 1946,
to Mass. Maritime Academy 25 March 1948, discarded 1957.
Hunter-Killer Cruisers
Norfolk class hunter-killer cruisers
Displ: 7,315 normal
Dim: 540 x 53 x 26 ft
Prop: Steam turbines, 4 1200 psi boilers, 2 shafts, 80,000 hp, 32.5 knots
Crew: 540
Arm: 4 Weapon Alpha, 4 dual 3/70, 8 dual 20 mm, 8 TT
Intended to provide long range, all weather ASW capability.
Similar to CLAA design. 2 dual 3/50 initially fitted, pending
availability of 3/70.
CLK 1/DL 1 Norfolk
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 1 Sept 1949, launched
29 Dec 1951, reclassified DL 1 9 Feb 1951, commissioned 4 March 1953.
Used as experimental ASW ship, Weapon Alphas removed, aft one
replaced by 1 ASROC launcher, unofficially designated EDL 1 while
in use as trial ship. Decommissioned 15 Jan 1970, stricken
1 Nov 1973, scrapped.
CLK 2 New Haven
Deferred 2 March 1949, cancelled 9 Feb 1951. Would have been
built by Philadelphia Navy.
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