These ships were originally armed with six 6-inch (152 mm)/50 caliberrapid fire (RF) guns and four 4.7-inch (119 mm)/50 caliber RF guns.[4] These were British-made export-model guns built by Elswick Ordnance Company, a subsidiary of Armstrong. One source states the 6-inch guns were Elswick Pattern DD and the 4.7-inch guns were Pattern AA.[5] These guns were unique in the US Navy, and they were designated as "6"/50 caliber Mark 5 Armstrong guns" and "4.7"/50 caliber Mark 3 Armstrong guns".[6][7] The 6-inch guns were arranged with one each fore and aft, and two each fore and aft in sponsons on the sides to allow ahead or astern fire. The 4.7-inch guns were on the broadside. Three 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes for Whitehead torpedoes were also equipped.[5] Additional weapons included ten 6-pounder 57 mm (2.2 in) Hotchkiss RF guns, eight 1-pounder 37 mm (1.5 in) RF guns, and four .30-cal. (7.62 mm) Maxim machine guns.
Armor
Harvey armor was used on these ships. The armored deck was 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) on the sloped sides and 1+1⁄4 in (32 mm) in the flat middle. The main guns had 4 in (102 mm) shields and the conning tower had 4 in (102 mm) armor.[5][8] One source also lists 4 in (102 mm) on the boiler room glacis.[5]
Engineering
The engineering plant included four double-ended coal-fired Scotch marine boilers[9] supplying steam to two inverted vertical triple expansion engines (made by Humphrys & Tennant in New Orleans, Hawthorn Leslie in Albany),[4] which produced 7,500 ihp (5,600 kW) for a design speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph), which was achieved on trials.[5][8] The normal coal allowance was 512 tons, but this could be increased to 747 tons.[5]
Refits
To reduce supply difficulties, during refits at the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines in 1903, both ships had their 4.7-inch guns replaced with standard 5-inch (127 mm)/50 caliber Mark 5 guns; the 6-inch guns were replaced with additional 5-inch guns in 1907.[10] Their torpedo tubes were also removed in the 1903 refits.[8] At least some of the guns from these ships were emplaced in the Grande Island/Subic Bay area 1907-1910 and operated by the United States Marine Corps until the Coast Artillery Corps' modern defenses centered on Fort Wint were completed.[6][7] During World War I the 5-inch guns were reduced from ten to eight and a 3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliberanti-aircraft gun was added.[2][4] At least one 6-inch gun Mark 5 was delivered to the Army during that war for potential service on M1917B field carriages on the Western Front; it is unclear if these weapons were shipped overseas.[11]
These ships did not initially have hull numbers.[1][4] On 17 July 1920 they were designated with the hull numbers PG-34 (gunboat) and PG-36. On 8 August 1921 they were redesignated with the hull numbers CL-22 (light cruiser) and CL-23.[4]
Legacy
Two 4.7-inch guns (one from each ship of the class) are preserved at the Kane County, Illinois Soldier and Sailor Monument at the former courthouse in Geneva, Illinois.[14]
Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. New York: Mayflower Books. ISBN0-8317-0302-4.
Williford, Glen (2016). American Breechloading Mobile Artillery, 1875-1953. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-5049-8.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Orleans class cruiser (1896).
Cruiser photo gallery index at NavSource Naval History
February 26, 2023
orleans, class, cruiser, 1896, this, article, about, class, protected, cruisers, acquired, 1890s, cruisers, built, 1930s, orleans, class, cruiser, orleans, class, protected, cruisers, united, states, navy, consisted, ships, which, were, building, brazilian, na. This article is about the class of protected cruisers acquired in the 1890s For the cruisers built in the 1930s see New Orleans class cruiser The New Orleans class of protected cruisers of the United States Navy consisted of two ships which were building for the Brazilian Navy at Elswick near Newcastle Upon Tyne England by Armstrong Whitworth The Brazilian Navy had ordered four Elswick cruisers but had already sold the first ship during construction to Chile as Ministro Zenteno One ship was delivered to Brazil named Almirante Barroso The third ship was fitting out as Amazonas and the fourth was on order as Almirante Abreu 3 USS New Orleans circa 1898Class overviewNameNew Orleans classBuildersArmstrong Whitworth Elswick EnglandOperators United States NavyPreceded byColumbia classSucceeded byDenver classBuilt1895 1900In commission1898 1922Completed2Scrapped2General characteristics as built TypeProtected cruiserDisplacement3 769 long tons 3 829 t Length354 ft 5 in 108 03 m Beam43 ft 9 in 13 34 m Draft18 ft 5 5 m Installed power4 double ended Scotch marine boilers 2 Inverted vertical triple expansion engines 7 500 ihp 5 600 kW Propulsion2 screwsSpeed20 5 knots 38 0 km h 23 6 mph Complement366Armament6 6 in 152 mm 50 rapid fire RF guns 4 4 7 in 119 mm 50 RF guns 10 6 pdr 57 mm 2 2 in Hotchkiss RF guns 8 1 pdr 37 mm 1 5 in RF guns 4 30 cal 7 62 mm Maxim machine guns 3 18 in 457 mm torpedo tubesArmor4 in 102 mm gun shields 4 in 102 mm conning tower 3 1 2 in 89 mm slopes amp 1 1 4 in 32 mm flat deckGeneral characteristics 1907 1 Armament10 5 in 127 mm 50 caliber guns 8 3 pdr 47 mm 1 9 in RF gunsGeneral characteristics 1918 2 Armament8 5 in 127 mm 50 caliber guns 1 3 in 76 mm 50 caliber anti aircraft gunOn 16 March 1898 the United States Navy purchased the undelivered ships to prevent them being acquired by the Spanish Navy and to augment the US Navy shortly before the Spanish American War 4 Contents 1 Design and construction 1 1 Armament 1 2 Armor 1 3 Engineering 1 4 Refits 2 Service 3 Ships in class 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and construction EditArmament Edit These ships were originally armed with six 6 inch 152 mm 50 caliber rapid fire RF guns and four 4 7 inch 119 mm 50 caliber RF guns 4 These were British made export model guns built by Elswick Ordnance Company a subsidiary of Armstrong One source states the 6 inch guns were Elswick Pattern DD and the 4 7 inch guns were Pattern AA 5 These guns were unique in the US Navy and they were designated as 6 50 caliber Mark 5 Armstrong guns and 4 7 50 caliber Mark 3 Armstrong guns 6 7 The 6 inch guns were arranged with one each fore and aft and two each fore and aft in sponsons on the sides to allow ahead or astern fire The 4 7 inch guns were on the broadside Three 18 inch 457 mm torpedo tubes for Whitehead torpedoes were also equipped 5 Additional weapons included ten 6 pounder 57 mm 2 2 in Hotchkiss RF guns eight 1 pounder 37 mm 1 5 in RF guns and four 30 cal 7 62 mm Maxim machine guns Armor Edit Harvey armor was used on these ships The armored deck was 3 1 2 in 89 mm on the sloped sides and 1 1 4 in 32 mm in the flat middle The main guns had 4 in 102 mm shields and the conning tower had 4 in 102 mm armor 5 8 One source also lists 4 in 102 mm on the boiler room glacis 5 Engineering Edit The engineering plant included four double ended coal fired Scotch marine boilers 9 supplying steam to two inverted vertical triple expansion engines made by Humphrys amp Tennant in New Orleans Hawthorn Leslie in Albany 4 which produced 7 500 ihp 5 600 kW for a design speed of 20 5 knots 38 0 km h 23 6 mph which was achieved on trials 5 8 The normal coal allowance was 512 tons but this could be increased to 747 tons 5 Refits Edit To reduce supply difficulties during refits at the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines in 1903 both ships had their 4 7 inch guns replaced with standard 5 inch 127 mm 50 caliber Mark 5 guns the 6 inch guns were replaced with additional 5 inch guns in 1907 10 Their torpedo tubes were also removed in the 1903 refits 8 At least some of the guns from these ships were emplaced in the Grande Island Subic Bay area 1907 1910 and operated by the United States Marine Corps until the Coast Artillery Corps modern defenses centered on Fort Wint were completed 6 7 During World War I the 5 inch guns were reduced from ten to eight and a 3 inch 76 mm 50 caliber anti aircraft gun was added 2 4 At least one 6 inch gun Mark 5 was delivered to the Army during that war for potential service on M1917B field carriages on the Western Front it is unclear if these weapons were shipped overseas 11 Service EditNew Orleans ex Amazonas served in the Spanish American War World War I and the Russian civil war in Siberia 12 Albany ex Almirante Abreu was completed too late to see service in the Spanish American War She served first in the Philippine American War and then in World War I and the Russian civil war in Siberia 13 Both cruisers were decommissioned in 1922 and were sold for scrapping in 1930 Ships in class EditThe two ships of the New Orleans class were 4 Ship Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned FateUSS New Orleans CL 22 Armstrong Whitworth Elswick England 1895 4 December 1896 18 March 1898 16 November 1922 Sold for scrap 11 February 1930USS Albany CL 23 Armstrong Whitworth Elswick England 1897 14 January 1899 29 May 1900 10 October 1922 Sold for scrap 11 February 1930These ships did not initially have hull numbers 1 4 On 17 July 1920 they were designated with the hull numbers PG 34 gunboat and PG 36 On 8 August 1921 they were redesignated with the hull numbers CL 22 light cruiser and CL 23 4 Legacy EditTwo 4 7 inch guns one from each ship of the class are preserved at the Kane County Illinois Soldier and Sailor Monument at the former courthouse in Geneva Illinois 14 See also EditNew Orleans class cruiser unrelated New Orleans class cruisers in commission 1930s 1950s List of cruisers of the United States NavyReferences Edit a b Ships Data U S Naval Vessels 1911 US Navy Department 1912 pp 64 72 Retrieved 8 February 2016 a b Ships Data U S Naval Vessels US Navy Department 1 July 1921 p 64 Retrieved 8 February 2016 Bauer and Roberts pp 408 409 a b c d e f g Bauer and Roberts p 145 a b c d e f Gardiner and Chesneau p 154 a b 6 50 Mark 5 Armstrong at NavWeaps com a b 4 7 50 Mark 3 Armstrong at NavWeaps com a b c Friedman pp 41 43 465 Ships Data U S Naval Vessels 1911 US Navy Department 1912 pp 60 70 Retrieved 8 February 2016 5 50 Mark 5 at NavWeaps com Williford pp 98 99 New Orleans I Ship of the Line Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Navy Department Naval History and Heritage Command 13 August 2015 Retrieved 4 February 2016 Albany III Cruiser Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Navy Department Naval History and Heritage Command 12 June 2015 Retrieved 4 February 2016 Kane County Soldier and Sailor Monument at www waymarking comBibliography EditBauer K Jack Roberts Stephen S 1991 Register of Ships of the U S Navy 1775 1990 Major Combatants Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 26202 0 Burr Lawrence 2011 US Cruisers 1883 1904 The Birth of the Steel Navy Osprey Publishing ISBN 9781780962702 Retrieved 5 July 2014 Friedman Norman 1984 U S Cruisers An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 718 6 Gardiner Robert Chesneau Roger 1979 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1860 1905 New York Mayflower Books ISBN 0 8317 0302 4 Williford Glen 2016 American Breechloading Mobile Artillery 1875 1953 Atglen PA Schiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 5049 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Orleans class cruiser 1896 Cruiser photo gallery index at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Orleans class cruiser 1896 amp oldid 1134908920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
