USS Atlanta (1884)

The second USS Atlanta was a protected cruiser and one of the first steel warships of the "New Navy" of the 1880s. In some references she is combined with Boston as the Atlanta class, in others as the Boston class.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Atlanta.

USS Atlanta in 1891
History
United States
Name: Atlanta
Namesake: Atlanta, Georgia
Laid down: 8 November 1883
Launched: 9 October 1884
Sponsored by: Jessie Lincoln
Commissioned: 19 July 1886
Decommissioned: September 1895
Recommissioned: 15 September 1900
Decommissioned: 23 March 1912
Stricken: 24 April 1912
Fate: Sold for scrap, 10 June 1912
General characteristics
Type: Protected cruiser
Displacement: 3,189 long tons (3,240 t)
Length: 283 ft 0 in (86.26 m)
Beam: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
Draft: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
  • Sails (as built)
  • 1 × shaft
Speed: 16.3 kn (18.8 mph; 30.2 km/h) on trials, 13 kn (15 mph; 24 km/h) designed
Range: 3,390 nmi (6,280 km; 3,900 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 284
Armament:
Armor:
Notes: One of the U.S. Navy's first four steel ships

Atlanta was laid down on 8 November 1883 at Chester, Pennsylvania by Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works; launched on 9 October 1884; sponsored by Miss Jessie Lincoln, the daughter of Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln and granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 19 July 1886, Captain Francis M. Bunce in command.[1]

Design and construction

Atlanta was ordered as part of the "ABCD" ships, the others being the cruisers Boston and Chicago and the dispatch vessel Dolphin. All were ordered from the same shipyard, John Roach & Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania. However, when Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney initially refused to accept Dolphin, claiming her design was defective, the Roach yard went bankrupt and Atlanta was completed at the New York Navy Yard, which had little experience with steel-hulled ships.[2]

As-built armament included two 8-inch (203 mm)/30 caliber Mark 1 guns,[3] six 6-inch (152 mm)/30 caliber Mark 2 guns,[4] two 6-pounder (57 mm (2.24 in)) rapid fire guns, two 3-pounder (47 mm (1.85 in)) Hotchkiss revolving cannon, two 1-pounder (37 mm (1.46 in)) Hotchkiss revolving cannon, and two .45 caliber (11.4 mm) Gatling guns.[2] The 8-inch guns were initially in open barbettes with gun shields added later.[5]

Armor protection was light, with 2-inch (50.8 mm) gun shields and conning tower, and a 1.5-inch (38.1 mm) deck extending 100 feet (30 m) over the machinery spaces.[6]

The as-built engineering plant included eight coal-fired cylindrical boilers producing 100 psi (690 kPa) steam and a horizontal compound engine producing 3,500 ihp (2,600 kW) driving one shaft.[2][5][6] Like the other "ABCD" ships, Atlanta was built with a sail rig to increase cruising range, later removed. The ship carried up to 490 tons of coal, with a cruising range as built of 3,390 nmi (6,280 km; 3,900 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph).[2][7]

Refit

In 1897–99 Atlanta received a new triple-expansion engine of 4,030 ihp (3,010 kW) and the 6-inch guns were converted to rapid firing with brass case ammunition replacing powder bags.[6]

Service history

North Atlantic and Squadron of Evolution, 1886–1895

Atlanta remained at New York fitting out and undergoing modifications until July 1887, when she joined the North Atlantic Squadron. For a little over two years, she cruised the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the West Indies. On 30 September 1889, she was reassigned to the Squadron of Evolution with which she voyaged to Europe and the Mediterranean that winter. On the return voyage the protected cruiser paid a friendship visit to the Republic of Brazil before returning to New York at the end of July 1890. There, she resumed duty along the east coast and in the West Indies. Between February and April 1891, she cruised the Gulf of Mexico. From May–October, the ship operated along the Atlantic coast and participated in exercises and maneuvers at Boston and New York, training members of the Naval Militia. Between October 1891 and July 1892, she served successively along the east coast, in the West Indies, and in South American waters.[1]

6 inch (152 mm) gun on Atlanta.

On 2 September 1892, the cruiser was transferred from the Squadron of Evolution back to the North Atlantic Squadron. Between December 1892 and February 1893, she operated in the West Indies protecting American interests. From March–May, the warship participated in the Naval Review held at Hampton Roads, Virginia. In May–June, she returned to the Gulf of Mexico. On 18 July 1893, Atlanta was placed out of commission at Norfolk, Virginia. There, she remained until recommissioned on 2 April 1894. She returned to duty on the North Atlantic station for the next 17 months. During that assignment, she put a landing party ashore at Boca del Toro, Colombia, on 8 March 1895 to protect American lives and property threatened by a Liberal Party revolt and the activity of filibusters. In September 1895, she was placed out of commission at the New York Navy Yard where she was laid up for the next five years.[1]

South Atlantic and Caribbean Squadrons, 1900–1905
The forecastle and 8 inch gun on Atlanta

On 15 September 1900, she was placed back in commission at New York, Comdr. E. C. Pendleton in command. Late in October, the ship put to sea to join the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil. She cruised those waters until November 1902 when she was transferred to the Caribbean Squadron. During the latter tour of duty, she again landed shore parties to protect American interests; first at Santo Domingo in April 1903 and then at Porto Bello, Panama, the following December. She made a voyage to the Mediterranean in 1904 and returned in October, via the western coast of Africa and Cape Town, to the South Atlantic station. She arrived back at Hampton Roads on 26 December and, in January 1905, moved to Annapolis, Maryland, where she was placed in reserve on 12 January. Atlanta remained inactive only until 8 May, at which time she was returned to full commission for service in the Coast Squadron to participate in midshipman training missions.[1]

Barracks ship, 1905–1912

In November 1905, the warship moved to Norfolk where she served as a barracks ship for sailors of the Torpedo Flotilla until 1909. At that time, she moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where she resumed duty as a barracks ship.[1]

Decommissioning and sale

On 23 March 1912, Atlanta was relieved of duty, and on 24 April her name was struck from the Navy List. The ship was sold at Charleston on 10 June to Frank Rijsdyk's Scheepsslooperij ("ship scrapping yard" in Dutch).[1]

References
  1. "Atlanta II (Protected Cruiser)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. Friedman, pp. 18–22, 457
  3. DiGiulian, Tony, US 8"/30 guns at Navweaps.com
  4. DiGiulian, Tony, US 6"/30 and 6"/35 guns at Navweaps.com
  5. Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 150
  6. Bauer and Roberts, p. 141
  7. Gibbons, pp. 232

Bibliography
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