American armoured cruiser USS South Dakota 1902-1920 and Huron 1920-1929 (1960)

USS Brooklyn

Pennsylvania-class

Tennessee-class

Of the Pennsylvania-class consisting o the Pennsylvania (renamed Pittsburgh), West Virginia (renamed Huntington), California (renamed San Diego), Colorado (renamed Pueblo), Maryland (renamed Frederick) and South Dakota (renamed Huron). Built under the fiscal years 1900-1901. Preceded by the USS Brooklyn (ACR-3) and succeeded by the Tennessee-class. The considered modernisation in 1922-1923 of the Pennsylvania-class is never executed. It included new boilers and engines resulting in an increased speed of 25-27 knots, better protection and the new 3-20,3cm/8”/55 cal gun turrets. Also known as Armored Cruiser No. 9. Building ordered on 7 June 1901, approved, laid down by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California on 30 September 1902, baptized by Miss F. Pardee, launched on 21 July 1904, commissioned on 27 January 1908, renamed Huron on 7 June 1920, decommissioned on 17 June 1927, stricken on 13 November 1929, sold to Abe Goldberg and Company, Seattle, Washington be broken up on 11 February 1930. After she was stripped down to the waterline bought by Powel River Company, British Columbia to be used as a floating breakwater lying off a large logging mill in August 1931. Broken lose by a storm sunk and her remains are still lying there. Contracted building costs for hull and machinery 3.750.000 US dollars. Hull pennants ACR-9 and since 17 July 1920 CA-9.

Displacement 13.900 (standard)-15.381 (full load) tons and as dimensions 153 (between perpendiculars)-153,59 (over all) x 21,18 x 7,34 (mean) metres or 502-503.11’ x 69.6’x 24.1’. The machinery consisted of 2 vertical inverted triple expansion steam engines and 16 Babcock&Wilcox-boilers supplying 23.000 ihp (design) driving 2 screws allowing a speed of 22-22,15 (trials) knots. Coal bunker capacity 900 (normal)-2.000 (maximum) tons. Her crew numbered 830 men. The armour consisted of a 13/5” (bottom)-15.6“ (top and waterline) thick belt, a 3,8cm/1.5” (flat)-10,2cm/4” (slope) deck with the turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 16,5cm/6.5”, 15cm/6” and 22,9cm/9” thick armour. The original armament consisted of 2x2-20,3cm/8” /40 cal Mark 5 guns, 14-15,2cm/6” /50 cal Mark 6 guns, 18-7,6cm/3” /50 cal quick firing guns, 12-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd Driggs-Schroeder quick firing guns, 2-3,7cm/1.5”/1pd saluting guns and 2-45,7cm/18” torpedo tubes. Between 1909-1911 were the 8” guns replaced by 45 cal Mark 6 guns. During the First World War were 10-6” guns removed to arm merchant ships, further more were the 8-3” singe purpose guns replaced by 2-7,6cm/3” anti aircraft guns. Except for the lost San Diego were all 6” guns replaced around 1921. The armament consisted since of 2x2-20,3cm/8” /45 cal Mark 6 guns, 14-15,2cm/6” /50 cal Mark 6 guns, 10-7,6cm/3” /50 cal quick firing guns, 2-7,6cm/3” /50 cal anti aircraft guns, 4-4,7cm/3pd Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns and 2-45,7cm/18” torpedo tubes. Except for the lost San Diego were all 6” guns replaced around 1921.