American armoured cruiser USS California 1902-1914 and San Diego 1914-1918

USS Brooklyn

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. 6. Building ordered on 3 March 1899, approved on 19 January 1901, laid down by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California, on 7 May 1902, baptized by Miss F. Pardee, launched on 28 April 1904, commissioned on 1 August 1907, renamed san Diego on 1 September 1914 and sunk when hitting a contact mine laid by the German submarine U-156 north east of Fire Island Fireship. Contracted building costs for hull and machinery 3.800.000 US dollars. Hull pennant ACR-6.

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 22-22.20 (trials) knots. Coal bunker capacity 900 (normal)-2.000 (maximum) tons. After 1911 8 Modified Niclausse boilers and 12 Babcock&Wilcox-boilers. 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. Aft 1911 of 2x2-20,3cm/8” /44 cal Mark 6 guns, 14-15,2cm/6” /50 cal Mark 6 guns, 18-7,6cm/3” /50 cal quick firing guns, 4x3-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd Driggs-Schroeder quick firing guns and 2-45,7cm/18” torpedo tubes.