USS Chicago (CA-14)

USS Chicago (CA-14) was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. Commissioned in the late 19th century, she served through the Spanish–American War, World War I, and into the early interwar period. Her long career spanned multiple technological eras, from the age of sail to the dawn of naval aviation, before she was expended as a target ship.

Design and description

The design for Chicago was developed during a transitional period for the United States Navy, influenced by the "ABCD" ships philosophy that emphasized high speed and heavy armament. As a protected cruiser, her key defense was a sloped armored deck designed to deflect incoming shells, with additional protection for her conning tower and gun shields. Her primary armament consisted of four 8-inch guns mounted in sponsons on the main deck, supported by a secondary battery of eight 5-inch guns. Propulsion was provided by horizontal triple-expansion steam engines driving twin screw propellers, fed by coal-fired boilers, which could achieve a top speed of around 18 knots. Her three-masted barque rig was a vestige of sail power, intended to conserve fuel on long voyages, though it was later reduced. The vessel's overall design reflected the naval theories of strategists like Alfred Thayer Mahan and the industrial capabilities of builders like Union Iron Works.

Construction and career

Authorized by the 48th United States Congress, the contract for Chicago was awarded to Union Iron Works in San Francisco. Her keel laying ceremony took place on 29 December 1888, and she was launched on 5 December 1890, sponsored by Edith Cleborne. After a lengthy fitting-out period, she was finally commissioned on 1 April 1895 under the command of Captain Henry Glass. Her early service was with the Pacific Squadron, conducting training and diplomatic visits to ports like Honolulu and Callao. During the Spanish–American War, she was assigned to the Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey, but arrived in the Philippines after the pivotal Battle of Manila Bay. She later served on the Yangtze Patrol and with the North Atlantic Fleet, participating in exercises and representing American interests in the Caribbean and South America.

World War I service

With the entry of the United States into World War I, Chicago was already an obsolete vessel. She was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and performed critical, though unglamorous, patrol and escort duties. Based out of Norfolk Navy Yard, she operated along the East Coast of the United States and in the Atlantic Ocean, guarding against potential German surface raiders and U-boats. In 1918, she was temporarily converted into a receiving ship in New York City. For a brief period, she also served as a temporary flagship for Admiral Albert Gleaves, commander of the Cruiser and Transport Force. Her service during the conflict was part of the massive American naval mobilization that supported the Allies and transported the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe.

Interwar period and fate

After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Chicago was redesignated as a receiving ship at Naval Station New York. In 1920, she was reclassified as Light cruiser CL-14 under the new naval hull classification system, and later as CA-14, reverting to a heavy cruiser symbol. She performed this stationary service role for several years. Finally decommissioned on 30 September 1923, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 October 1935. Her ultimate fate was to serve the fleet one last time: on 8 July 1936, the veteran cruiser was towed to sea off San Francisco and used for gunnery practice. She was sunk as a target by the battleships USS Colorado (BB-45) and USS West Virginia (BB-48).

Category:Protected cruisers of the United States Navy Category:World War I cruisers of the United States Category:Ships built in San Francisco Category:1890 ships