USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4)

History of USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4)

USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4) was the lead ship of six powerful Pennsylvania-class armored cruisers in service with the United States Navy in the early 1900s. Her sisters include USS West Virginia (ACR-5), USS California (ACR-6), USS Colorado (ACR-7), USS Maryland (ACR-8) and USS South Dakota (ACR-9).

The class was built from 1901 to 1908 and served until 1927, when it was scrapped to fulfill U.S. obligations to the 1930 London Naval Treaty. Of the six completed, one was lost. All were renamed to free names for new battleships that entered service at various points in their seafaring career.

The USS Pennsylvania was ordered on March 3, 1899, built by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its keel was laid on August 7, 1901. She was launched on August 22, 1903, and officially commissioned on March 9. 1905.

When completed, USS Pennsylvania will have a displacement of 13,900 tons, a length of 504 feet, a beam of 69.6 feet, and a draft of 24 feet. Power comes from 32 Niclausse boilers feeding 2 triple expansion reciprocating engines driving 23,000 hp to 2 shafts.

Speeds up to 22 knots under ideal conditions. Her crew of 889 was led by 80 officers, including about 64 Navy personnel. The ship's main battery consists of 4 x 8" (200 mm)/40 caliber Mark 5 guns mounted as two guns in two turrets. There are also 14 x 6" (150 mm)/50 caliber Mark 5 guns 6 guns and 18 x 3" (76mm)/50 caliber rapid-fire guns 12 x 3-pounder (47mm) Driggs-Schroeder guns also for close range work, 2 x 1-pounder (37mm) Driggs-Schroeder guns for salute function Like other ships of the time, Pennsylvania was equipped with torpedo tubes, which were 2 x 18" (460 mm) launchers.

Armor protection ranges from 6 inches on the belt and 6 inches on the deck to 6.5 inches on the turret and 9 inches on the conning tower.

Her profile consists of four smoke funnels made of two main masts. Her bridge section has been designed to keep a considerable distance, with an impressive view of the bow.

One main turret was mounted at the front and the other at the rear, while the smaller guns protruded from their upper hull sides.

Her first adventures included cruising the US East Coast and Caribbean waters. In late 1906, she was sent to Asia to execute American trade routes and overseas interests related to the Pacific. The ship then sailed along the west coast of the United States in the second half of 1907 and went to Chile and Peru in 1910. Before 1911, it underwent a major overhaul, changing its propulsion scheme to 8 retrofit boilers and 12 Babcock & Wilcox boiler units. She added two more salutes and lost her 12 x 3 pounder.

When the event was recorded on January 18, 1911, the USS Pennsylvania then received the first fixed-wing aircraft to land on board (hook). To accomplish this task, a short flight deck was added to her stern section.

The incident took place in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, with Eugene Ely at the control of a thruster biplane.

In mid-1911, she was sent to the reserves and employed as a trainer for a time. Due to the influx of new American battleships, she lost the Pennsylvania designation and was recommissioned as USS Pittsburgh on August 27, 1912, ending her days with that designationthough she was given the name on July 17, 1920.

Hull symbol (CA -4). Before 1921, she was involved in another overhaul.

A native of Pittsburgh, she continued her maritime career before being scrapped on December 21, 1931.

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