DREADNOUGHTS
August 1914 Strength (10)
1. SOUTH CAROLINA class, BB.26 SOUTH CAROLINA, BB.27
MICHIGAN, 2 ships - 16,000t, 18 knots, 8-12in/22-3in, 870
crew, 1910
USS Michigan (Photo Ships)
South Carolina,
Michigan, mainly American waters on escort and
training duties, 1917-18
2. DELAWARE class, BB.28 DELAWARE, BB.29 NORTH DAKOTA,
2 ships - 20,400, 21 knots, 10-12in/14-5in, 930 crew,
1910
USS Delaware (Photo Ships)
Delaware,
training and exercises, then 6th Battle Squadron,
British Grand Fleet based in Scapa Flow, north of
Scotland from December 1917 (relieved by 'Arkansas'
in August 1918); North Dakota remained in
American waters on gunnery and engineering training
3. FLORIDA class, BB.30 FLORIDA, BB.31 UTAH, 2 ships
- 21,800t, 21 knots, 10-12in/16-5in, 1,000 crew, 1911
USS Florida (Photo Ships)
Florida, fleet
exercises, then 6th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet from
December 1917
Utah,
engineering and gunnery training in American waters,
then Bantry Bay, Ireland from September 1918 as US
flagship
4. WYOMING class, BB.32 WYOMING, BB.33 ARKANSAS, 2
ships - 26,000t, 20 knots, 12-12in/21-5in, 1,060 crew,
1912
USS Wyoming (Photo Ships)
Wyoming, 6th
Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet, from December 1918; Arkansas,
patrol and gunnery training, then relieved 'Delaware'
in 6th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet in August 1918
5. NEW YORK class, BB.34 NEW YORK, BB.35 TEXAS, 2 ships -
27,000t, 21 knots, 10-14in/21-5in, 1,040 crew, 1914
USS Texas in 1919
New York
(flag), Texas, both part of 6th Battle
Squadron, 'New York' from December 1917, 'Texas'
joining in February 1918
Texas is still
in existence as a museum ship at San Jacinto
Battlefield State Park, La Porte, Texas
Wartime Additions
(4 by April 1917, 2 after)
6. NEVADA class, BB.36 NEVADA, BB.37 OKLAHOMA, 2
ships - 27,500t, 20 knots, 10-14in/21-5in, 860 crew, 1916
Nevada, Oklahoma,
both oil burners, based at Bantry Bay, Ireland from
August 1918
7. PENNSYLVANIA class, BB.38 PENNSYLVANIA, BB.39 ARIZONA,
2 ships - 31,400t, 21 knots, 12-14in/22-5in, 915 crew,
1916
Pennsylvania,
flagship, Atlantic Fleet, 1916-18
Arizona joined
6th Battle Squadron after the November 1918 Armistice
8. NEW MEXICO class, BB.40 NEW MEXICO, BB.41
MISSISSIPPI, class of 3 - 32,000t, 21 knots,
12-14in/14-5in, 1,080 crew, 1918/1917 ('Idaho' completed
1919)
PRE-DREADNOUGHT BATTLESHIPS
August 1914 Strength (23)
9. INDIANA class, BB.1 INDIANA, BB.2 MASSACHUSETTS,
BB.3 OREGON, 3 ships - 10,300t, 15 knots,
4-13in/8-8in/4-6in, c 600 crew, 1895-96
10. IOWA, BB.4 - 11,400t, 16 knots,
4-12in/8-8in/6-4in, c 600 crew, 1897
11. KEARSAGE class, BB.5 KEARSAGE, BB.6 KENTUCKY, 2
ships - 11,500t, 16 knots, 4-13in/4-8in/14-5in, c 700
crew,1900
12. ILLINOIS class, BB.7 ILLINOIS, BB.8 ALABAMA, BB.9
WISCONSIN, 3 ships - 11,600t, 16 knots, 4-13in/14-6in, c
700 crew, 1900-01
13. MAINE class, BB.10 MAINE, BB.11 MISSOURI, BB.12
OHIO, 3 ships - 12,500t, 18 knots, 4-12in/16-6in/6-3in, c
800 crew, 1902-04
14. VIRGINIA class, BB.13 VIRGINIA, BB.14 NEBRASKA,
BB.15 GEORGIA, BB.16 NEW JERSEY, BB.17 RHODE ISLAND, 5
ships - 14,900t, 19 knots, 4-12in/8-8in/12-6in, 810 crew,
1906-07
15. CONNECTICUT class, BB.18 CONNECTICUT, BB.19 LOUISIANA,
2 ships - 16,000t, 18 knots, 4-12in/8-8in/12-7in, c 890
crew, 1906
16. VERMONT class, BB.20 VERMONT, BB.21 KANSAS, BB.22
MINNESOTA, BB.25 NEW HAMPSHIRE, 4 ships - 16,000t, 18
knots, 4-12in/8-8in/12-7in, 880 crew, 1907-08
All four served in
engineering and gunnery training roles, 1917-18
BB.22
Minnesota, damaged 29 September 1918, North Atlantic
off Delaware, 20
miles from Fenwick Island Shoal Lightship
(38-11’N, 74-41’W) - mine apparently
laid by German 'U-117'. Gunnery and engineering training ship
cruising off the Atlantic coast. Serious damage to
starboard side, but she reached port under her own
power, with no loss of life. Repairs took 5 months
USS Minnesota
BB.23 Mississippi,
BB.24 Idaho were sold to Greece in July 1914
ARMOURED CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength
(12, reduced to 11 by April 1917)
Apart from ACR.3 all were renamed from 1911-16
and 1920; only the name changes from 1911-16 are
included here
17. SARATOGA ACR.2 (ex-New York) - 8,200t, 20
knots, 6-8in/12-4in, 570 crew, 1893. Named 'Saratoga'
from 1911, renamed ROCHESTER from 1917
18. BROOKLYN ACR.3 - 9,200t, 20 knots,
8-8in/12-5in, c 570 crew, 1896
19. PENNSYLVANIA class, ACR.4 PITTSBURGH (ex-Pennsylvania),
ACR.5 HUNTINGTON (ex-West Virginia), ACR.6 SAN DIEGO
(ex-California), ACR.7 PUEBLO (ex-Colorado), ACR.8
FREDERICK (ex-Maryland), ACR.9 SOUTH DAKOTA, 6 ships, 1
lost - 13,700t, 22 knots, 4-8in/14-6in/18-3in, 830 crew,
1905-08
ACR.6
SAN DIEGO, 19th July 1918, North Atlantic, 10 miles SE of Fire Island, Long Island,
New York (c
40-30’N, 73-00’W) - torpedoed or
mined by German 'U.156'. Assigned to trans-Atlantic convoy escort
on the western leg, she was on passage from
Portsmouth, New Hampshire to New York at the time.
Reliable sources differ on whether or not her loss
was due to a torpedo or mines laid by 'U.156' off the
American coast - mining seems the most likely. 'San
Diego' (Capt H H Christy) turned turtle and sank in
around 20 minutes, the only major US warship loss of
the war; 6 men lost out of the crew of 1,100. On her
return to Germany, 'U.156' (Lt Cdr Feldt) was lost
with all hands, probably in the Northern Barrage
minefield, much of which was laid by American ships.
20. TENNESSEE class, ACR.10 MEMPHIS (ex-Tennessee),
ACR.11 SEATTLE (ex-Washington), ACR.12 NORTH CAROLINA,
ACR.13 MONTANA, 4 ships, 1 lost - 14,500t, 22 knots,
4-10in/16-6in/22-3in, c 860 crew, 1906-08
ACR.10
MEMPHIS, 29th
August 1916, Caribbean Sea, in Santo Domingo harbour,
Dominican Republic (c
18-50’N, 70-00’W) - driven ashore
and totally wrecked by (100ft?) tsunami or tidal wave of
seismic origin; hurricane in some sources. On
peace-keeping duties in Dominican waters during a
rebellion. At anchor at the time, with a boatload of
'Memphis' sailors returning from shore-leave. As she
was driven ashore, engine room personnel made every
effort to give her manoeuvring power. The Medal
of Honor
was awarded to Engineering Lt Claud Jones, Chief
Machinist's Mate George Rud (posthumous), and
Machinist Charles Willey; some 40 men dead or
missing, 200 badly injured.
USS Memphis
PROTECTED CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength
(24, reduced to 23 by April 1917 )
21. BOSTON - 3,200t, 13 knots, 2-8in/6-6in, 285 crew,
1887.
Training ship from
1911
22. CHICAGO - 4,500t, 14 knots, 4-8in/8-6in/2-5in, c450
crew, 1889.
Training ship from
1910
23. NEWARK C.1 - 4,050t, 18 knots, 12-6in, 385
crew, 1891.
Stricken 1913, used as
quarantine and hospital hulk during war
24. BALTIMORE C.3 - 4,400t, 19 knots, 4-8in/6-6in,
385 crew, 1890.
Converted to minelayer
1912. Baltimore played a major part in laying
the North Sea Mine Barrage between Scotland and
Norway from June 1918
25. PHILADELPHIA C.4 - 4,300t, 19 knots,
12-6in, 385 crew, 1890
26. SAN FRANCISCO C.5 - 4,100t, 19 knots,
12-6in, 385 crew, 1890.
Converted to minelayer
1911. San Francisco (US flag) also played a
major part in laying the North Sea Barrage from June
1918
27. OLYMPIA C.6 - 5,850t, 20 knots, 4-8in/10-5in,
c 440, 1895.
Olympia is
still in existence as a museum ship at Penn’s
Landing, Philadelphia, USA
28. CINCINNATI class, C.7 CINCINNATI, C.8 RALEIGH, 2
ships - 3,200t, 19 knots, 1-6in/10-5in, c 320 crew, 1894
29. MONTGOMERY class, C.9 MONTGOMERY, C.11 MARBLEHEAD, 2
ships - 2,100t, 17 knots, 9-5in, 275 crew, 1893-94
30. COLUMBIA class, C.12 COLUMBIA, C.13 MINNEAPOLIS, 2
ships - 7,400t, 21 knots, 1-8in/2-6in/8-4in, 480 crew,
1894
31. NEW ORLEANS class, NEW ORLEANS, ALBANY, 2 ships -
3,750t, 20 knots, 6-6in/4-4.7in, 365 crew, 1898/1900
32. DENVER class, C.14 DENVER, C.15 DES MOINES, C.16
CHATTANOOGA, C.17 GALVESTON, C.18 TACOMA, C.19 CLEVELAND,
6 ships - 3,200t, 16 knots, 10-5in, 340 crew, 1903-05
33. ST LOUIS class, C.20 ST LOUIS, C.21 MILWAUKEE, C.22
CHARLESTON, 3 ships, 1 lost - 9,700t, 22 knots,
14-6in/18-3in, c 700 crew, 1905-06
C.21
MILWAUKEE, 13th January 1917, eastern Pacific
Ocean, off Eureka,
northern
California on
Samoa Beach - grounded. Submarine 'H.3' ran aground in nearby
Humboldt Bay on the 14th December 1916. By the 13th
January, 'Milwaukee' was present to assist the
salvage operations and while trying to refloat her,
was stranded on Samoa Beach. Salvage attempts in her
case failed, and in November 1918, she broke in two
in a storm
USS Milwaukee
SCOUT CRUISERS
August 1914 Strength (3)
34. CHESTER class, CS.1 CHESTER, CS.2 BIRMINGHAM, CS.3
SALEM, 3 ships - 3,750t, 24 knots, 2-5in/6-3in, 360 crew,
1908
All three cruisers
spent part of 1917-18 based at Gibraltar on convoy
escort duties in the Atlantic approaches
USS Birmingham
DESTROYERS
August 1914 Strength (50)
35. BAINBRIDGE class, DD.1-5, 5 ships, 1 lost -
420t, 29 knots, 2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1902
DD.3
CHAUNCEY, 20th November 1917, Atlantic Ocean, 110 miles west of the Straits of
Gibraltar (c
36-00’N, 8-00’W) - collision with
British steamship 'Rose'. Based at St Nazaire on eastern Atlantic
escort duties, 'Chauncey' (Lt Cdr Walter Reno) was
with a convoy on the night of the 19th/20th, when she
was cut in half by the 'Rose' and sank at 03.17hrs;
commanding officer and 20 crew lost, 70 survivors
picked up by 'Rose'. Some sources attribute the
collision to the USS Caya.
USS Chauncey
36. HOPKINS class, DD.6-7, 2 ships - 410t, 29
knots, 2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1903
37. LAWRENCE class, DD.8-9, 2 ships - 430t, 30
knots, 2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1903
38. PAUL JONES class, DD.10-12, 3 ships - 480t, 29
knots, 2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1902-03
39. STEWART, DD.13 - 420t, 29 knots,
2-3in/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 71 crew, 1902
40. TRUXTUN class, DD.14-16, 3 ships - 30
knots, 2-3in/6-6pdr/2-18in tt, 73 crew, 1902
41. SMITH class, DD.17-21, 5 ships - 700t, 28
knots, 5-3in/3-18in tt, 85 crew, launched 1908-09
42. PAULDING class, DD.22-31, 10 ships - 740t,
29 knots, 5-3in, 6-18in tt, 85 crew, launched 1909-10
43. MONAGHAN class, DD.32-42, 11 ships - 790t,
29 knots, 5-3in/6-18in tt, 90 crew, launched 1910-12
DD.37 Fanning took
part in sinking of 'U-58' on 17th November 1917
44. CASSIN class, DD.43-50, 8 ships - 1,000t,
29 knots, 4-4in/8-18in, 100 crew, launched 1912-13
Wartime Additions
(18 by April 1917, c 46 after)
45. O’BRIEN class, DD.51-56, 6 ships - 1,050t,
29 knots, 4-4in/8-21in tt, 100 crew, launched 1914-15
DD.52 Nicholson also
took part in sinking of 'U-58' on 17th November 1917
46. TUCKER class, DD.57-62, 6 ships, 1 lost -
1,100t, 29 knots, 4-4in/8-21in tt, 100 crew, launched
1915
DD.60 Wadsworth,
first USN destroyer flagship in British waters; with
five others she arrived at Queenstown in early May
1917, the first US warships to reach the European
battle zone
DD.61
JACOB JONES,
6th December 1917, Atlantic Ocean, South Western
Approaches to Britain, 25 miles SW of Bishop Rock, Isles of
Scilly (49-20’N, 06-18’W). - torpedoed once
by German 'U-53'. Based
at Queenstown, southern Ireland on anti-submarine
duties, 'Jacob Jones' (Lt Cdr David Bagley) was one
of six destroyers returning from Brest after
escorting a convoy to France. She was hit at
16.20hrs, going down in 8 minutes. Of the 38
survivors, two were taken prisoner by the U-boat,
others rescued by two British ships that responded to
a radio signal sent out by 'U.53’s' CO, Lt Cdr
Hans Rose, and reportedly, Cdr Bagley and five others
managed to row ashore; 64 men were lost
47. SAMPSON class, DD.63-68, 6 ships - 1,100t,
29 knots, 4-4in/12-21in tt, 100 crew, launched 1916
48. CALDWELL, WICKES, CLEMSON "flusk
decker" classes, DD.69-347 - c1,100t, 30-35 knots,
4-4in/12-21in tt, 100-115 crew, launched 1917-1921.
Approximately 46
commissioned by end of war
SUBMARINES
August 1914 Strength
(27 - including 9 old boats for local Philippines
defence)
49. A class, SS.2-8, 7 boats - 110/125t, 8/7
knots, 1-18in tt, 7 crew, launched 1901-03
SS.6
Pike (A.5),
15th April 1917, western Pacific Ocean, at Cavite Naval Base, SW
Luzon, Philippines - ballast tank leakage. The official USN account is
that she sank at her mooring because of a slow leak,
raised two days later and returned to active service.
Another version (by Gray) is that she was cruising
off Cavite and sunk by an explosion, possibly due to
petrol vapour or hydrogen gas with either several
dead and injured or all 7 crew saved. In this case
too, she was salvaged and recommissioned.
50. B class, SS.10-12, 3 boats - 145/175t, 9/8
knots, 2-18in tt, 10 crew, launched 1906-07
51. C class, SS.9, 13-16, 5 boats - 240/275t, 10/9
knots, 2-18in tt, 15 crew, launched 1906/09
52. D class, SS.17-19, 3 boats - 290/340t, 12/9
knots, 4-18in tt, 15 crew, launched 1909-10
SS.18
Grayling (D.2),
14th September 1917, United States, at New London Naval Base,
Connecticut - sank at dockside. All crew of approximately 15 survived
53. E class, SS.24-25, 2 boats - 290/340t, 13/11
knots, 4-18in tt, 20 crew, launched 1911
SS.25
Sturgeon
(E.2), 15th January 1916, United States, at Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York - internal explosion. Raised and returned to service
within a matter of months; 5 dead, c 15 survivors.
USS SS.25
54. F class, SS.20-23, 4 boats, 2 lost - 330/400t,
13/11 knots, 4-18in tt, 22 crew, launched 1911-12
SS.20
CARP (F.1), 17th December 1917, eastern Pacific
Ocean in West
Coast waters, United States - collision with submarine SS.22
'Pickerel'. 'Carp'
had sunk once before, torn from her moorings and
foundering in heavy seas off Port Watsonville,
Monterey Bay, California in October 1912 with both
men aboard lost. Her final loss took place during
thick fog on manoeuvres, hit by a sister-boat; 19 men
lost, 5 survivors. One source (Gray) gives the
location as off Point Loma (or Lama), San Diego,
California
SS.23
SKATE (F.4), 25th March 1915, central Pacific
Ocean, 1 1/2 miles
off Pearl Harbor, Oahu island, Hawaii (c 22-15’N, 158-00’W)
-
foundered. During
diving exercises she lost depth control, later found
to be due to flooding caused by corrosion of a
battery tank, and sank in 300 feet of water. 'Skate'
sank with all 21 crew. Three week’s later during
salvage operations at record depths, one of the
divers became trapped and was rescued by Chief
Gunner's Mate Frank Crilley USN. He was awarded the Medal
of Honor
55. G class, SEAL, SS.26-27,31, 4 boats -
c400/500t, 14/10 knots, 6-18in tt, 24 crew, launched
1911-13
Wartime Additions
(c 22 by April 1917, c 30 after)
56. H class, SS.28-30, 3 boats - 360/470t, 14/10
knots, 4-18in tt, 25 crew, launched 1913 (plus SS.147-152
completed after the war)
57. K class, SS.32-39, 8 boats - 390/520t, 14/10
knots, 4-18in tt, 28 crew, launched 1913-14
SS.32 Haddock,
SS.33 Cachalot, SS.35 Walrus, SS.37 K.6 were
based in the Azores on anti-U-boat patrols
58. L class, SS.40-51, 11 boats - 450/550t, 14/10
knots, 4-18in tt/1-3in, 28 crew, launched 1915-17. Mostly
commissioned before April 1917
L.1-L.4, L.9-L.11,
designated 'AL' to distinguish them from the British
'L' class, were based at Berehaven, Bantry Bay,
Ireland on anti-U-boat patrols 1917-18
L.2 was being
attacked by German 'UB.65' off southern Ireland in
July 1918 when the U-boat blew up, possibly due to a
faulty torpedo magnetic pistol
59. M class, SS.52, 1 boat - 490/680t, 14/10
knots, 4-18in tt/1-3in, 28 crew, launched 1915
60. N class, SS.53-59, 7 boats - 350/415t, 13/11
knots, 4-18in tt, 25 crew, launched 1916-17
61. O class, SS.62-77, 16 boats - 520/630t, 14/10
knots, 4-18in tt, 1-3in, 29 crew, launched 1917-18
62. R class, SS.78-104, 27 boats - 570/680t, 14/11
knots, 4-21in or 18in tt/1-3in, 29 crew, launched
1917-19. Approximately 6 commissioned before end of war