Chester 1908
Birmingham 1918
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| CS1, 7.1920- CL1 | Chester, 7.1928- York | 46 | Bath Iron Wks | 25.9.1905 | 26.6.1907 | 25.4.1908 | sold 5.1930 |
| CS2, 7.1920- CL2 | Birmingham | 132 | Fore River, Quincy | 14.8.1905 | 29.5.1907 | 11.4.1908 | sold 5.1930 |
| CS3, 7.1920- CL3 | Salem | 133 | Fore River, Quincy | 28.8.1905 | 27.7.1907 | 1.8.1908 | stricken 11.1929 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
3750 |
|
Displacement full, t |
4687 |
|
Length, m |
129.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
14.3 |
|
Draught, m |
5.10 mean |
|
No of shafts |
CS1: 4 CS2, 3: 2 |
|
Machinery |
CS1: 4 Parsons steam turbines, 12 Normand boilers CS2: 2 VTE, 12 Fore River boilers CS3: 2 Curtis steam turbines, 12 Fore River boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
16000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
CS1, 3: 24 CS2: 22.4 |
|
Fuel, t |
CS1, 3: coal 1400 CS2: coal 1375 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
CS1: 3850(18.6) CS2: 4150(18.6) CS3: 3300 (18.6) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 51 - 38, deck: up to 25 |
|
Armament |
2 x 1 - 127/50 Mk VI, 6 x 1 - 76/50 Mk III/V/VI, 2 - 533 TT (beam) |
|
Complement |
359 |
Project history: Authorized under the Act of 27.4.1904. 'Scout-cruisers' with high freeboard forward. Chester and Salem were the first turbine-engined ships in the USN. The armament was very light, the 127mm guns being on the forecastle deck forward and upper deck aft, and the 76mm to port and starboard on, the upper deck, the foremost being in sponsons under the forecastle. Salem was the worst of the three with the highest coal consumption, and in April 1917-March 1918 she was re-engined with GE geared turbines of 20000shp.
Ship protection: Main belt protected only machinery and was 51mm thick. Separate 38mm belt protected steering gear. Deck had maximal 25mm thickness. Guns were placed on open mounts.
Modernizations: 1917 - 1918, all: - 2 x 1 - 127/50, 4 x 1 - 76/50, 2 - 533 TT (sub); + 4 x 1 - 127/51 Mk VIII, 1 x 1 - 76/52 Mk X, 2 x 1 - 533 TT
3/1918, Salem: Curtis steam turbines were replaced by General Electric geared steam turbines. Engine power were increased to 20000hp.
Naval service: Final decommissioning dates were for Chester 10.6.1921, Birmingham 1.12.1923, Salem 16.8.1921.
Chester
© Ivan Gogin, 2014