Chester-class cruiser

USS Chester
Class overview
Builders: Fore River Shipyard
Bath Iron Works
Succeeded by: Omaha-class cruiser
Built: 19051907
In commission: 19081923
Completed: 3
General characteristics
Type:Light cruiser
Displacement:3,750 long tons (3,810 t)
Length:423.1 ft (129.0 m)
Beam:47.1 ft (14.4 m)
Draft:16.8 ft (5.1 m)
Speed:24 kn (27.6 mph; 44.4 km/h)
Complement:359
Armament:2 × 5 in (127 mm) guns
6 × 3 in (76.2 mm) guns
2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

The Chester class of light cruisers were the first United States Navy vessels to be designed and designated as fast scout cruisers for fleet reconnaissance. In 1920 the scout cruisers were redesignated "light cruisers." The three ships were built to slightly different designs for the sake of comparison: Chester was the first major combatant in the USN to have steam-turbine propulsion of the Parsons type; Salem received Curtis turbines; and Birmingham traditional reciprocating steam engines.

Birmingham was the first ship in the world to launch an airplane, in 1910.

Ships

External links

Media related to Chester class cruisers at Wikimedia Commons