The New Navy, 1883 -1922

The New Navy 1883-1922, the third volume of the definitive U.S. Navy Warship Series, chronicles the mighty vessels that marked the arrival of the modern day Navy. This period of unprecedented technological growth and national expansion saw radical innovations in naval warfare with the first appearance of the submarine, destroyer, and aircraft carrier. These drastic improvements in their naval warships helped establish the U.S. as a formidable force in international relations as it exercised its naval might in the Spanish-American War, the annexation of Hawaii, and World War I. Featuring all the ships to characterize this crucial era, including the Maine and those that part in the triumphant voyage of the “Great White Fleet.” The New Navy stands as a resource of incomparable value.

This book provides basic information about the ships which served in the US Navy during and before World War I, including the Spanish-American War. At the end of the war, the United States Navy had become the second most powerful naval force in the world behind the British Royal Navy. Faced with the rising naval power of Japan, the United States was building and had projected even larger and more powerful ships. This naval race ended with the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. When contrasted with the small collection of obsolete ships of which the Navy consisted in 1883, it can be seen that a truly remarkable renaissance had taken place. This book gives details and information of all the ships of the United States Navy of this period, as well as of the Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service and other government departments.

  • Publisher: Routledge
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Series: U.S. Navy Warship Series
  • Edition description: 1ST
  • Pages: 290
  • Product dimensions: 8.7 x 0.9 x 11.2 inches

In 1883 Congress at last authorized the construction of four new ships after years of decline following the Civil War. Since the end of that war, great changes occurred in warship construction, and the ABCD ships, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Dolphin, were the first American ships to incorporate new ideas. From them sprang the Navy we know today in an unbroken line.

3Henley-shd-thmCalled the New Navy, the ships built in next years fought in the Spanish-American War in 1898, demolishing the poorly organized Spanish Navy. Under Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy grew and in 1908 the battleships of the “Great White Fleet” sailed around the world, showing off the new American power.

Torpedo boats, destroyers and submarines made their appearance. In 1910 the first airplane flew off a ship. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, American destroyers and battleships sailed to Europe to join the fight against the German U-boats and High Seas Fleet. The American Expeditionary Force, hundreds of thousands of troops, were escorted through the U-boat infested waters without the loss of a single soldier. Hundreds of civilian ships from small yachts and motor boats to huge passenger liners were taken over into the Navy. The North Sea Mine Barrage was laid and then swept by American ships. At the end of the war in 1918, the Navy had grown to its largest size ever and hundreds more ships of every type were under construction.

With demobilization the Navy list was thinned out; most of the older ships and acquired ships were sold but many new ships being built joined the fleet. In 1922 the signing of the Washington Naval Disarmament Treaty brought battleship building to a halt. The period ended with a Navy made up of new ships, albeit on reduced strength.

This book details the ships of the Navy Navy and all those built through 1922. In addition all the temporary acquired ships of the Spanish-American War and World War I are given individual attention. Tonnage, dimensions, machinery and armament, construction dates and builder are provided together with details of the ship’s history. The ships of the Revenue Cutter Service and US Army transports and mineplanters are included, as well as a complete list of World War I temporary acquisitions (SP’s).

Artist's conception of the canceled battleship USS Iowa (BB 53)
USS Charles. Cross-Channel Transport 1918.
USS Henley (DD 39) in dazzle camouflage 1918.
USS Leviathan, transport, formerly German liner Imperator.
USS Jupiter (AC 3) collier which became the aircraft carrier Langley.
Battleship USS New Mexico (BB 40) as completed.
USS Marietta (PG 15) Gunboat in dazzle camouflage 1918.
USS Waters (DD 115) - flush-deck destroyer.
USS Wilmington (PG 8), gunboat.