 Vesuvius in 1891
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Vesuvius |
| Namesake | Mount Vesuvius |
| Ordered | 3 August 1886[1] |
| Builder | William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia |
| Yard number | 256 |
| Laid down | September 1887 |
| Launched | 28 April 1888[2]: 49 |
| Commissioned | 3 June 1890[2]: 50 |
| Decommissioned | 21 October 1921 |
| Stricken | 21 April 1922 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Dynamite gun cruiser |
| Displacement | 930 long tons (945 t) |
| Length | 246 ft 3 in (75.06 m)[2]: 50 |
| Beam | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft (2.7 m)[2]: 50 |
| Depth | 14 ft (4.3 m)[2]: 50 |
| Propulsion | 2 × 2,183 hp (1,628 kW) 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines[1] |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement | 70 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
USS Vesuvius, the third ship of the United States Navy named for the Italian volcano, was a unique vessel in the Navy inventory which marked a departure from more conventional forms of main battery armament. She is considered a dynamite gun cruiser and was essentially an operational testbed for large dynamite guns.
Vesuvius was laid down in September 1887 at Philadelphia by William Cramp & Sons Ships and Engine Building Company, subcontracted from the Pneumatic Dynamite Gun Company of New York City. She was launched on 28 April 1888 sponsored by Miss Eleanor Breckinridge and commissioned on 2 June 1890 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard with Lieutenant Seaton Schroeder in command.