Amphitrite-class monitor

USS Monadnock, a monitor of the Amphitrite class, crossing the Pacific Ocean during the Spanish–American War.
Class overview
Builders
Operators United States Navy
Succeeded byPuritan class
In commission1891–1919
Planned5
Completed4
Scrapped4
General characteristics
TypeMonitor
Displacement3,990 long tons (4,050 t) (designed)
Length
  • 262 ft (80 m) oa
  • 259 ft (79 m) lwl
Beam55 ft 6 in (16.92 m)
Draft14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) (designed)
  • Monadnock: 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
  • Others: 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph)
Range1,370 nmi (2,540 km; 1,580 mi) @ 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)[2]
Complement19 officers and 164 enlisted
Armament
Armor
  • Iron armor
  • Belt: 7–5 in (180–130 mm)
  • Deck: 1.75 in (44 mm)
  • Turrets: 11.5 in (290 mm)

The Amphitrite-class monitors were a class of four U.S. Navy monitors ordered in the aftermath of the Virginius affair with Spain in 1873.[3] The four ships of the class included Amphitrite, Monadnock, Terror, and Miantonomoh. A fifth ship originally of the same design, Puritan, was later fitted with extra armor and designated as a unique class.

Puritan and the Amphitrite class were to remain under construction for an extraordinarily long period due both to design changes and to the reluctance of the US Congress to appropriate funds for their completion. Most of the vessels were only commissioned in the mid-1890s—more than twenty years after the commencement of construction.[4] They were eventually to see active service in the Spanish–American War.

  1. ^ Only to supply prefabricated parts to Burgess for Monadnock.
  2. ^ Silverstone, p. 18.
  3. ^ Swann, pp. 141–142.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bauer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).