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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS California (Armored Cruiser No. 6), 1907-1918.
Renamed San Diego in 1914

USS California, a 13,680-ton Pennsylvania class armored cruiser, was built at San Francisco, California. She was commissioned in August 1907, and spent the next ten years serving in the Pacific. California regularly operated along the North American west coast, with occasional cruises to Hawaii and other oceanic islands. In 1912, she briefly deployed to the western Pacific for service on the Asiatic Station.

In September 1914 California was renamed San Diego to make her original name available for assignment to a battleship. She frequently was employed as Pacific Fleet flagship between then and July 1917, when she was sent to the Atlantic for World War I service. San Diego operated as a convoy escort in the North Atlantic until 19 July 1918, when she was torpedoed and sunk off Fire Island, New York, by the German submarine U-156.

This page features selected views of USS California, which was renamed San Diego in 1914.

For pictorial coverage of USS San Diego's last commanding officer, see: Vice Admiral Harley H. Christy, USN.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 55011

USS California (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Photographed circa 1908.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55009

USS California (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Underway in San Pablo Bay, California, 1909.

Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94938

USS California (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


In San Diego harbor, California, circa 1910-1914.
Photographed by the Arcade View Company.

Courtesy of Captain Don Fink, 1983.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 495 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55013

USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Photographed 28 January 1915, while serving as flagship of the Pacific Fleet.
Her name had been changed from California on 1 September 1914.
Note two-star Rear Admiral's flag flying from her mainmast top.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 92174

USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Off Guaymas, Mexico, 26 December 1915.
Photographed by Hopkins.
Note Christmas tree mounted on her forecastle.

Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 495 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 92175

USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Photographed from an airplane in San Diego harbor, California, 28 March 1916.

Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 480 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55012-KN (Color)

USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6)

Painting by Francis Muller, 1920.
It depicts the ship sinking off Fire Island, New York, after she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-156, 19 July 1918.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82997

USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6)


Crew exercising one of the ship's 6"/50 broadside guns, circa 1916.
Note: gunsight in use; items posted on the bulkhead in the upper right, including safety orders, pennant bearing the ship's name, and "Modern Girl" poem.

Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 83793

Admiral William B. Caperton, USN
,
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (center)

With members of his staff on board USS San Diego (Armored Cruiser No. 6) at San Diego, California, circa 1916-17.
The ship's after eight-inch gun turret is behind them.
Those present are (from left to right):
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) H.M. Lammers, USN;
Captain R.M. Cutts, USMC;
Medical Inspector E.S. Bogert, USN;
Admiral Caperton;
Pay Inspector J. Fyffe, USN;
Lieutenant A.T. Beauregard, USN; and
Paymaster C.S. Baker, USN.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Adm. W.B. Caperton.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 440 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

9 January 2000