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Photo # NH 83128:  USS West Virginia steaming through heavy seas, circa 1916.

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

USS West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5), 1905-1930. Renamed Huntington in November 1916 --
Selected Views

USS West Virginia, a 13,680 ton Pennsylvania class armored cruiser, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned in February 1905, she operated with the Atlantic Fleet until the end of September 1906, then left the East Coast for the Far East. West Virginia served in Asiatic waters until returning to the U.S. in 1908 to become part of the Pacific Fleet. In addition to serving off the U.S. West Coast, the cruiser operated in the Hawaiian Islands area and off Mexico. During the mid-1910s she was in reserve at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, but returned to active status in 1916 for duty off Mexico. West Virginia was renamed Huntington in November of that year, freeing her "state" name for a new battleship.

Following her Mexican assignment Huntington was overhauled and fitted with a catapult, mounted fore and aft to launch a seaplane over her stern. In May 1917 she steamed through the Panama Canal to begin duty at the Naval Aeronautic Station at Pensacola, Florida, where she experimented with shipboard airplane and balloon operations. Huntington began World War I service in August, escorting trans-Atlantic convoys during that month and the next. Her aircraft facilities were removed in October. After carrying senior American officials to England for a wartime conference in October and November 1917, Huntington resumed convoy escort work, which lasted until the fighting ended in November 1918.

Huntington was then modified for use as a troop transport and, between December 1918 and July 1919, brought more than 13,000 First World War veterans home from the former European combat zone. During the next year the cruiser remained on active duty as Flying Squadron flagship. Designated CA-5 in July 1920, she was placed out of commission at the beginning of that September. In March 1930, after being laid up for nearly a decade, USS Huntington was stricken from the Navy list. She was sold for scrapping in August 1930.

This page features views concerning USS West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5), which was renamed Huntington in 1916, selected from the comprehensive pictorial coverage of her contained in the pages listed below.

For all the pictures we have related to this ship, see:

  • USS West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1910 and before;
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1911-1917;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1918;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- Views taken in 1919 and Later;
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- On Board and Close Up Views, taken in 1905-1917;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- On Board and Close Up Views, taken in 1918 and Later; and
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- Miscellaneous Views.


    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 43749

    USS West Virginia
    (Armored Cruiser # 5)

    At anchor, circa 1908.
    She is flying a Rear Admiral's flag from her mainmast peak, and carries her name in large letters above her pilothouse.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 92173

    USS West Virginia
    (Armored Cruiser # 5)

    In a harbor, probably on the Pacific Coast, circa 1916.
    This ship was renamed Huntington in November of that year.
    The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

    Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83128

    USS West Virginia
    (Armored Cruiser # 5)

    Pitching her forefoot out of the water while steaming through heavy seas, circa 1916. Note the water streaming from her hull gun casemates and top of her side armor.
    Photographed by Wilkinson.

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

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44221-A

    USS Huntington
    (Armored Cruiser # 5, ex-West Virginia)

    Catapulting a Curtiss "F" type flying boat while underway, 25 June 1917.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44910

    USS Huntington
    (Armored Cruiser # 5, ex-West Virginia)

    Underway at sea while escorting a troopship convoy in 1918.
    She is painted in pattern camouflage.

    Donation of John Shaw, via Captain Jules James, USN, 1939.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 46KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50039

    USS Huntington
    (Armored Cruiser # 5, ex-West Virginia)

    Underway, circa 1919.
    This print appears to have been used for recruiting purposes.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 630 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46895

    USS Huntington
    (Armored Cruiser # 5, ex-West Virginia)

    "Bucking the big ones": steaming through heavy seas while transporting troops home from France, 1919.

    Courtesy of Lieutenant Commander Ellis M. Zacharias, USN, 1931.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46891

    USS Huntington
    (Armored Cruiser # 5, ex-West Virginia)

    Divine services on the ship's quarterdeck in 1919, while she was transporting troops home from France.
    Note the canvas spread between the gun barrels of Huntington's after eight-inch gun turret.

    Courtesy of Lieutenant Commander Ellis M. Zacharias, USN, 1931.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     


    For views concerning a USS Huntington crew member who received the Medal of Honor for rescuing a balloon observer on 17 September 1917, see:

  • Carpenter Patrick McGunigal, USN (1876-1936).

    For all the pictures we have related to this ship, see:

  • USS West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1910 and before;
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1911-1917;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- Views taken in 1918;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- Views taken in 1919 and Later;
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5) -- On Board and Close Up Views, taken in 1905-1917;
  • USS Huntington, formerly West Virginia (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- On Board and Close Up Views, taken in 1918 and Later; and
  • USS West Virginia, later renamed Huntington (Armored Cruiser # 5, later CA-5) -- Miscellaneous Views.


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


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    Page made 16 September 2006
    Link added 18 March 2008