New Orleans-class cruiser (1896)

USS New Orleans circa 1898
Class overview
Name:	New Orleans class
Builders:	Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick, England
Operators:	United States Navy
Preceded by:	Columbia class
Succeeded by:	Denver class
Built:	1895–1900
In commission:	1898–1922
Completed:	2
Scrapped:	2
General characteristics (as built)
Type:	Protected cruiser
Displacement:	3,769 long tons (3,829 t)
Length:	354 ft 5 in (108.03 m)
Beam:	43 ft 9 in (13.34 m)
Draft:	18 ft (5.5 m)
Installed power:	4 × double-ended Scotch marine boilers 2 × Inverted vertical triple expansion engines 7,500 ihp (5,600 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × screws
Speed:	20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)
Complement:	366
Armament:	6 × 6 in (152 mm)/50 rapid fire (RF) guns 4 × 4.7 in (119 mm)/50 RF guns 10 × 6 pdr 57 mm (2.2 in) Hotchkiss RF guns 8 × 1 pdr 37 mm (1.5 in) RF guns 4 × .30-cal. (7.62 mm) Maxim machine guns 3 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes
Armor:	4 in (102 mm) gun shields 4 in (102 mm) conning tower 3 1⁄2 in (89 mm) (slopes) & 1 1⁄4 in (32 mm) (flat) deck
General characteristics (1907)
Armament:	10 × 5 in (127 mm)/50 caliber guns 8 × 3 pdr 47 mm (1.9 in) RF guns
General characteristics (1918)
Armament:	8 × 5 in (127 mm)/50 caliber guns 1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber anti-aircraft gun

The New Orleans class of protected cruisers of the United States Navy consisted of two ships which were building for the Brazilian Navy at Elswick, near Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, by Armstrong Whitworth. The Brazilian Navy had ordered four Elswick cruisers, but had already sold the first ship during construction to Chile as Ministro Zenteno. One ship was delivered to Brazil, named Almirante Barroso. The third ship was fitting out as Amazonas, and the fourth was on order as Almirante Abreu.

On 16 March 1898 the United States Navy purchased the undelivered ships to prevent them being acquired by the Spanish Navy and to augment the US Navy shortly before the Spanish–American War.

These ships were originally armed with six 6-inch (152 mm)/50 caliber rapid fire (RF) guns and four 4.7-inch (119 mm)/50 caliber RF guns. These were British-made export-model guns built by Elswick Ordnance Company, a subsidiary of Armstrong. One source states the 6-inch guns were Elswick Pattern DD and the 4.7-inch guns were Pattern AA. These guns were unique in the US Navy, and they were designated as "6"/50 caliber Mark 5 Armstrong guns" and "4.7"/50 caliber Mark 3 Armstrong guns". The 6-inch guns were arranged with one each fore and aft, and two each fore and aft in sponsons on the sides to allow ahead or astern fire. The 4.7-inch guns were on the broadside. Three 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes for Whitehead torpedoes were also equipped. Additional weapons included ten 6-pounder 57 mm (2.2 in) Hotchkiss RF guns, eight 1-pounder 37 mm (1.5 in) RF guns, and four .30-cal. (7.62 mm) Maxim machine guns.

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