USS Baltimore
There have been at least six United States Navy ships named Baltimore, after the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
The first Baltimore, a brigantine of 12 guns, was built in 1777 at Baltimore, Maryland, and fitted out as a dispatch or packet vessel.
She was used at times for the protection of the coast along the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. She was commanded by Captain T. Read of the Continental Navy, 1778-79, and was lost near Cape Henry 29 January 1780.
The second Baltimore (20), a ship, was built in 1798 by Joseph Caverly, Baltimore, Maryland, as Adriana; purchased by the Navy 23 May 1798; renamed Baltimore; and placed under the command of Captain Isaac Phillips.
In August 1798 Baltimore was ordered to join Constellation and convoy a fleet of merchantmen home from Havana, Cuba. Late in 1798 Baltimore and Constitution(?) were escorting a large convoy to Havana, when the latter sprung her bowsprit and returned home. Baltimore later fell in with two British frigates, 16 November 1798, who impressed 55 of her crew (50 were returned). On his return to the United States, Captain Phillips was dismissed for permitting this outrage to the American flag. The incident also created much anti-British feeling.
During 1799 Baltimore took two prizes and the following year three more, as well as recapturing three American vessels which had fallen into French hands. At the close off the Quasi-War with France she carried the ratified peace treaty to France . Upon her return Baltimore was sold at Philadelphia in 1801.
(Ship: T. 422; l. 103'9"; b. 30'8"; cpl. 180; a. 18 9-pdr. S. B., 6 4-pdr. S. B.)
The third Baltimore, a side-wheel steamer, was built in 1848 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, captured on the Potomac River between Aquia Creek and Washington, D.C., by the Army 21 April 1861, turned over to the Navy Department; and commissioned in April 1861, Lieutenant J. H. Russell in command.
During the Civil War Baltimore was used as an ordnance vessel between Washington Navy Yard and nearby ammunition depots. She was also used to ferry Army troops across the Potomac River. She saw some service with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a dispatch and supply vessel. On 9 May 1862 she transported President Abraham Lincoln, and Secretaries Stanton and Chase, from Fort Monroe to Norfolk in an attempt to get a close view of the destroyed Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.
Baltimore was turned over to Norfolk Navy Yard 22 May 1865 and sold 24 June 1865 at Washington, D.C.
(SwStr: T. 500; l. 200'; b. 26'8"; dph. 10'; a. 1 32-pdr. S. B.)
The fourth Baltimore (C-3) was launched October 6, 1888 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Mrs. Theodore D. Wilson, wife of Chief Constructor Wilson; and commissioned January 7, 1890, Captain W. S. Schley in command.
Baltimore became flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron 24 May 1890 and during 15-23 August conveyed the remains of the late Captain John Ericsson from New York City to Stockholm, Sweden. After cruising in European and Mediterranean waters, she arri ed at Valparaiso, Chile, 7 April 1891 to join the South Pacific Station. She protected American citizens during the Chilean revolution, landing men at Valparaiso 28 August. Arriving at Mare Island Navy Yard 5 January 1892, she cruised on the west coast of the United States until 7 October and then returned to the Atlantic. She took part in the naval rendezvous and review in Hampton Roads during March and April 1893. Proceeding via the Suez Canal, she cruised as flagship of the Asiatic Station, 22 December 1893-3 December 1895, protecting American interests. Returning to Mare Island 21 January 1896, she went out of commission 17 February 1896.
Recommissioned 12 October 1897, Baltimore sailed on 20 October for the Hawaiian Islands and remained there between 7 November 1897 and 25 March 1898. She then joined Commodore George Dewey's squadron at Hong Kong, 22 April 1898. The squadron sailed from Mirs Bay, China, 27 April for the Philippines and on the morning of 1 May entered Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet stationed there. Baltimore remained on the Asiatic Station convoying transports and protecting American interests until 23 May 1900, when she sailed for the United States, via the Suez Canal, arriving at New York 8 September 1900.
Between 27 September 1900 and 6 May 1903 Baltimore was out of commission at New York Navy Yard. From 5 August to 23 December 1903 she served with the Caribbean Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, taking part in summer maneuvers off the coast of Maine, in the Presidential Review at Oyster Bay, New York (15-17 August), and in Santo Domingo waters. Between 28 May and 26 August 1904 she was attached to the European Squadron and cruised in the Mediterranean. On 26 September she sailed from Genoa, Italy, for the Asiatic Station and spent the next two years cruising in Asiatic, Philippine, and Australian waters.
Baltimore returned to New York 24 April 1907 and went out of commission at New York Navy Yard 15 May 1907. On 20 January 1911 she was placed in commission in reserve and served as a receiving ship at Charleston Navy Yard (30 January 1911-20 September 1912). During 1913-14 she was converted to a minelayer at Charleston Navy Yard and recommissioned 8 March 1915. During 1915-18 she carried out mining experiments and operations in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast.
At American entry into World War I, Baltimore was training personnel. Early in March 1918 she was detailed to assist in laying a deep mine field off the north coast of Ireland in the North Channel. She arrived at the Clyde on 8 March and between 13 April and 2 May laid approximately 900 mines in the North Channel. On 2 June she joined Mine Squadron 1 at Inverness, Scotland, and for four months participated in laying the Northern Mine Barrage.
On 28 September 1918 Baltimore sailed from Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, for the United States. She carried out mining experiments in the vicinity of the Virgin Islands until the end of the year.
In September 1919 she joined the Pacific Fleet and remained on the west coast until January 1921. She then proceeded to Pearl Harbor, where she was subsequently placed out of commission 15 September 1922 and sold 16 February 1942.
(C-3: dp. 4413; l. 336'; b. 48'8"; dr. 20'6"; s. 20.1 k.; cpl. 383; a. 4 8", 6 6"; cl. Baltimore)
The fifth Baltimore (CA-68) was launched 28 July 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Fore River, Massachusetts, sponsored by Mrs. Howard W. Jackson, wife of the Mayor of Baltimore; commissioned April 15, 1943, Captain W. C. Calhoun in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.
Between November 1943 and June 1944 Baltimore was a unit of the fire support and covering forces at the Makin Islands landings (20 November-4 December 1943); Kwajalein[ invasion (29 January-8 February 1944), Truk raid (16-17 February); Eniwetok seizure (17 February-2 March), Marianas attacks (21-22 February), Palau-Yap-Ulithi-Wolesi raid (30 March-1 April); Hollandia landing (21-24 April); Truk-Satawan-Ponape raid (29 April-1 May), air strikes against Marcus Island (19-20 May) and Wake Island (23 May), Saipan invasion (11-24 June); and the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June).
Returning to the United States in July 1944, she embarked President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his party and steamed to Pearl Harbor. After meeting with Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur, the President was carried to Alaska where he departed Baltimore 9 August 1944.
Returning to the war zone in November 1944, she was assigned to the 3rd Fleet and participated in the attacks on Luzon (14-16 December 1944; and 6-7 January 1946); Formosa (3-4, 9, 15, and 21 January); the China coast (12 and 16 January); and Okinawa (22 January).
On 26 January she joined the 5th Fleet for her final operations of the war: Honshu Island attacks (16-17 February); Iwo Jima operation (19 February-5 March); and the 5th Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation (18 March-10 June).
After the cessation of hostilities Baltimore served as a unit of the "Magic Carpet" fleet and then as a part of the naval occupation force in Japan (29 November 1945-17 February 1946). Departing the Far East 17 February 1946 she returned to the United States and went out of commission in reserve 8 July 1846 at Bremerton, Washington.
Baltimore was recommissioned 28 November 1951 and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. She was deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean during the summers of 1952, 1953, and 1954. In June 1953 she represented the United States Navy in the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead, England. On 5 January 1955 she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and was deployed with the 7th Fleet in the Far East between February and August 1955.
Baltimore commenced pre-inactivation overhaul upon her return from the Far East and went out of commission in reserve at Bremerton, 31 May 1956.
Baltimore received nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific during World War II.
(CA-68: dp. 13,300; l. 673'5"; b. 70'10"; dr. 26'10"; s. 33 k.; cpl. 1142; a. 9 8", 12 5"; cl. Baltimore)
The sixth Baltimore (SSN 704) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine.