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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS BIRMINGHAM Scout Cruiser 2 / (CL 2)

CLASS - CHESTER
Displacement 3,750 Tons, Dimensions, 423' 1" (oa) x 47' 1" x 19' 3" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/50, 6 x 3"/50 2 x 21" tt.
Armor, 2" Belt.
Machinery, 15,670 IHP; 2, Vertical Triple Expansion Engines, 2 screws
Speed, 24.33 (trial) Knots, Crew 356.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid at Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, MA
Launched 29 MAY 1907
Commissioned 11 APR 1908
Decommissioned 30 JUN 1911
Recommissioned 15 DEC 1911
Decommissioned 20 APR 1912
Commissioned 19 MAY 1912
Decommissioned 11 JUL 1912
Recommissioned 01 OCT 1913
Reclassified CL 2 17 JUL 1920
Decommissioned 1 DEC 1923
Stricken 21 JAN 1930
Fate: Sold for scrap 13 MAY 1930

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Mexican Service Medal - World War I Victory Medal w/ESCORT Clasp


Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Salem
0400320
777k USS Birmingham (CS-2) and USS Salem (CS-3) completing, at the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Massachusetts, circa early 1908. Original is a color tinted postcard, mailed at Quincy on 9 September 1909. Courtesy of Captain Don Fink, 1983Photo NH 94937 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Birmingham
0400227
250k

Stern view while in drydock on 5 March 1908.

Historic New England Nathaniel L. Stebbins Collection, Photo No. PC047.02.4500.18498

Mike Green
Birmingham
0400205
132k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) Running sea trials in March 1908. She is flying the flag of her builder, the Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, Massachusetts, from her mainmast.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 56390.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400206
98k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) Underway in 11 March 1908, possibly during trials.

Historic New England Nathaniel L. Stebbins Collection, Photo No. PC047.02.5940.18505

USNHC
Birmingham
0400202
101k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) Dressed with flags while at anchor, circa 1909. Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 101517.

Fred Weiss/USNHC
Salem
0400312
NR Uncle Sam to Race Three Ocean Greyhounds Across Ocean
At Top: Cruiser Chester in Center: Cruiser Birmingham, and at Bottom Cruiser Salem, three Scout Boats from the Navy Department Which Are to Negotiate a 5,000-Mile Race.
The navy department is about to institute a naval race unprecedented in naval history.
To the Azores and back, a distance of some 5,000 miles, three scout cruisers are to be sent away on a record defying trip for the purpose of settling the much mooted question of superiority of different types of engines used in American naval construction.
Image and text provided by State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Photo from The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 17 March 1909, Image 7, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Salem
0400319
NR TWO SEASICK OPERATORS
Reason the Wireless Equipment on Scout Cruisers Salem and Birmingham Failed to Work
Image and text provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library.
Photo from The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 30 December 1909, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Birmingham
0400230
72k

Eugene B. Ely setting his Curtiss Pusher Plane on skids in preparation for hoisting it aboard USS Birmingham (CS 2) at Hampton Roads VA Navy Yard. November 1910 Photograph. This was not a Navy plane and Eli never was in the Navy, but his importance to Naval aviation is recognized by the USN in many ways, including awarding him the Distinguished Flying Cross many years after his premature death in 1911. Photo from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks, Vol. II. Page 80.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph

USNHC
Birmingham
0400212
72k

A floating crane lifts Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane onto USS Birmingham (CS 2), at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77549.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400213
69k

A floating crane places Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board USS Birmingham (CS 2). Photographed at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77550.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400214
85k

Sailors and civilians crowd around Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane as a floating crane places it on board USS Birmingham (CS 2). Photographed at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77562.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400215
109k

Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on the takeoff platform of USS Birmingham (CS 2), just after it was hoisted aboard by a floating crane. Photograph taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98131.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400216
83k

Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane rests on the flying-off platform built over the foredeck of USS Birmingham (CS 2). Photograph taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. The floating crane that had lifted the airplane onto the ship is visible at the extreme left. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77551.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400217
72k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) steams downriver from the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, with Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board, at about midday on 14 November 1910. Ely and his plane made their historic flight later that afternoon. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77554.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400218
64k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) bound for Hampton Roads, after leaving the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, with Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board, 14 November 1910. Ely took his plane off from Birmingham later that afternoon.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 1831.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400219
48k

Eugene B. Ely flies his Curtiss pusher airplane off the deck of USS Birmingham (CS 2), in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the afternoon of 14 November 1910. USS Roe (DD 24) is visible beyond Birmingham's bow, acting as plane guard. Note that Birmingham's anchor is in the process of being hoisted. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 77563.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400220
59k

Eugene B. Ely takes his Curtiss pusher airplane off from the deck of USS Birmingham (CS 2), in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the afternoon of 14 November 1910. USS Roe (DD 24), serving as plane guard, is visible in the background. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 76511.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400225
109k

The flag-draped caskets of the victims of the USS Maine explosion are brought ashore at the Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, from USS Birmingham (CS 2), 23 March 1912.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 1690.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400221
102k

Port bow view while participating in the Naval Review, 12 October 1912. Part of the National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress)

Library of Congress #LC-DIG-npcc-32744

Tom Kermen
Birmingham
0400201
75k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) during the 1912 Naval Review.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 61899.

Mike Green/USNHC
Birmingham
0400223
941k

Naval recruits at the Newport Naval Training Station lined up for inspection. The scout cruiser USS Birmingham (CS 2) can be seen in the background.

Photo by Underwood and Underwood.

Robert Hurst
Birmingham
0400226
130k

Port side view while underway 25 August 1915, location unknown.

Historic New England Nathaniel L. Stebbins Collection, Photo No. PC047.02.5560.23366

Mike Green
Birmingham
0400203
74k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) In Brest harbor, France, on 15 October 1918. During 1917-1918 she was flagship of U.S. Forces at Gibraltar and escorted convoys in the eastern Atlantic. Note her "dazzle" camouflage. Courtesy of John G. Krieger, 1966-1967.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 56393.

Fred Weiss/USNHC
Birmingham
0400229
169k Similar to previous photo, probably the same location and date. David Wright
Birmingham
0400207
145k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) Moored in Gibraltar harbor, British Territory of Gibraltar, circa 1918. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. (Caption updated by Andrew Schembri)

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 68227.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400224
139k

USS Birmingham (CL 2) in dry dock at the Boston Navy Yard sometime between 17 January?€“18 February 1919

Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collections

Mike Green
Birmingham
0400228
311k Here's a nice crew shot of ship's signal gang. Judging by uniforms, would say post-World War One. Looks like she has the flush-decker style wind deflectors on her bridge, too. The 4 men holding semaphore flags are spelling out "B" "H" "A" "M". David Wright
Birmingham
0400222
280k Starboard side view while underway, location unknown but possibly with the Pacific Fleet in 1919. Robert M. Cieri
Birmingham
0400208
54k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) At Boston, Massachusetts, 20 February 1919. Photographed by J. Crosby, Naval Photographer, 11 Portland St., Boston, Mass. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Crosby Collection.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 98132.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400204
132k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) In the Middle West Chamber, Gatun Locks, during the passage of the Pacific Fleet through the Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 75717.

Fred Weiss/USNHC
Birmingham
0400209
76k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) At Seattle, Washington, in September 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 56394.

USNHC
Birmingham
0400210
76k

USS Birmingham (CS 2) At anchor in San Diego Harbor, California, circa late 1919 or early 1920, when she was flagship of Destroyer Squadron Four. Note the pair of World War I "Overseas Service" chevrons painted on her forward smokestack.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 102784-B.

USNHC
Birmingham
0512701
102k

USS Birmingham (CL 2) Leading destroyers out of a West Coast harbor (probably San Diego), circa 1919-1922. The ships directly behind her are USS Twiggs (DD 127) and USS Chauncey (DD 296). Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 69510.

USNHC

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Walling, Burns Tracy, CDR 1876 COMO 04/11/1908 - 02/24/1909
Howard, William Lauriston, CDR 1882 RADM 02/24/1909 - 10/28/1909
Fletcher Sr., William Bartlett, CDR 1877 RADM 10/28/1909 - 05/10/1911
Jones Jr., Hilary Pollard CDR 1884 ADM 05/10/1911 - 06/30/1911
Decommissioned     06/30/1911 - 09/08/1911
Whitlock, Guy, LT (First Tour)     09/08/1911 - 12/18/1911
Hughes, Charles Frederick, CDR 1888 RADM 12/18/1911 - 08/15/1912
Decommissioned     04/20/1912 - 05/19/1912
Decommissioned     07/11/1912 - 10/01/1913
Whitlock, Guy, LT (2nd Tour)     08/15/1912 - 03/04/1913
Joyce, Myles, LT     03/04/1913 - 01/08/1914
Pratt, William Veazie, CAPT 1889 ADM 01/08/1914 - 11/05/1914
Hussey, Charles Lincoln, CAPT 1892 RADM 11/05/1914 - 01/01/1915
Sellers, David Foote, CDR 1894 ADM 01/01/1915 - 06/09/1916
Blamer, DeWitt, CAPT 1891   06/09/1916 - 04/28/1919
Evans, Franck Taylor, CDR 1898   04/28/1919 - 11/22/1920
Landenberger, George Bertram, CAPT 1900   11/22/1920 - 11/22/1921
Castleman, Kenneth Grayson., CDR     11/22/1921 - 12/01/1923

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)


USS BIRMINGHAM Scout Cruiser 2/(CL 2) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Not Applicable To This Ship

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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