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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS TENNESSEE - MEMPHIS (Armored Cruiser No. 10/CA 10)


   

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: Nan - Uncle - George
(Courtesy of John Spivey)


CLASS - TENNESSEE
Displacement 14,500 Tons, Dimensions, 504' 5" (oa) x 72' 11" x 27' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 10"/40, 16 x 6"/50 22 x 3"/50, 12 x 3pdr, 2 x 1pdr, 4 x 21" tt.
Armor, 5" Belt, 9" Turrets, 4" Deck, 9" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 23,000 IHP; 2 Vertical, Inverted, Triple Expansion Engines, 2 screws
Speed, 22 Knots, Crew 856.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 20 JUN 1903 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, PA
Launched 3 DEC 1904
Commissioned 17 JUL 1906
Renamed Memphis 25 MAY 1916
On the afternoon of 29 AUG 1916, while at anchor in the harbor of San Domingo,
MEMPHIS was driven ashore by an unexpected tidal wave and totally wrecked.
The casualties, including a boatload of MEMPHIS sailors returning from shore leave,
numbered some 40 men dead or missing and 204 badly injured.
Stricken 17 DEC 1917
Fate: Sold for scrap 17 JAN 1922


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Haitian Campaign Medal - Dominican Campaign Medal

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Tennessee
acr1051
223k William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia, PA circa 1904. Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) under construction prior to launch. Michael Mohl
Tennessee
acr1052
362k William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia, PA circa 1904. Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) under construction prior to launch. Michael Mohl
Tennessee
acr1053
727k William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia, PA circa 1905. Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) moored, starboard side to while under construction. Michael Mohl
Memphis
acr1044
212k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) date and place unknown. This photo from a collection called "California's Reception to the Fleet 1908". Darryl Baker
Memphis
acr1046
294k Postcard with undated colorized image of Tennessee. Arnold Putnam
Memphis
acr1048
228k

The armored cruiser USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) as completed with two military masts.

USN photo

Robert Hurst
North Carolina
acr1055
114k Starboard view underway. This is a photograph of USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10). Unlike North Carolina, her stacks were a uniform width. She can be differentiated from the other uniform stacked sister, USS Washington (Armored Cruiser No. 11), by the presence of searchlights on her mainmast fighting top and the configuration of port holes on the bow. (caption updated by Evan Dwyer) Larry Bonn
Memphis
acr1050
229k Starboard bow view, possibly in Philadelphia during the Winter of 1906-1907. David Wright
Memphis 26k

USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) At anchor, circa 1907.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50093.

USNHC
Memphis 31k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) in drydock at the the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa 1907-1908, with men cleaning her underwater hull. Note the ship's bow decoration. Collection of Harry Gilfillan.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94025.

USNHC
Memphis 48k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) at anchor in 1909, soon after the adoption of all-grey paint for U.S. Navy ships.
Note that fancy scrollwork still decorates her bow. Donation of USS Parsons (DD 949), 1967.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 86813.

USNHC
Memphis 84k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) at the the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa 1909-1910. Collection of Harry Gilfillan.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94000.

USNHC
Memphis 94k Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine -Ships tied up at the Navy Yard's waterfront, circa 1911-1912. At left is USS Wisconsin (BB 9), with her "cage" mainmast apparently being installed. Ship in the right center, with a five masted schooner alongside, is either USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) or USS Washington (Armored Cruiser No. 11). Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Raymond Stone.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46553.

USNHC
Memphis 90k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) in New York Harbor during the October 1912 Naval review. Erie Railroad piers are visible in the left background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46216.

USNHC
Memphis 77k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) in New York Harbor, probably during the October 1912 Naval review. Photographed by E. Muller.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46215.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1045
738k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) in Dry Dock Number 2 at the Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine in 1913. In the background, on the right, you can see building 79, where I first started working at the Yard in June of 1979. Just off center in the back, the building with the white dot at the top is building 86. That is where the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War was signed in 1905.
Arnold Putnam
Memphis
acr1045
744k Photo in the Dakota County Herald dated 03 December 1914 called 'Target For Turks' "Friendly" Shot. Michael Mohl
Memphis 76k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) seen from astern while in dry dock, circa 1914-1915. Note the ship's twin three-bladed propellers. Collection of Earl P. Crandall.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #100919.

USNHC
Memphis 60k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) coaling alongside USS Vulcan (AC 5) at Alexandria, Egypt, circa late 1914 or early 1915. Note the lateen-rigged sailboat at right. Collection of Earl P. Crandall.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 100920.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1049
362k A postcard showing refugees from Jaffa, Palestine disembarking from USS Tennessee in Alexandria, Egypt on 14 February 1915. Donated from the collection of Wesley F. Moore. Wesley F. Moore
Memphis 26k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) transiting the Panama Canal, circa 1915-1916, in tow of the tug Mariner. Note the dredge in the center background. Courtesy of Leonard R. Efrein, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 76320.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1019
100k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This photo appears to have been taken soon after the actual incident as you can see many crewmembers on the decks waiting to be evacuated. Michael Barry
Memphis
acr1020
89k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note water streaming from the ship's foredeck, and violent wave action around her bow. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46224.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1021
91k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916.
This view probably was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note water streaming from her decks. Men are visible atop her forward gun turret, at her port deck edge and on her bridge. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46225.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1022
81k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note waves breaking over the ship's superstructure, and lines rigged between ship and shore. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46228.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1023
88k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note Sailors on the rocks in the center foreground. Other men are visible on the ship's superstructure. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46226.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1024
87k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note water streaming from the ship's superstructure, and the U.S. Ensign flying from her stern. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46220.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1025
83k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken during the late afternoon or early evening, as Memphis was being abandoned. Note water streaming from the ship's superstructure. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46221.

USNHC
Memphis 80k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Note the anchor chain running seaward from her starboard bow.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 59921.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1026
78k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46219.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1027
87k USS Memphis Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Note the lines running between the ship's superstructure and the shore. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46229.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1028
70k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46222.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1029
97k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Note the U.S. Ensign hanging from the ship's stern where the flagstaff had broken away. The top of her rudder and propeller is also visible. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46227.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1030
72k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was thrown ashore by tidal waves on the afternoon of 29 August 1916. This view probably was taken early on 30 August, as the ship appears to be abandoned. Note the U.S. Ensign hanging from the ship's stern where the flagstaff had broken away, and the embarkation ladder hanging from the port side deck edge by the after gun turret. Photographed by the local U.S. Consul, Carl M.J. von Zeilinski.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 46223.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1054
313k Memphis being stripped of supplies and equipment, shortly after being wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Note that the Jack is still flying so she is still in commission. Jaume Cifr?© S?ˇnchez
Memphis
acr1031
95k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) view on the ship's foredeck, looking aft. Photographed while she was being stripped of supplies and equipment, shortly after being wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 29 August 1916. Note anchor chains, forward ten-inch gun turret, windsails and ship's bell. Collection of LCDR Abraham DeSomer, donated by Lieutenant Colonel R.H. DeSomer, USAF, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 82102.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1032
79k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) Wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was driven ashore by tidal waves on 29 August 1916. This photograph was taken during the early stages of salvage operations, as Sailors were working to remove the ship's guns, equipment and supplies. Note the walkway from shore to ship in the center of the view. Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 99954.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1033
98k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was driven ashore by tidal waves on 29 August 1916. This photograph was taken shortly afterwards, as the ship's guns, equipment and supplies were being removed. Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 99956.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1034
74k
USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) seen from astern at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was wrecked by tidal waves on 29 August 1916. This photograph was taken shortly afterwards, as the ship's guns, equipment and supplies were being removed. Note the tips of Memphis' propeller blades above the water surface, and U.S. Ensign flying from her stern. Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 99957.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1035
61k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) wrecked at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she was driven ashore by tidal waves on 29 August 1916. This photograph was taken shortly afterwards, as the ship's guns, equipment and supplies were being removed. Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 99955.

USNHC
Memphis 254k On the rocks at Santo Domingo Harbor after being driven ashore from an unexpected tsunami on 29 August 1916. Note that most everything usable has been stripped from her. Jon Burdett
Memphis 174k On the rocks at Santo Domingo Harbor after being driven ashore from an unexpected tsunami on 29 August 1916. Jon Burdett
Memphis
acr1036
49k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) View of the ship's wreck at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, circa mid-1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Note that the rear of her forward turret is missing, facilitating removal of its two ten-inch guns. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49910.

USNHC
Memphis 52k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) - View of the ship's wreck at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in July 1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Note walkway on cables leading from shore to the ship's boat deck and chute running out from the after port main deck six-inch gun casemate. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49909.

USNHC
Memphis 50k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) - View of the ship's wreck at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 30 July 1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49911.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1037
66k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) view of the ship's wreck at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, circa mid-1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of topside gear, guns and other supplies and equipment.
Note walkway on cables leading from shore to the ship's boat deck. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49908.

USNHC
Memphis 73k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) - View on the ship's after deck, looking forward, at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 30 July 1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Note the after ten-inch gun turret, with guns removed, in the center of the photograph. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph NH 49913.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1038
71k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) view on the ship's boat deck, looking forward on the port side, at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in August 1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Note the port boat crane in the center of the photograph. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49914.

USNHC
Memphis 59k USS Memphis (Armored Cruiser No. 10) - View of the ship's wreck at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in August 1917. She had been cast ashore by a tidal wave on 29 August 1916, and by this time had been largely stripped of guns, supplies and equipment. Collection of John G. Krieger, 1967. He was serving in USS Eagle when the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 49915.

USNHC
Memphis 107k USS Tennessee (Armored Cruiser No. 10) - Ship's bow decoration on display in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee, where it was erected as a monument. This large decoration was removed from the ship in about 1909. Courtesy of Milton von Mann, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 67887.

USNHC
Memphis
acr1040
179k The USS Tennessee / Memphis bow decoration. It is in a very nice section of Centennial Park across the street from Vanderbilt University. Tim Lawson
Memphis
acr1041
139k The USS Tennessee / Memphis bow decoration. It is in a very nice section of Centennial Park across the street from Vanderbilt University. Tim Lawson
Memphis
acr1042
  Starboard quarter view of a model of the USS Tennessee at the Tennessee Military Museum in Nashville, TN. Larry Lee
Memphis
acr1043
  Stern view of a model of the USS Tennessee at the Tennessee Military Museum in Nashville, TN. Larry Lee

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Berry, Albert Gleaves, CAPT 1869   07/17/1906 - 10/19/1907
Howard, Thomas Benton, CAPT 1873 RADM 10/19/1907 - 07/09/1908
Fiske, Bradley Allen, CAPT 1874 RADM 07/09/1908
Dismukes, Douglas Eugene, LCDR 1890   08/05/1910 - 08/25/1910
Knapp, Harry Shepard, CAPT 1878 VADM 08/25/1910
Field, Harry Ashby, CAPT 1883 RADM 04/18/1912 - 08/03/1913
Kavanagh, Arthur Glynn, LCDR 1894   08/03/1913 - 11/05/1913
Selfridge, Duncan Ingraham, LT 1905   11/05/1913 - 12/12/1913
Fischer, Charles Hermann, LCDR 1899   12/12/1913 - 01/08/1914
Kaiser, Louis Anthony, CDR 1889   01/08/1914 - 05/06/1914
Patton, James Bryson, CDR     05/06/1914 - 1914
Decker, Benton Clark, CAPT 1887   08/05/1914 - 12/24/1915
Beach Sr., Edward Latimer, CAPT 1888   12/24/1915 - 08/29/1916

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


USS TENNESSEE - MEMPHIS (Armored Cruiser No. 10) 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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