USS Marblehead

From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 
(1969) Vol. 4, pp.229-230.

C-11
Displacement:  2,072 t.
Length:  269’6”
Beam:  37’
Draft:  14’6”
Speed:  18 k.
Complement:  274
Armament:  9 5”; 6 6-pdrs.; 2 1-pdrs.; 2 MG
Class:  DETROIT

	The second MARBLEHEAD, an unarmored cruiser, was laid 
down in October 1890 by City Point Works, Boston, Mass.; 
launched 11 August 1892; sponsored by Mrs. C. F. Allen and 
commissioned 2 April 1894, Comdr. Charles O'Neil in command.

	Assigned to the North Atlantic Station, MARBLEHEAD 
departed New York 6 June 1894 for the Caribbean to protect 
American lives and property threatened by a change of 
government in Nicaragua.  Arriving Bluefields 19 June, the 
ship found that city to be the point of greatest danger.  On 
7 July, in response to dispatches from the American consul, 
she put ashore a landing party of marines and bluejackets to 
keep order and protect American interests.  Reinforced by a 
second party 31 July, this force remained ashore until 7 
August.  Five days later, MARBLEHEAD departed Bluefields to 
continue cruising the Caribbean, showing the flag in Latin 
American waters until 26 November, when she departed Port 
Royal, Jamaica, for Hampton Roads, Va., arriving 6 December.

	The cruiser stood out from Norfolk 4 March 1895 for 
duty on the European Station.  Sailing via the Azores, the 
ship arrived Gibraltar on the 31st.  During April and May, 
she cruised the Mediterranean, spending much time on patrol 
in Syrian waters, and then steamed for Germany to represent 
the United States at the opening of the Kiel Canal 20 June.  
For the next 5 months, the ship cruised along the coast of 
western Europe and in the Mediterranean steaming over 11,000 
miles and visiting more than 40 foreign ports.  MARBLEHEAD 
returned to the United States, anchoring at Tompkinsville, 
N.Y., 23 November 1896.

	On 1 February 1897, the ship was again assigned to the 
North Atlantic Station, and for the remainder of the year 
cruised the east coast and the Caribbean in training.  At 
the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, MARBLEHEAD was at 
Key West, Fla.  Immediately sailing for Cuban waters, she 
arrived off Havana 23 April 1898 and then proceeded to 
Cienfuegos where she shelled enemy vessels and 
fortifications on the 29th.  After joining the blockading 
squadron, she cut the cables off Cienfuegos 11 May, and then 
patrolled off Santiago de Cuba until the beginning of June.  
In company with schooner-rigged cruiser YANKEE, MARBLEHEAD 
captured the lower bay of Guantanamo as a base for the fleet 
7 June, and on the 10th supported the landing of a battalion 
of Marines there.  Continuing operations in the bay, she 
helped battleship TEXAS destroy the Spanish fort on Cayo del 
Toro 15 June.

	The ship remained in Cuban waters until 2 September, 
when she sailed for the St. Lawrence River 20 October to 
participate in ceremonies opening the Champlain monument in 
Quebec.  She repaired at Boston Navy Yard from 2 November 
1898 to 9 February 1899, and, following a brief cruise to 
the Caribbean, proceeded through the Straits Of Magellan 16 
June to join the Pacific Squadron 4 July.  She cruised off 
the coast of South America, Mexico, and California until she 
decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard 30 April 1900.

	MARBLEHEAD recommissioned 10 November 1902 to devote 
the next 4 years to cruising along the west coast of North 
and South America, from Alaska to Chile on training and 
protocol missions.  From October 1903 to March 1904, she 
served as flagship of Rear Adm. Henry Glass, Commander of 
the Pacific Squadron.  The cruiser decommissioned at Mare 
Island Navy Yard 1 October 1906 and remained at the yard 
until 31 March 1910, when she was loaned to the California 
Naval Militia as a training ship.  She was placed in 
commission in reserve 22 July 1911, and in 1916 was turned 
over to the Oregon Naval Militia as training ship for that 
State.

	MARBLEHEAD was again placed in full commission 6 April 
1917 at the navy yard, Puget Sound, Wash., and on 4 May was 
ordered to the Pacific Patrol Force.  She was employed on 
convoy, patrol, and survey duty, operating off Mexico and in 
search of possible German raiders in the California area 
until 11 June 1918, when she proceeded, via the Panama 
Canal, to Key West for duty with the American patrol 
detachment.  Arriving Key West 22 June, the ship spent the 
remainder of World War I in the Caribbean, engaged in escort 
and patrol duty.  Detached from patrol duty 4 December, the 
veteran cruiser steamed to join Division 2, Pacific Fleet.  
She arrived Mare Island 17 February 1919 and decommissioned 
21 August.  Reclassified PG-27 in July 1920, MARBLEHEAD was 
sold 5 August 1921.


Transcribed by Michael Hansen