Fullbore Friday

USS New York (CA-2).

New York ... joined the European Squadron, in 1895, and steamed to Kiel, where she represented the United States at the opening of the Kiel Canal. Rejoining the North Atlantic Squadron, New York operated off Fort Monroe, Charleston, and New York through 1897.

New York departed Fort Monroe 17 January 1898 for Key West. After the declaration of the Spanish-American War in April, New York steamed to Cuba and bombarded the defenses at Matanzas before joining other American ships at San Juan in May, seeking the Spanish squadron. Not finding it, they bombarded El Morro Castle at San Juan (12 May) before withdrawing. New York departed New York Harbor 27 December 1893 for Rio de Janeiro, arriving Taipu Beach in January 1894, she remained there until heading home 23 March, via Nicaragua and the West Indies. Transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron in August, the cruiser returned to West Indian waters for winter exercises and was commended for her aid during a fire that threatened to destroy Port of Spain, Trinidad. then became flagship of Admiral Sampson's squadron, as the American commander planned the campaign against Santiago; the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, 3 July, resulted in complete destruction of the Spanish fleet.

She was the Flagship for the Caribbean Fleet during the Spanish-American War - and besides a passing shot or two didn't do much, but that isn't what interests me for this post. This is.

Decommissioned for the last time in April 1933, she was laid up at Olongapo, Philippines, until scuttled in December 1941 to avoid the risk of capture by the Japanese.

You can dive on her. Don't steal anything from her though. She doesn't like that.

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