The New Navy, 1883-1922

The third volume of The U.S. Navy Warship Series covers the fifty-year period from 1883-1922. In 1883, Congress authorized the first ships of the "New Navy" and ordered removal of all obsolete ships. All US Navy ships since that time have stemmed from these first three cruisers. The numbering system in effect since 1920 was effectively begun in 1886.

The ships built during the next few years fought in the Spanish-American War. The success and popularity of the naval victories of that war tog...