View source for USS West Virginia (ACR-5)

{{Short description|United States Navy Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser}}
{{Other ships|USS West Virginia|USS Huntington}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USSWestVirginiaACR5.jpg
 |image_caption=USS ''Huntington'' (ACR-5), port view, 1919. Showing cage masts installed 1911 and catapult removed.
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1930}}
 |name=*''West Virginia'' (1905–1916)
       *''Huntington'' (1916–1930)
 |namesake=*State of [[West Virginia]]
           *City of [[Huntington, West Virginia|Huntington]], West Virginia
 |ordered=3 March 1899
 |awarded=24 January 1901
 |original_cost= $3,885,000 (contract price of hull and machinery)
 |builder=[[Newport News Shipbuilding|Newport News Drydock & Shipbuilding Co.]], [[Newport News, Virginia]]
 |laid_down= 16 September 1901
 |launched= 18 April 1903
 |completed=
 |acquired=
 |sponsor=Miss Katherine V. White
 |commissioned= 23 February 1905
 |decommissioned= 1 September 1920
 |renamed= ''Huntington'', 11 November 1916
 |reclassified=CA-5, 17 July 1920
 |refit=
 |struck=12 March 1930
 |homeport=
 |identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]: ACR-5
                 *Hull symbol: CA-5
 |motto=
 |nickname=
 |honors=
 |fate=Sold for scrap, 30 August 1930
 |notes=
 |badge=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption= (as built)
 |class={{sclass|Pennsylvania|cruiser|0}} [[armored cruiser]]
 |displacement=
*{{cvt|13680|LT|0|lk=in}} (standard)
*{{cvt|15138|LT|0}} (full load)
 |length=
*{{cvt|503|ft|11|in|lk=in}} [[length overall|oa]]
*{{cvt|502|ft}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp]]
 |beam={{cvt|69|ft|6|in}}
 |draft={{cvt|24|ft|1|in}} (mean)
 |power=
*16 × [[Babcock and Wilcox boiler#Babcock & Wilcox boiler|Babcock & Wilcox boilers]]
*{{cvt|23000|ihp|lk=in}}
 |propulsion=
*2 × [[Triple expansion engine|vertical triple expansion]] [[reciprocating engine]]s
*2 × [[Propeller|screw]]s
 |speed=
*{{cvt|22|kn|lk=in}}
*{{cvt|22.15|kn}} (Speed on [[Sea trial|Trials]])
 |range=
 |complement=80 officers 745 enlisted 64 [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]]
 |armament=
*4 × [[8"/35 caliber gun|{{cvt|8|in|0}}/40]] [[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] Mark 5 [[Breech-loading weapon|breech-loading (BL) rifles]](2×2)
*14 × [[6-inch/50-caliber gun|{{cvt|6|in|0}}/50 cal]] Mark 6 BL rifles
*18 × [[3-inch/50-caliber gun|{{cvt|3|in|0}}/50 cal]] rapid-fire guns
*12 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss#American service|3-pounder]] ({{cvt|47|mm}}) [[Driggs-Schroeder]] guns
*2 × [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom#United States|1-pounder]] ({{cvt|37|mm}}) Driggs-Schroeder [[Saluting guns#Heavy arms: gun salutes|saluting guns]]
*2 × [[American 18 inch torpedo|18 inch (450 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
 |armor=
*'''[[Belt armor|Belt]]:''' {{cvt|6|in}} (top & waterline)
*{{cvt|5|in}} (bottom)
*'''[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]:''' {{cvt|1+1/2|in}}- 6 in (amidships)
*{{cvt|4|in}} (forward & aft)
*'''[[Barbette]]s:''' 6 in
*'''[[Gun turret|Turret]]s:''' 6 - {{cvt|6+1/2|in}}
*'''[[Conning tower|Conning Tower]]:''' {{cvt|9|in}}
 |notes=
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption= (Pre-1911 Refit)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rXijAAAAMAAJ | title=Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels | publisher=US Naval Department | date=1 January 1914 | access-date=16 September 2015 | pages=24–31}}</ref>
 |armament=
*4 × [[8"/45 caliber gun|8 in/45]] cal Mark 6 BL rifles (2×2)
*14 × 6 in/50 cal Mark 6 BL rifles
*18 × 3 in/50 cal rapid-fire guns
*4 × 3-pounder (47 mm) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns
*2 × 18 in torpedo tubes
 }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption= (Pre-1921 Refit)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q2gYAQAAIAAJ | title=Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels | year=1921 | publisher=US Navy | access-date=15 September 2015 | pages=50}}</ref>
 |armament=
*4 × 8 in/45 caliber Mark 6 BL rifles (2×2)
*14 × 6 in/50 Mark 6 caliber BL rifles
*10 × 3 in/50 caliber rapid-fire guns
*2 × 3 in/50 caliber [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]]
*4 × 3-pounder (47 mm) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns
*2 × 18 in torpedo tubes
 |aircraft=4 × [[floatplane]]s (1917)
 |aircraft_facilities=1 × [[Aft]] [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]] (1917)
 }}
}}

'''USS ''West Virginia''''' ([[Hull number|hull number]] '''ACR-5/CA-5)''', also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 5", was a [[United States Navy]] {{sclass|Pennsylvania|cruiser|0}} [[armored cruiser]] and the first United States Navy vessel named for the U.S. state of West Virginia. She was renamed '''''Huntington''''' in 1916 as the U.S. Navy designated that only [[Battleship|battleships]] would carry the names of U.S. states.

The ship was launched on 18 April 1903 by [[Newport News Shipbuilding|Newport News Drydock & ShipbuildingCo.]], [[Newport News, Virginia]], sponsored by Miss Katherine V. White, and commissioned on 23 February 1905, [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[C. H. Arnold]] in command.<ref name=DANFS>{{cite web|title=Huntington I (Armored Cruiser No. 5)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/huntington-i.html|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command | date=20 July 2015 |access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref> After 15 years in active service, ''Huntington'' was decommissioned in September 1920, struck from the naval register in March 1930, and sold for scrap later that year.

==Pre-World War I==
After shakedown training, ''West Virginia'' cruised with the [[New York Naval Militia]] as a unit of the [[United States Fleet Forces Command|Atlantic Fleet]] until 30 September 1906 when she sailed for duty with the [[United States Asiatic Fleet|Asiatic Fleet]]. The ship remained with the Asiatic Fleet (which was downgraded in status to that of First [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]] in early 1907) on training operations for two years, and after overhaul at [[Mare Island]] in 1908 joined the Pacific Fleet for similar exercises along the [[West Coast of the United States]]. In 1911–1912, she made a cruise with the Fleet to [[Hawaii]]an waters and in 1914 steamed on special duty off the west coast of [[Mexico]] for the protection of American interests.  She remained off Mexico during the [[United States occupation of Veracruz|Veracruz crisis]], and returned to [[Bremerton, Washington]], to become a part of the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]].<ref name="DANFS" />

''West Virginia'' remained at [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], until 20 September 1916, when she again sailed to Mexico for the protection of American lives and property and to back up U.S. diplomacy. While on this service, she was renamed '''''Huntington''''' on 11 November to permit the assignment of her old name to a newly authorized [[battleship]], {{USS|West Virginia|BB-48|1}}. After five months service off Mexico, she steamed to Mare Island for the installation of [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]] devices on the quarterdeck and equipment to accommodate four [[seaplane]]s on the boat deck ways.<ref name="DANFS" />

==World War I==
[[File:USS Huntington (ACR-5) at Pensacola FL in 1917.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Huntington'' (ACR-5) anchored at Pensacola, FL in 1917, putting aloft a rather under-inflated Kite balloon. Note the long stabilizing tail on the balloon.]]
''Huntington'' was detached from the Reserve Force and placed in full commission on 5 April 1917.  She departed Mare Island on 11 May and steamed to [[Pensacola, Florida]], via the [[Panama Canal]]. Detached from the Pacific Fleet after her arrival in Florida on 28 May, she spent the next two months at the [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], engaging in a series of important early experiments with [[balloon]]s and seaplanes launched from the deck. The cruiser then sailed for [[Hampton Roads]] on 1 August and arrived New York five days later. There, ''Huntington'' formed with a [[convoy]] of six [[troopship]]s bound for [[France]] departing on 8 September. ''En route'', several balloon observation flights were made, and on one of these on 17 September, the balloon was forced down by a squall while being brought back on board and the observer, Lieutenant (jg) Henry W. Hoyt, was knocked out of the basket and caught underwater entangled in its rigging. Seeing the emergency, [[shipfitter]] [[Patrick McGunigal]] jumped overboard to release the crewman from the balloon basket, by then overturned and underwater. For his heroic action, McGunigal was awarded [[List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I|World War I]]'s 3rd [[Medal of Honor]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART02.PDF |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 June 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203214154/http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART02.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref> The day after the rescue, the convoy was turned over to American destroyers in European waters; and ''Huntington'' steamed back to Hampton Roads, arriving 30 September.<ref name="DANFS" />

After replenishing at Norfolk, ''Huntington'' sailed to New York on 5 October to have her catapult and seaplanes removed. She got underway on 27 October and arrived [[City of Halifax|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]], two days later to embark together with {{USS|St. Louis|C-20|2}} on a high-level US Commission to confer with the Allies. Presidential envoy, [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] [[Edward M. House]]; [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[William S. Benson]]; [[General (United States)|General]] [[Tasker H. Bliss]]; and other dignitaries took passage in ''Huntington'', arriving Davenport, England on 7 November, to be met by British officials. ''Huntington'' departed for New York, via Hampton Roads, arriving on 27 November.<ref name="DANFS" /><ref>Report on American War Mission to Great Britain and France; 15 Dec 1917; Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917, Supplement 2, Volume 1: 334-83</ref>

Subsequently, the cruiser returned to the important duty of escorting convoys of troops and supplies to Europe, making nine such voyages to Europe and back from 19 February-13 November 1918. In addition, ''Huntington'' made three coastal convoy passages from New York to Hampton Roads. She entered [[Brooklyn Navy Yard]] on 17 November for conversion to a [[Troopship|troop transport]].<ref name="DANFS" />

''Huntington'' made nine trips across the Atlantic Ocean with the following ships in convoy:

=== Port of departure and sailing date ===
* ''First Trip— New York, September 7. 1917'' Pastores, Pocahontas, DeKalb, Tenadores, Mallory and the Mawmee, Destroyers McCall and Duncan were also in the convoy.
* ''Second Trip Halifax, X. S.. October 29, 1917'' Col. Lions and party came aboard for transportation to Davenport, England. Cruiser St. Louis and destroyers Downes and Balch accompanied them.
* ''Third Trip— New York, February 18, 1918'' George Washington, Pastores, President Grant, Manchuria, Covington, El Sol, Susquehanna and DeKalb.
* ''Fourth Trip— New York, April 10, 1918'' Covington and President Grant.
* ''Fifth Trip— Hampton Roads, May 18, 1918'' Calamares, Madawaska, Pocahontas, Bridge, President Grant, Occidente, Zeelandia, Due d' Abruzzi, Re d' Italia and destroyers Little and Kimberly.
* ''Sixth Trip— New York, June 28, 1918'' Justicia, Metagoma, Vretic, Mentor, Saxon, Nestor, Plassey, Lapland, Hororata, Teiresias, Melita, Osterly, Brambleleaf and H. M. S. Virginian, an auxiliary cruiser.
* ''Seventh Trip— New York, July 26, 1918'' Kroonland, Finland, Taormina, Pocahontas, Susquehanna, Caserta, Due d' Aosta and the destroyer Rathburne.
* ''Eighth Trip— New York, September 8, 1918'' Manchuria, Mercury, Desna, Mallory, Huron, Madawaska, Zeelandia, Due d' Abruzzi, Re d' Italia and the destroyers Walke and Taylor.
* ''Ninth Trip— New York, October 14, 1918'' Mallory. Mercury, Huron, Zeelandia, Madawaska, Due d' Abruzzi, Re d' Italia and the destroyers Fairfax and Israel. The battleship Virginia was also in the convoy.

The U. S. S. Huntington made four short trips through the submarine zone off the Atlantic Coast of the United States with the following ships in convoy:

* ''First Trip — Hampton Roads, June 23, 1918'' Pocahontas, Susquehanna, Due d' Aosta, Caserta and the destroyers Fairfax, Jewett and [[USS Paul Jones (DD-10)|Paul Jones]].
* ''Second Trip— Hampton Roads, July 18, 1918'' Pastores. Dante Alighieri, Wilhelmina, Czaritza and Princess Matoika.
* ''Third Trip— Hampton Roads. August 22, 1918'' Pastores, Dante Alighieri, Lutetia. Antigone, Princess Matoika, Czaritza and the destroyers Fairfax and Hull.
* ''Fourth Trip — Hampton Roads, November 12, 1918'' Kroonland, Susquehanna and the Tenadores.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Winn |first1=Hiram W. |title=Fighting the Hun on the U.S.S. Huntington. A true story of adventures of the U.S.S. Huntington during the War, as seen by H.W. Winn |date=1919 |url=https://archive.org/details/fightinghunonuss00winn/page/n5/mode/2up}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==Inter-war period==
Assigned to [[Cruiser and Transport Force]], Atlantic Fleet, ''Huntington'' next sailed for France to bring home veterans of the European fighting. She departed New York on 17 December, arrived [[Brest, France|Brest]] 29 December, and brought over 1,700 passengers to New York on 14 January 1919. The ship made five more voyages to France and return, bringing home nearly 12,000 troops, and terminated her last voyage at [[Boston]] on 5 July. Detached from Transport Force, she was reassigned to Cruiser Force and became [[flagship]] of [[Flying Squadron 1]] on 8 July. ''Huntington'' decommissioned at [[Portsmouth Navy Yard]], [[Kittery, Maine]] on 1 September 1920.  She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 12 March 1930 and sold in accordance with the [[London Naval Treaty]] on 30 August.<ref name="DANFS" /> The bell from the armored cruiser was given to [[West Virginia University]], dedicated in 1967, and now occupies a place in Oglebay Plaza along with the mast from the [[USS West Virginia (BB-48)]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pearl Harbor Day events at WVU to honor fated USS West Virginia crew|url=http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2003/12/04/2406|website=WVUtoday|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Alden, John D. ''American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1989. {{ISBN|0-87021-248-6}}
* Friedman, Norman. ''U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1984. {{ISBN|0-87021-718-6}}
* Musicant, Ivan. ''U.S. Armored Cruisers: A Design and Operational History.'' Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985. {{ISBN|0-87021-714-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I |author=Taylor, Michael J.H. |publisher=Studio |year=1990 |isbn=1-85170-378-0}}

{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/huntington-i.html}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category|USS Huntington (ACR-5)|USS Huntington (ACR-5)}}
*{{navsource|04/acr5/acr5|USS ''West Virginia'' / ''Huntington''}}
*[http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/cruisers/acr5.txt hazegray.org: USS ''West Virginia'' / ''Huntington'']
* [https://findingaids.lib.wvu.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wvcguide&cc=wvcguide&type=simple&rgn=Entire+Finding+Aid&q1=USS+west+virginia&Submit=Search&newsid=1 The West Virginia and Regional History Center has multiple collections pertaining to WVU's acquisition of the bell.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703104018/https://findingaids.lib.wvu.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wvcguide&cc=wvcguide&type=simple&rgn=Entire+Finding+Aid&q1=USS+west+virginia&Submit=Search&newsid=1 |date=3 July 2018 }}  Since WVU also has the mast, it is worth noting that some of the collections at that link pertain to the battleship [[USS West Virginia (BB-48)]].

{{Pennsylvania class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West Virginia (Acr-5)}}
[[Category:Pennsylvania-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:1903 ships]]
[[Category:Banana Wars ships of the United States]]
[[Category:World War I cruisers of the United States]]