Chester

United States Navy

Length:	420.0 ft.
Breadth:	47.0 ft
Draft (or Depth):	16.8 ft. (deepest draft)
Tonnage:	3,810 tons (normal displacement); 4,687 tons (full load)
Engines:	Parsons turbine producing 16.000 h.p.; Babcock boiler; 4 screws
Speed:	Cruising speed: 20 knots; maximum speed 26.5 knots
Builder:	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Launched:	June 1907
Maiden Voyage:	April 25, 1909 (commissioned)
Disposition:	May 13, 1930 - Sold for scrap..
Particulars:	Port of Registry: Flag of Registry: United States Funnel color: Grey Company flag: U. S. Flag Signal Letters: Wireless call letters: N D G Details: Cost (exclusive of armament): approximately $1,300,000; Maximum coal carried: 1,400 tons; Average coal consumption, 24 hours at 20 knots: 200 tons; Complement: 359 officers and enlisted men

Relationship to Titanic disaster / inquiries.

While making a routine cruise off Nantucket, was ordered by wireless by the United States Navy to proceed to intercept Carpathia, then carrying Titanic survivors, and accompany the liner to New York.
While escorting Carpathia, Chester assisted with the retransmission of Carpathia wireless signals to various receiving stations on land.

Data:

June 1907

Launched.

April 25, 1909

Commissioned.

1911

Carried men and stores to USN steam yacht Scorpion then on station at Trieste.

1915

Carried mails and stores for the U.S. squadron off Vera Cruz during the revolution in Mexico; transported refugees to Cuba.

1915-1917

Reduced commission at Boston.

1918

Convoy duty between Plymouth, U.K., and Gibraltar.

July 17, 1920

All ex-scout Cruisers designated L.

May 18, 1921

Arrived at Boston Navy Yard for overhaul.

June 10, 1921

Boston Navy Yard decommissioned.

1928

Towed to Philadelphia Navy Yard, renamed.

July 1928

Struck from Naval Vessel Registration.

May 13, 1930

Sold for scrap.

Courtesy: John P. Eaton. Used with permission.