Pennsylvania class cruisers rewrite

The first 1900 Armoured cruisers serie:
The Spanish-American War showed the numerical inferiority of the US Navy and triggered a wave of new constructions, including new classes of armoured cruisers. Ordered in fiscal years 1900 (ACR-4/6) and 1901 (ACR-7/9) and succeeding Tennessee-class ships they were called the “Big Ten”. Intended to operate in the battle line with battleships. However, her role changed after entering service.
Their names were initially USS Pennsylvania, West Virginia, California, Colorado, Maryland and South Dakota, later after cities with naming policy changes with new dreadnoughts being given state names. One even took part in the birth of US naval aviation. Their WWI career is a bit forgotten today, but they played their part. They remained active in the interwar, sold for BU after tonnage reductions imposed by the 1930 London Treaty.

⚒ This 2016 article had been rewritten to 2025 standards

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