Chester

At the beginning of the 20th century, three "scout cruisers" with a high freeboard were built. These ships had a high speed for their time, were equipped with modern propulsion plants, and had an armor belt, but their armament was considered rather weak. Before the Omaha-class cruisers were built, these three ships had remained the most modern cruisers in the U.S. Navy. USS Chester took part in the occupation of Veracruz and, following the United States' entry into World War I, served as an escort for convoys and transported troops.