Phoenix

With the outbreak of World War I, the U.S. found itself in need of a stronger navy. The new shipbuilding program also included cruisers—squadron scouts. Some of the requirements were a speed of 35 knots, a narrow hull, and a relatively small portion of displacement allocated for defense. The main battery artillery was placed in casemates on the bow and stern, which could provide anti-splinter protection only. The design also featured two guns placed on each side of amidships and torpedo tubes in gun ports at the stern casemate.