Warship Profile: USS Chester (CL-1)

On the 26th of June 1907, the USS Chester was launched by Bath Iron Works in Maine before being commissioned on the 25th of April in 1908. Her name was in honor of Chester, Pennsylvania.

The USS Chester actually a fairly interesting career prior to her involvement in the First World War.  In early December of 1911, she patrolled the Gulf of Mexico protecting American citizens and property during the Mexican Revolution.

In April of 1912, she was in charge of escorting the HMS Carpathia after the Carpathia had picked up survivors of the sunken cruise liner, the Titanic.

She also ended up playing a vital role in the Revolution of Mexico, patrolling the Gulf of Mexico guarding US Citizens and property.

World War I

The USS Chester mostly served on patrols and escorting allied convoys between Gibraltar and Plymouth, England. This was until she came into contact with an enemy submarine, she charged the submarine in an attempt to ram it but only caused light damage to herself. However the submarine was unable to sink the Chester and slipped away.

The Chester would play a role in duties being carried out after the war's end, including inspection of German ports and carried troops operating in Northern Russia. She returned to New York on the 7th of May in 1919 before undergoing a name change to "York"

She would be sold for scrap in 1930.

In popular culture

The Chester is a playable ship in World of Warships, she is unlocked at Tier II and in my opinion is a very fun ship to play.