Ship History
Built by William Cramp and Sons at Philadelphia, PA. Laid down September 19, 1890. Launched December 2, 1891. Commissioned August 1, 1893 as USS New York with Captain John Philip in command. Designated Armored Cruiser No. 2 (ARC-2).

Spanish American War
Participated in the Battle of Manila as Admiral Sampson's flagship during the Spanish-American War. Afterwards, steamed to Yokohama and became the US Navy flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.

World War I Service
In February, 1911 she was formerly renamed USS Saratoga. During World War I she served with the Pacific Patrol Force, and in December, 1917 underwent yet another name change, becoming USS Rochester. Following service with the Atlantic Fleet and in the Caribbean, Rochester returned to Asiatic waters in June 1932 and patrolled off the Yangtze River in China.

In 1933 moved to Cavite, and was officially decommissioned on April 29, 1933. Afterwards, towed to Subic Bay and moored off the Olongapo where she served for the next eight years as an auxiliary power plant and machine shop for the Naval Station.

Wartime Service
During December, 1941, as Japanese forces approached Luzon, Rochester was moved by tug boats into Subic Bay and scuttled to prevent capture.

Shipwreck
Rochester settled on the bottom with the bow pointed upward. During July 10-22, 1967 the shipwreck was partially demolished by Harbor Clearance Unit-1. After the demolition, Rochester rests on her side with her hull buried in the sand.

Tony Basi adds:
"About 10 of July 1967 to about the 22 of July 1967 the outfit I was in Harbor Clearance Unit-1  began and finished demolition on the USS New York or Rochester as she was called, although the reporter who did the story said the heavy cruiser was blown up,  I do not recall him being aboard when we were making the charge and the divers were planting the charges on the wreck.   I was able to get two shots off of the waterspout.  I was not a diver I was one of the crew on the YLLC-2  and packed the hose charges that were used. She was too big and too tough to blow completely up, the bow was pointed upwards and had to be pushed down to make room for a POL Buoy."

Dale Sanders made numerous dives on the hull between 1973 and 1978:
"Much of the superstructure is lying apart from the hull, and said that her smokestacks are also visible. Her guns, however, are gone, although some have been spotted in the sandy bottom close to the hull. During their years of exploring the Rochester, Sanders and his fellow divers were able to recover a number of items from the ship - brass portholes and fittings, porcelain coffee cups, and miscellaneous smaller items. Many of these items were on display at the Subic Bay Yacht Club."

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Last Updated
January 24, 2022