Photographed circa the early 1890s.

The muzzles of her three pneumatic "dynamite" guns are visible below her foremast boom.

USS Vesuvius, a 930-ton "dynamite gun cruiser" built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in June 1890. Her armament was unique, consisting of three 15" pneumatic guns that fired special high explosive projectiles. She served along the U.S. East Coast during her early years. In the Spanish-American War, Vesuvius was employed off Cuba, using her heavy guns to bombard Santiago. In 1904, she was converted to a torpedo test ship and spent the remainder of her career at Newport, Rhode Island. Vesuvius was decommissioned in October 1921 and sold for scrap in April 1922.

Photo: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph
Department of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center
Washington Navy Yard - Washington DC