USS New York ( ACR - 2 ) USS " New York " ( ACR - 2 ) was a United States Navy armored cruiser . The fourth Navy ship to be named in honor of the state of New York , she was later renamed Saratoga and then " Rochester " ( CA - 2 ) . Authorized by Congress in 1888 , she was laid down on 19 September 1890 by William Cramp and Sons , Philadelphia , launched on 2 December 1891 , sponsored by Miss Helen Page , and commissioned at Philadelphia on 1 August 1893 , Captain John Philip in command . Design . USS " New York " was a fast armored cruiser with a powerful armament , but the belt armor was thin compared to the first generation of older , slow armored cruisers , which tended to have a thick but narrow - coverage ( waterline ) belt . The thin side armor was comparable to that of the groundbreaking French armored cruiser , but the French ship ' s armor covered a much greater area of the hull . " New York " had a greater number of heavy guns than the French cruiser . The hull protection of both ships was superior to their main rival , the British " Blake " class , which were the largest cruisers at the time but had no side armor . The British had switched from building armored cruisers to favor very large , first class protected cruiser s , and stuck with this policy until after the " Diadem " class . Service history . USS " New York " ( ACR - 2 ) . Assigned to the South Atlantic Squadron , " New York " departed New York Harbor on 27 December 1893 for Rio de Janeiro , arriving Taipu Beach in January 1894 , she remained there until heading home on 23 March , via Nicaragua and the West Indies . Transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron in August , the cruiser returned to West Indian waters for winter exercises and was commended for her aid during a fire that threatened to destroy Port of Spain , Trinidad . Returning to New York , the cruiser joined the European Squadron in 1895 , and steamed to Kiel , where she represented the United States at the opening of the Kiel Canal . Rejoining the North Atlantic Squadron , " New York " operated off Fort Monroe , Charleston , and New York through 1897 . " New York " departed Fort Monroe on 17 January 1898 for Key West . After the declaration of the Spanish - American War in April , she steamed to Cuba and bombarded the defenses at Matanzas before joining other American ships at San Juan in May , seeking the Spanish squadron . Not finding them , they bombarded El Morro Castle at San Juan ( 12 May ) before withdrawing . " New York " then became flagship of Admiral William T . Sampson ' s squadron , as the American commander planned the campaign against Santiago . The Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July resulted in complete destruction of the Spanish fleet . The cruiser sailed for New York on 14 August to receive a warrior ' s welcome . The next year , she cruised with various State naval units to Cuba , Bermuda , Honduras , and Venezuela , and conducted summer tactical operations off New England . On 17 October 1899 , she departed New York for Central and South American trouble areas . " New York " was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet in 1901 , sailing via Gibraltar , Port Said , and Singapore to Cavite , where she became flagship of the Asiatic Fleet . She steamed to Yokohama in July for the unveiling of the memorial to the Perry expedition . In October , " New York " visited Samar and other Philippine islands as part of the campaign against insurgents . On 13 March 1902 , she got underway for Hong Kong and other Chinese ports . In September , she visited Vladivostok , Russia , then stopped at Korea before returning to San Francisco in November . In 1903 , " New York " transferred to the Pacific Squadron and cruised with it to Ampala , Honduras in February to protect American interests during turbulence there . Steaming via Magdalena Bay , the cruiser returned to San Francisco , for a reception for President Theodore Roosevelt . In 1904 , " New York " joined squadron cruises off Panama and Peru , then reported to Puget Sound in June where she became flagship of the Pacific Squadron . In September , she enforced the President ' s neutrality order during the Russo - Japanese War . " New York " was at Valparaíso , Chile from 21 December 1904 – 4 January 1905 , then sailed to Boston and decommissioned on 31 March for modernization . Recommissioning on 15 May 1909 , " New York " departed Boston on 25 June for Algiers and Naples , where she joined the Armored Cruiser Squadron on 10 July and sailed with it for home on the 23rd . Operating out of Atlantic and gulf ports for the next year , she went into fleet reserve on 31 December . In full commission again on 1 April 1910 , " New York " steamed via Gibraltar , Port Said , and Singapore to join the Asiatic Fleet at Manila on 6 August . While stationed in Asiatic waters , she cruised among the Philippine Islands , and ports in China and Japan . She was renamed Saratoga on 16 February 1911 , to make the name " " New York " " available for the battleship . USS " Saratoga " ( ACR - 2 ) . The cruiser spent the next five years in the Far East . Steaming to Bremerton , Washington on 6 February 1916 , " Saratoga " went into reduced commission with the Pacific Reserve Fleet . As the U . S . drew closer to participation in World War I , " Saratoga " commissioned in full on 23 April 1917 , and joined the Pacific Patrol Force on 7 June . In September , " Saratoga " steamed to Mexico to counter enemy activity in the troubled country . At Ensenada , " Saratoga " intercepted and helped to capture a merchantman transporting 32 German agents and several Americans seeking to avoid the draft law . In November , she transited the Panama Canal , joining the Cruiser Force , Atlantic Fleet at Hampton Roads . Here , she was renamed Rochester on 1 December 1917 , to free the name " " Saratoga " " for the new battlecruiser ( eventually the aircraft carrier CV - 3 ) . USS " Rochester " ( CA - 2 ) . After escorting a convoy to France , " Rochester " commenced target and defense instruction of armed guard crews , in Chesapeake Bay . In March 1918 , she resumed escorting convoys and continued the duty through the end of the war , with Alfred Walton Hinds in command . On her third trip , with convoy HM - 58 , a U - boat torpedoed the British steamer " Atlantian " on 9 June . " Rochester " sped to her aid , but " Atlantian " sank within five minutes . Other ships closed in , but the submarine was not seen again . After the Armistice , " Rochester " served as a transport bringing troops home . In May 1919 , she served as flagship of the destroyer squadron guarding the transatlantic flight of the Navy ' s Curtiss NC seaplane s . In the early 1920s , she operated along the east coast . Early in 1923 , " Rochester " got underway for Guantanamo Bay to begin another period of service off the coasts of Central and South America . In the summer of 1925 , " Rochester " carried General John J . Pershing and other members of his commission to Arica , Chile to arbitrate the Tacna - Arica dispute and remained there for the rest of the year . In September 1926 , she helped bring peace to turbulent Nicaragua and from time to time returned there in the late 1920s . After a quiet 1927 , " Rochester " relieved the gunboat at Corinto in 1928 as Expeditionary Forces directed efforts against bandits in the area . Disturbances boiled over in Haiti in 1929 , and opposition to the government was strong ; inasmuch as American lives were endangered , " Rochester " transported the 1st Marine Brigade to Port - au - Prince and Cap - Haïtien . In 1930 , " Rochester " transported the five - man commission sent to investigate the situation . In March , she returned to the area to embark marines and transported them to the U . S . She aided Continental Oil tanker " H . W . Bruce " , damaged in a collision on 24 May . In 1931 , an earthquake rocked Nicaragua . " Rochester " was the first relief ship to arrive on the scene and ferried refugees from the area . Bandits took advantage of the chaotic conditions and " Rochester " steamed to the area to counter their activities . " Rochester " departed Balboa on 25 February 1932 for service in the Pacific Fleet . She arrived Shanghai on 27 April , to join the fleet in the Yangtze River in June and remained there until steaming to Cavite , to decommission on 29 April 1933 . She would remain moored at the Olongapo Shipyard at Subic Bay for the next eight years . Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 October 1938 , and she was scuttle d on 24 December 1941 to prevent her capture by the Japanese . Dive site " New York " . Since being scuttled , " New York " has been transformed into an artificial reef . The growth of the tourism industry has expanded and Subic Bay has become an upcoming dive vacation location . " New York " has become one of the most dived shipwrecks in Asia , given her somewhat shallow depth ( ) , ease of access , and proximity to other wrecks and activities . The wreck can be dived by most confident divers . " Rochester " was scuttled with a small charge that blew a hole in her bottom in 1941 . This resulted in minimal damage and left the wreck relatively intact . However , on 11 July 1967 to 20 July 1967 Harbor Clearance Team four and Yard Light Lift Craft Two attached to Harbor Clearance Unit One conducted demolition the U . S . Navy decided to try and flatten the wreck . Large charges were used on the central hull and these resulted in extensive damage around the midsection . This lowered the wreck ; enabling deep draft tankers to approach and moor to the POL buoy planned for Subic Bay ( at the same time , Navy divers helped to clear more than 650 wrecks from Manila bay ) . Basic Divers – Lower than average visibility ( due to proximity to the Olongapo river mouth ) and deeper water makes this site more suitable for divers who have gained experience beyond entry - level training . The top of the wreck lies in 17 - 22m depth , covered in soft and whip corals with many reef fish . Lying slightly deeper ( ~ deep ) divers can examine the uppermost barrel of an primary gun . The length gives plenty of area to observe as corals , sponges and fish life that have had over 60 years to convert it into home . Scorpionfish are common around this wreck and divers are reminded that contact with these fish is dangerous . Experienced Wreck Divers – More advanced divers can explore the propeller , conning tower and deck areas . There are some areas of relatively easy penetration , with open - spaces and sufficient height to stay clear of major silt deposits . These include ; the mess deck ( 2nd deck down ) has an interesting penetration with porthole s above allowing light , but no exit . The boiler room can be explored within recreation diving limits . Due to the nature of the wreck , with low light / viz and the risk of silt disturbance ; redundant gas supplies and guideline deployment training are recommended for penetrations . Advanced / Technical Wreck Divers – Three divers have died exploring inside the USS " New York " - which indicates significant hazards and the need for advanced technical wreck training . Divers with appropriate decompression and advanced / technical wreck penetration training can access the engine room , machinery spaces and lower decks . These are in excellent condition , with huge pipes , machinery and valve wheels . Spaces can be extremely confined , with many restrictions and high risk of silt - out . Penetration is generally made on twin tanks , whilst deploying a constant guideline to the exit . Both engine room entrances are posted with notices warning of the dangers to the untrained .