USS Brooklyn ( CA - 3 ) The second USS " Brooklyn " ( CA - 3 ) ( originally ACR - 3 ) was a United States Navy armored cruiser , the only to be named at commissioning for a city rather than a state . She was launched on 2 October 1895 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; sponsored by Miss Ida May Schieren ; and commissioned on 1 December 1896 , Captain Francis Augustus Cook in command . Service history . Spanish - American War . " Brooklyn " s first assignment was a special cruise to Britain with representatives of the U . S . for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria . The cruiser returned to the east coast in July 1897 and cruised there and in the West Indies until becoming flagship of the Flying Squadron under Commodore W . S . Schley on 28 March 1898 . During the Spanish - American War , the Flying Squadron arrived at Cienfuegos , Cuba on 21 May and established the blockade of that port . On 26 May , the Squadron arrived at Santiago de Cuba , where the Spanish fleet was being held behind the protection of the forts . " Brooklyn " was a key vessel in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July , in which the Spanish Fleet was destroyed . Although she was struck 20 times by whole shot , " Brooklyn " suffered only one man wounded ( Fireman J . Bevins ) and one man killed ( Chief Yeoman George H . Ellis ) . " Brooklyn " returned to Tompkinsville , New York on 20 August ; cruised along the Atlantic coast and in Caribbean waters ; participated in the Spanish - American War Victory Celebration at New York on 5 October ; and in the Dewey Celebration at New York in September 1899 . She left Hampton Roads on 16 October and sailed via the Suez Canal to Manila , Philippine Islands , where she arrived on 16 December . She became flagship of the Asiatic Squadron and participated in the China Relief Expedition ( 8 July – 11 October 1900 . She made a cruise to the Dutch East Indies , Australia and New Zealand from 10 April - 7 August 1901 ; the last stage was to Melbourne , Auckland , Wellington and Sydney . She remained with the Asiatic Squadron until 1 March 1902 , when she sailed for the United States via the Suez Canal and arrived at the New York Navy Yard on 1 May . Post - war . On 20 May 1902 , " Brooklyn " was at Havana , Cuba for the ceremonies to transfer the authority on that Island from the United States Government to the Cuban Government . During June and July she was on special duty in connection with the obsequies of the late British Ambassador to the United States , Lord Pauncefote . During the next four years , she cruised with the North Atlantic Fleet and the European Squadron . She was involved in the intervention in Syria from 8 September to 17 October 1903 as well as the intervention in Djibouti from 21 November 1903 to 18 January 1904 . The " Brooklyn " returned to New York on 26 May 1905 . On 7 June , as flagship of Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee , she sailed for Cherbourg , France , where the remains of the late John Paul Jones were received aboard and brought to America . Upon arrival at Annapolis , Commodore Jones ' remains were transferred ashore to a receiving vault at the United States Naval Academy with appropriate ceremonies on 23 July . Following a naval militia cruise ( from 3 – 23 August 1905 ) and a tour in the Mediterranean ( from 28 December 1905 – 8 May 1906 ) , " Brooklyn " went into reserve at the League Island Navy Yard in Philadelphia on 16 May 1906 . Except for a short period ( from 30 June – 2 August 1906 ) in commission for special service at Havana , Cuba , she remained in reserve until the spring of 1907 . From 12 April – 4 December 1907 , " Brooklyn " served as part of the permanent display at the Jamestown Exposition in Jamestown , Virginia . Following her return to Philadelphia , Brooklyn went into reserve again on 21 December . Placed out of commission on 23 June 1908 , she was commissioned in ordinary on 2 March 1914 . She was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and served as receiving ship at Boston Navy Yard from 24 July 1914 – 13 March 1915 . She was placed in full commission at Philadelphia on 9 May 1915 and served on Neutrality Patrol around Boston Harbor until November , when she sailed to the Asiatic Station to serve as flagship for the Commander - in - Chief of the Asiatic Fleet . She attended to regular military and diplomatic duties in China , Japan , and Russia until September 1919 , when she became the flagship of Commander , Division 1 , Asiatic Fleet . In January 1920 , she was assigned to the Pacific Fleet as flagship of Commander , Destroyer Squadrons , and remained there until 15 January 1921 . " Brooklyn " was placed out of commission for the final time at Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 March and sold for disposal on 20 December .