San Francisco was one of the second-generation cruisers authorized in 1887. An attempt was now made to standardize the type of cruiser the US Navy needed. Initially sails were to be retained, but after the disastrous hurricane at Samoa, when three wooden-hulled fully rigged cruisers were wrecked, the value of sails was discredited and the plans of San Francisco were revised and the sails removed. The 6in (152mm) guns were positioned two side by side on the forecastle and poop, with four more on each beam amidships; two of these on each side were sponsoned out, giving axial fire.
Displacement: 4583t
Dimensions: 324ft 6in x 49ft x 18ft 10in (98.9m x 14.9m x 5.7m)
Machinery: twin screw, horizontal triple expansion, four boilers; 10,500hp
Armament: 12 6in (152mm)
Armour: deck 2–3in (51–76mm)
Speed: 19.5 knots
Range: 6000 miles at 10 knots, 3000 miles at 17 knots
Complement: 384
Fact File: San Francisco showed improvements in the design of US cruisers, but no attempt was made to build several of one type.