The second USS Colorado, also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 7", and later renamed Pueblo, was a United States Navyarmored cruiser. She was the second US Navy ship named Colorado, and the first to be named after the state of Colorado. The first,, was named for the Colorado River.
Construction
Colorado was laid down on 25 April 1901, by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, and launched two years later on 25 April 1903. She was sponsored by Miss C. M. Peabody, and commissioned on 19 January 1905, with Captain D. Kennedy in command.
Service history
Pre-World War I
Joining the Atlantic Fleet on 11 October 1905, Colorado trained and took part in drills along the east coast and in the Caribbean — as well as participating in ceremonies – until 7 September 1906, when she sailed for duty on the Asiatic Station. After cruising to Japan and China to represent American interests in the Far East, she returned to the west coast on 27 September 1907 for exercises along the Californian and Mexican coasts, in the Hawaiian Islands, and off Central and South America. On 26 August 1909 one of her Launches had a minor collision with the ferry between West Seattle, Washington and Seattle with minor damage. She served again in the Far East from September 1909 – February 1910. Ceremonial visits and receptions for dignitaries highlighted the next two years, and from November 1911 – July 1912, Colorado returned to the Far East for duty. Between August and November, she sailed to land and support expeditionary troops at Corinto, Nicaragua, then patrolled Mexican waters until placed in reduced commission at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 17 May 1913. Once more in full commission from 9 February-26 September 1915, she continued on active duty as flagship of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, patrolling in Mexican waters during the revolution and then returned to reserve status.
She was renamed Pueblo---in order to free up her original name for use with the --- on 9 November 1916, while in overhaul, after which she returned to Mexico, to blockade interned German ships. She returned to full commission upon the entry of the United States into World War I, and as flagship of the Scouting Force patrolled the South Atlantic, protecting shipping, paying diplomatic calls to South American ports, and preventing the sailing of German and Austrian ships interned at Bahia, Brazil. Pueblo returned to Norfolk, Virginia on 18 January 1918, and from 5 February – 16 October, made seven voyages to escort convoys carrying men and supplies to England. After carrying the Brazilian ambassador to the United States to Rio de Janeiro, she returned to transatlantic duty, making six voyages between Hoboken and Brest, France, to bring home veterans of the American Expeditionary Force.
Post war
Pueblo arrived at Philadelphia on 8 August 1919 and was placed in reduced commission until decommissioned on 22 September. She was redesignated CA-7 in 1920. In commission for the last time from 2 April 1921 – 28 September 1927, she served as receiving ship in the 3rd Naval District. She was scrapped on 2 October 1930.
In popular culture
A plaque commemorating the crew of USS Colorado was shown briefly in season 13, episode 1 of American Pickers.
