Ship History
Built by William Cramp and Sons at Philidelphia. Laid down on September 19, 1890. Launched on December 2, 1891 and comissioned on August 1, 1893 with Captain John Philip in command.

Officially designated as Armored Cruiser No. 2, began her career on December 2, 1891 when she was launched from a Philadelphia shipyard as USS New York. After serving as Admiral Sampson's flagship during the Spanish-American War, she steamed to Yokohama and became the US Navy flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.

World War I Service
In February, 1911 she was formally renamed USS Saratoga. During World War I she served with the Pacific Patrol Force, and in December, 1917 underwent yet another name change, becoming USS Rochester. Following service with the Atlantic Fleet and in the Caribbean, Rochester returned to Asiatic waters in June 1932 and served off the Yangtze River in China.

The following year she moved to Cavite, just outside Manila, and was officially decommissioned there on April 29, 1933. She was then towed to Subic Bay and moored off the Olongapo Naval Station, where she served for the next eight years as an auxiliary power plant and machine shop.

Wartime Service
In December, 1941, as Japanese forces approached Subic Bay, she moved by tug boats into Subic Bay and scuttled to prevent capture.

Shipwreck
In the late 1960's the wreck was partially demolished to clear Subic Bay.

Tony Basi Adds:
"About 10 of July 1967 to about the 22 of July 1967 the outfit I was in   Harbor Clearance Unit-1  began and finished demolition on the USS New York or Rochester as she was called, although the reporter who did the story said the heavy cruiser was blown up,  I do not recall him being aboard when we were making the charge and the divers were planting the charges on the wreak.   I was able to get two shots off of the waterspout.  I was not a diver I was one of the crew on the YLLC-2  and packed the hose charges that were used. She was too big and too tough to blow completely up, the bow was pointed upwards and had to be pushed down to make room for a POL Buoy."

The Rochester rested forgotten for more than 30 years, until rediscovered by divers in the early 1970s. Dale Sanders, made numerous dives on the hull between 1973 and 1978. The Rochester rests on her side, her 384' hull half buried in the sand.

"Much of the superstructure is lying apart from the hull, and said that her smokestacks are also visible. Her guns, however, are gone, although some have been spotted in the sandy bottom close to the hull. During their years of exploring the Rochester, Sanders and his fellow divers were able to recover a number of items from the ship - brass portholes and fittings, porcelain coffee cups, and miscellaneous smaller items. Many of these items were on display at the Subic Bay Yacht Club."

Although US Navy officials placed the Rochester off limits to divers, that prohibition ended in the fall of 1992 when the Navy vacated Subic Bay and returned the base to the Philippines. The ship lies on her side in 15 fathoms of water.

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Last Updated
January 23, 2012