US Navy Protected Cruisers 1883–1918Explores the history of the US Navy's 11 new steel warships, built during the late 19th century to advance American naval supremacy. After the American Civil War, the powerful US Navy was allowed to decay into utter decrepitude and was becoming a security liability. In 1883, Congress approved four new steel constructed vessels called the ABCD ships. The three protected cruisers Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago were the first steel warships built for the