USS Panther (1889)

Last updated

Uss panther 1889.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Panther
Builder William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Laid down1889 as SS Venezuela [1]
Acquiredby purchase, 12 April 1898
Commissioned22 April 1898, as USS Panther
Decommissioned20 October 1899
Recommissioned19 June 1902
Decommissioned21 October 1903
Recommissioned8 November 1907
DecommissionedMay 1922
ReclassifiedAD-6, 1920
FateSold, 24 March 1923
General characteristics
Type Auxiliary cruiser
Displacement4,260 long tons (4,328 t)
Length324 ft 4 in (98.86 m)
Beam40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Draft18 ft 2.5 in (5.550 m)
Propulsion Steam engine
Speed13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Armament
  • 6 × 5 in (130 mm) guns
  • 2 × 4 in (100 mm) guns
  • 6 × 3-pounder guns
  • 1 × Colt
  • 1 × 3 in (76 mm) howitzer

The first USS Panther (AD-6), the former SS Venezuela, [1] [2] was an auxiliary cruiser and naval troop transport in the United States Navy. [2] Panther was designated AD-6 in 1920.

Contents

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning

Panther was built by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, in 1889. As SS Venezuela, a merchant steamship, she was used for several years as a cargo freighter transporting bananas from Central and South America. [3] [4] The U.S. Navy purchased Panther from the Red D Line Steamship Company on 12 April 1898, and commissioned her at New York on 22 April 1898, Commander George Cook Reiter in command. [5]

Service history

Spanish–American War, 1898–1899

Panther was pressed into service immediately after commissioning on the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, and was hastily converted into a troop transport. On 27 April 1898 the ship took aboard the First Marine battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Huntington in preparation for combat operations in Cuba, sailing from Brooklyn, New York just five days later. [3] [4] As a converted 'banana boat', the Panther proved totally inadequate as a troop transport, and the morale of the Marines suffered in the tight and sweaty confines of the hastily converted ship as it steamed southward. [4] As the Panther was unarmed, it was forced to stop at Hampton Roads, Virginia to obtained an armed escort before steaming to Key West, Florida, to await orders while the Marines disembarked for battalion drills, rifle practice, and route marches. [3] The ship then joined the North Atlantic Fleet, portions of which blockaded Cuba throughout the conflict. Admiral William T. Sampson received word from Key West early in May that Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete's squadron was very likely to sortie against U.S. naval forces at Santiago, Cuba. Panther and other ships of the American fleet patrolled off that port until she steamed to Guantánamo with a battalion of 633 enlisted Marines and 24 officers commanded by Lt. Col. Robert W. Huntington. [3]

On 9–10 June 1898 the Panther disembarked the First Marine Battalion at Caimanera, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba in preparation for seizure of the harbor. [4] During the landings, Commander Reiter of the Panther, who had continually argued over control of the Marine battalion while it was aboard ship, refused to permit the Marines to unload their small arms and artillery ammunition for their offensive, stating that he needed it for ship's ballast. [4] He was overruled by another Navy Commander, Bowman H. McCalla, who instructed Reiter to give the Marine Lieutenant Colonel whatever he desired. [4]

From 11 to 14 June 1898 the Marines engaged Spanish forces in the land battles of the Guantánamo Bay campaign. After a series of sharp engagements, the marines routed the 500 Spanish defenders, while suffering casualties of six killed and 16 wounded. [3] The Panther then withdrew to her former position with the fleet in the successful campaign at Santiago. After the destruction of the Spanish fleet, Panther steamed to New York, to cruise between New York, Boston, Norfolk, and Portsmouth until 20 October 1899, when she went into ordinary at Philadelphia.

Caribbean Squadron, 1902–1903

She remained in ordinary until recommissioning on 19 June 1902, when she fitted out as a training ship. In July, she steamed to New York to begin operations with various state militias. In this connection, she embarked crews from New Jersey in July, Pennsylvania in early August, and Connecticut later that month. In 1902, disturbing conditions in the West Indies and Caribbean required the constant presence of U.S. ships to maintain order and preserve U.S. treaty rights. In September 1902, Panther embarked a Marine battalion and departed for Caribbean waters to serve as a station ship to protect American interests during unrest in Honduras. She continued with the Caribbean Squadron until 21 October 1903, when she decommissioned at Philadelphia.

North Atlantic & Asiatic Station, 1907–1923

USS Panther moored in Kirkwall Harbor, Orkney Islands, with several trawlers and submarine chasers alongside, while supporting the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operation in 1919. USS Panther.jpg
USS Panther moored in Kirkwall Harbor, Orkney Islands, with several trawlers and submarine chasers alongside, while supporting the North Sea Mine Barrage clearance operation in 1919.

Panther recommissioned on 18 November 1907 to serve as an auxiliary repair ship for the United States Atlantic Fleet until April 1917. She served as one of the auxiliary ships supporting the Great White Fleet's cruise around the world (16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909). She sailed for Brest on 1 July 1917 to serve as tender for the U.S. destroyer force during World War I. [6]

After the war, her duties took her to ports such as Kirkwall, Scotland; Devonport, England; Lisbon, and Ponta Delgada. In 1921, American interest shifted to China; the Navy's Yangtze River Patrol had operated there for some years, guaranteeing the prevention of strife and the protection of persons and interests in the region. Panther joined the Asiatic Station's Yangtze River Patrol, where she patrolled on station until May 1922, when she returned stateside to decommission. [6] She subsequently was sold to Tioga Steel Co., Philadelphia, 24 March 1923. She was broken up for scrap at Philadelphia in April 1923. [6]

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Iowa</i> (BB-4) Pre-dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy

USS Iowa was a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1890s. The ship was a marked improvement over the previous Indiana-class battleships, correcting many of the defects in the design of those vessels. Among the most important improvements were significantly better seaworthiness owing to her greater freeboard and a more efficient arrangement of the armament. Iowa was designed to operate on the high seas, which had been the impetus to increase the freeboard. She was armed with a battery of four 12-inch (305 mm) guns in two twin-gun turrets, supported by a secondary battery of eight 8-inch (203 mm) guns.

USS <i>Wyoming</i> (BB-32) Dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy

USS Wyoming (BB-32) was the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships and was the third ship of the United States Navy named Wyoming, although she was only the second named in honor of the 44th state. Wyoming was laid down at the William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia in February 1910, was launched in May 1911, and was completed in September 1912. She was armed with a main battery of twelve 12-inch (305 mm) guns and capable of a top speed of 20.5 kn.

USS <i>Dixie</i> (1893) Tender of the United States Navy

The first USS Dixie was a United States Navy auxiliary cruiser and later a destroyer tender. The Dixie was the first ship of the United States Navy to have this name.

SS <i>St. Louis</i> (1894)

SS St. Louis, was a transatlantic passenger liner built by the William Cramp & Sons Building & Engine Company, Philadelphia and was launched on 12 November 1894; sponsored by Mrs. Grover Cleveland, wife of the President of the United States; and entered merchant service in 1895, under United States registry for the International Navigation Co., of New York City with her maiden voyage between New York and Southampton, England. She was acquired by the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War and commissioned under the name USS St. Louis in 1898, and again during World War I under the name USS Louisville (ID-1644) from 1918 to 1919. After she reverted to her original name in 1919, she burned in 1920 while undergoing a refit. She was scrapped in 1924 in Genoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Guantánamo Bay</span> Battle during the Spanish–American War

The Battle of Guantánamo Bay was fought from June 6 to June 10 in 1898, during the Spanish–American War, when American and Cuban forces seized the strategically and commercially important harbor of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Capturing the bay from the Spanish forces was instrumental in the following Battle of Santiago de Cuba and the subsequent invasion of Puerto Rico. Although overshadowed by the land and sea battles at Santiago, the establishment of the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay and the rout of defending Spanish troops by American and Cuban forces was important in the final Spanish defeat.

USS <i>Marblehead</i> (C-11) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The second USS Marblehead (C-11/PG-27) was a Montgomery-class unprotected cruiser in the United States Navy, authorized in the naval appropriations bill of September 7, 1888. Marblehead served in the Spanish–American War and World War I, and was the last ship of her class in service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Barnett</span> United States Marine Corps general

George Barnett was the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. He was a pioneer of amphibious warfare and the U.S. Marine Commandant during American involvement in World War I.

USS <i>Goldsborough</i> (DD-188) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Goldsborough (DD-188/AVP-18/AVD-5/APD-32) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second Navy ship named for Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough (1805–1877). Entering service in 1920, the ship had a brief active life before being placed in reserve in 1922. Goldsborough was reactivated for World War II and was used as an aircraft tender, destroyer and high speed transport in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Following the war, the ship was sold for scrapping in 1946.

USS <i>Yankee</i> (1892)

USS Yankee was originally El Norte, a steamer launched 14 June 1892 and delivered 15 August 1892 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. for the Southern Pacific Railroad's Morgan Line. The ship was acquired by the United States Navy from the Southern Pacific Company on 6 April 1898. The ship was renamed and commissioned at New York on 14 April 1898, Commander Willard H. Brownson in command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Heywood</span> United States Marine Corps general (1839–1915)

Major General Charles Heywood was the ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps. He served as an officer for over 45 years and was the first Marine to reach the rank of major general. During Heywood's term as Commandant, the size of the Corps more than tripled, from 2,175 Marines to 7,810 total.

SS <i>City of Paris</i> (1888) British-built passenger liner

City of Paris, was a British-built passenger liner of the Inman Line that held the Blue Riband as the fastest ship on the north Atlantic route from 1889 to 1891 and again from 1892 to 1893. A sister ship of the City of New York and a rival of the White Star Line Teutonic and Majestic, she proved to be the quickest of the pre-Campania twin-screw express liners. In 1893, she was renamed Paris and transferred to US registry when the Inman Line was merged into the American Line. She and her sister were paired with the new American built St Louis and St Paul to form one of the premier Atlantic services. Paris served the US Navy as the auxiliary cruiser USS Yale during the Spanish–American War and is remembered for slipping into the harbor at San Juan, Puerto Rico, under the Spanish guns of Morro Castle. After Paris returned to commercial service, she was seriously damaged in 1899 when she grounded on The Manacles off the British coast. Rebuilt and renamed Philadelphia, she sailed for the American Line until requisitioned again during World War I as the transport Harrisburg. After the war, she continued with the American Line until 1920 and was scrapped in 1923.

USS <i>Porter</i> (TB-6) Torpedo boat of the United States Navy

USS Porter was a torpedo boat, the first of her class, launched in 1896, served during the Spanish–American War, and struck in 1912. She was the first Navy ship named for Commodore David Porter, and his son, Admiral David Dixon Porter.

USS <i>Topeka</i> (PG-35) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Topeka (PG-35) was a gunboat of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Vulcan</i> (1884)

USS Vulcan was an iron-hulled, schooner-rigged screw steamship acquired by the U.S. Navy for use as a repair ship during the Spanish–American War.

USS <i>Mayflower</i> (1897) United States Navy and Coast Guard vessel

The second USS Suwannee and third USS Mayflower was a United States Lighthouse Board, and later United States Lighthouse Service, lighthouse tender transferred to the United States Navy in 1898 for service as an auxiliary cruiser during the Spanish–American War and from 1917 to 1919 for service as a patrol vessel during World War I. She also served the Lighthouse Board and in the Lighthouse Service as USLHT Mayflower from 1897 to 1898, from 1898 to 1917, and from 1919 to 1939, and in the United States Coast Guard as the first USCGC Mayflower (WAGL-236) in 1939 and from 1940 to 1943 and as USCGC Hydrangea (WAGL-236) from 1943 to 1945.

USS <i>Wasp</i> (1893) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The seventh USS Wasp was the former yacht Columbia, purchased by the U.S. Navy and converted to an armed yacht serving from 1898 to 1919, with service in the Spanish–American War and World War I.

USS <i>Outpost</i> (AGR-10) US naval vessel

USS Outpost (AGR/YAGR-10) was a Guardian-class radar picket ship, converted from a Liberty Ship, acquired by the US Navy in 1956. She was reconfigured as a radar picket ship and assigned to radar picket duty in the North Atlantic Ocean as part of the Distant Early Warning Line.

USS Waban was a steamer in commission in the United States Navy from 1898 to 1919.

USS <i>Osceola</i> (AT-47) Tugboat of the United States Navy

The second USS Osceola, later AT-47, was a United States Navy armed tug in commission in 1898 and in combat in the Spanish–American War, and from 1911 to 1922.

USS <i>Wompatuck</i> (YT-27) Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Wompatuck (YT-27) was an armed tug in commission in the United States Navy from 1898 to 1931. Early in her naval career, she saw combat in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. After she was decommissioned, she was selected for conversion into the fuel oil barge YO-64, but she was lost in the early days of World War II in the Pacific before the conversion could be completed.

References

  1. 1 2 Bliss, Ernest C., Chapter XVIII: The Red 'D' Line of Steamers, 25 September 1889, The Executive Documents of the Senate of the United States, Congressional Edition, First Session of the 51st Congress, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office (1890), p. 228
  2. 1 2 Heinl, Robert D. (Col.),How We Got Guantanamo, American Heritage Magazine, Vol. XIII No. 2 (February 1962), p. 20
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Simmons, Edwin H., United States Marines: A History (4th ed.), Naval Institute Press, ISBN   1-55750-868-2, ISBN   978-1-55750-868-3 (2003), pp. 66–67
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Daugherty, Leo J., Pioneers of Amphibious Warfare, 1898–1945: Profiles of Fourteen American Military Strategists, McFarland Press, ISBN   0-7864-3394-9, ISBN   978-0-7864-3394-0 (2009), p. 31
  5. ↑ Daugherty, Leo J., Pioneers of Amphibious Warfare, 1898–1945: Profiles of Fourteen American Military Strategists, McFarland Press, ISBN   0-7864-3394-9, ISBN   978-0-7864-3394-0 (2009), pp. 22–26
  6. 1 2 3 Emmons, Frederick E., American Passenger Ships: The Ocean Lines and Liners, 1873–1983, University of Delaware Press, ISBN   0-87413-248-7, ISBN   978-0-87413-248-9 (1985), p. 77

Bibliography

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.