USS Dolphin (PG-24)
Dolphin in 1891
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Dolphin |
Namesake | Dolphin |
Builder | Delaware River S&E, Chester |
Launched | 12 April 1884 |
Commissioned | 8 December 1885 |
Decommissioned | 1 May 1891 |
Recommissioned | 14 March 1892 |
Decommissioned | 23 November 1897 |
Recommissioned | 24 March 1898 |
Decommissioned | 8 December 1921 |
Fate | Sold to Mexico, 25 February 1922 |
History | |
Mexico | |
Name | Plan de Guadalupe |
Namesake | The Plan of Guadalupe |
Acquired | 25 February 1922 |
Stricken | 1924 |
Fate | Sold for scrap circa 1927 |
General characteristics | |
Type | dispatch vessel |
Displacement | 1,485 long tons (1,509 t) |
Length | 256 ft 6 in (78.18 m) |
Beam | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
Draft | 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
Complement | 152 officers and men |
Armament | |
Notes | One of the U.S. Navy's first four steel ships |
USS Dolphin (PG-24) was a
Design and construction
Dolphin's keel was laid down by Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works of Chester, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 12 April 1884, with Captain George Dewey in command, and commissioned on 8 December 1885 with Captain R. W. Meade in command.[1]
Dolphin was originally built as a
She was built with one
Dolphin was powered by four coal-fired cylindrical
Refits
References vary as to Dolphin's armament in a given period. In 1891, the 6-inch gun was replaced by two
Service history
Before Spanish–American War
The first of the vessels of the "New Navy" to be completed, Dolphin was assigned to the
She visited ports in Japan,
, before arriving at New York City on 27 September 1889 to complete her round-the-world cruise.She returned to duty on the North Atlantic Station, cruising in the West Indies from 9 December 1889 to 12 June 1890. On 23 December 1890, she was reassigned to the Squadron of Evolution and sailed from New York City on 7 January 1891 for a Caribbean cruise, returning to Norfolk, Virginia, on 7 April 1891.
Out of commission from 1 May 1891 to 14 March 1892, Dolphin then resumed her cruising along the
Spanish–American War
Dolphin was recommissioned on 24 March 1898, just prior to the outbreak of the
Before World War I
From 1899 until the outbreak of
Dolphin sailed from Norfolk on 2 December 1902 to carry mail and dispatches to
She continued on primarily ceremonial duty, participating in the interment of John Paul Jones at the United States Naval Academy, and the departure ceremonies for the Great White Fleet until 22 October 1908, when she became flagship of the Third Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.[1]
When Franklin D. Roosevelt became Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913, he occasionally used Dolphin to transport himself and his family. During his time on Dolphin FDR forged lifelong friendships with future Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy and Richard E. Byrd, both of whom served aboard. Dolphin was Byrd's third assignment after graduating from the Naval Academy. He served on Dolphin until he was medically retired in 1916 for a foot injury he sustained on board Dolphin.[1]
Tampico, Veracruz, and Santo Domingo
In the spring of 1914 the Third Squadron – with Dolphin as flagship – sailed into Tampico to protect American lives and property. When some sailors from Dolphin were arrested by the Mexican government on 9 April 1914, the Tampico Affair took place, which later resulted in the United States occupation of Veracruz. On 23 November 1914, after seven months, the United States withdrew its armed forces.[1] Subsequently, Dolphin assisted in the occupation of Santo Domingo from 12 to 22 May 1916. Her career as flagship continued until 1917.[1]
World War I
In March 1917 President Woodrow Wilson started arming US merchant ships in response to attacks by the Central Powers. First to be armed was the cargo ship Aztec, on which two 5-inch guns were installed. A lieutenant and 11 ratings were detached from Dolphin at Washington Navy Yard and transferred to crew Aztec's guns.[15]
Sailing from Washington, D.C., on 2 April 1917 to take possession of the recently purchased United States Virgin Islands, Dolphin received word four days later that war had been declared between the U.S. and Germany.
The next day, she arrived at
Assigned as flagship for the American Patrol Detachment on 17 September 1917, Dolphin was based at Key West, and operated in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to protect merchant shipping until the end of the war.
During World War I, this Dolphin was one of three U.S. Navy vessels in commission or considered for service of this name, and should not be confused with
After World War I
Dolphin remained in the Caribbean until her departure for New York City on 25 June 1920. After an overhaul at
Dolphin arrived at the Boston Navy Yard on 14 October 1921. She was decommissioned on 8 December 1921, after 36 years of service, and sold to Mexico on 25 February 1922. She served in Mexico with the name Plan de Guadalupe until stricken in 1924.[16] She was scrapped circa 1927.[3]
Awards
- Sampson Medal
- Spanish Campaign Medal
- Haitian Campaign Medal
- Dominican Campaign Medal
- Mexican Service Medal
- World War I Victory Medal with "PATROL" clasp
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dolphin IV (PG-24)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ a b c Friedman, pp. 18-22
- ^ a b c d Bauer and Roberts, p. 161
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US 6"/30 and 6"/35 guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US 6-pounder guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ a b Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 163
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US 3-pounder guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US 4"/40 guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US early 3"/50 guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ DiGiulian, Tony, US 4"/50 guns at Navweaps.com
- ^ Stamm, Ricard E. (2008). "The Exhumation and Journey to America". Mr. Smithson Goes to Washington And the Search for a Proper Memorial. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Farrar, Eugenia H. (January 1955). "I Was First to Sing Over the Radio". The American Swedish Monthly. pp. 10, 26.
- ^ "Society of Wireless Pioneers: Membership Application & History Sheet: Oliver A. Wyckoff, Sr" (pdf). 30 July 1969.
- ^ "Armed American steamship sunk; 11 men missing". The New York Times. 3 April 1917. pp. 1, 24. Retrieved 24 March 2024 – via Times Machine.
- ^ Gardiner and Gray, p. 417
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
- ISBN 0-87021-718-6.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. New York: Mayflower Books. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- The White Squadron. Toledo, Ohio: Woolson Spice Co., 1891. OCLC 45112425
- The White Squadron: Armed Cruisers, U.S.N. New York: International Art Publ. Co, 1800. OCLC 271460419
- The White Squadron of the U S Navy. New York: James Clarke Publisher, 1894. OCLC 50490393