USS Powhatan (1898)

Summary

The third USS Powhatan was a steam tug that served in the United States Navy from 1898 to 1928, was renamed USS Cayuga in 1917, and was later designated YT-12.

History
United States
NameUSS Powhatan
NamesakeNative American chief Powhatan
BuilderMaryland Steel Company, Baltimore, Maryland
Completed1892
Acquired8 April 1898
Commissioned20 April 1898
Decommissioned20 April 1928
RenamedUSS Cayuga 1 September 1917
FateSold for scrapping 5 June 1928
NotesNamed Penwood prior to U.S. Navy service
General characteristics
TypeTug
Displacement194 tons
Length101 ft (31 m)
Beam21 ft (6.4 m)
Draft10 ft (3.0 m)
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement35
Armament

Construction and career edit

Powhatan, formerly Penwood, was built in 1892 by the Maryland Steel Company, Baltimore, Maryland. She was purchased by the United States Navy on 8 April 1898 and commissioned on 20 April 1898. Powhatan was first attached to the Auxiliary Naval Force based at Pensacola, Florida, from 11 June 1898 to 8 August 1898. Later she was assigned to the Pensacola Navy Yard as yard tug. In 1900 Powhatan served the Marine Hospital Service, United States Department of the Treasury, as a quarantine vessel at Reedy Island, Delaware. She returned to the U.S. Navy in 1901 as yard tug at the New York Navy Yard

On 1 December 1906 she was involved in a minor collision with a float off Pier 4 in the North River, causing slight damage to her port side.[1] On 11 June 1908 the barge Canister that she was towing had a minor collision with the ferry Long Beach off South Ferry in the East River.[2] On 2 January 1909 she had a minor collision with tow steamer Hiawatha in the East River off Pier 7, Brooklyn doing $300 in damage to Hiawatha. Powhatan's captain was charged with violation of pilot rules and tried on 20 January.[3]

On 1 September 1917 her name was changed to USS Cayuga. She was later given the alphanumeric hull number YT-12. Cayuga continued to be stationed at the New York Navy Yard until decommissioned on 20 April 1928. She was sold for scrapping on 5 June 1928.

References edit

  1. ^ "Annual report of the Supervising Inspector-general Steamboat-inspection Service, Year ending June 30, 1907". Harvard University. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Annual report of the Supervising Inspector-general Steamboat-inspection Service, Year ending June 30, 1909". Penn State University. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Annual report of the Supervising Inspector-general Steamboat-inspection Service, Year ending June 30, 1910". Penn State University. Retrieved 12 January 2020.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery at Naval Historical Center
  • Photo gallery at navsource.org