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USS Castine (PG-6)
Encyclopedia
USS Castine (PG-6) was a gunboat
of the United States Navy
. She was the first Navy ship named for Castine, Maine
.
Castine was launched on 11 May 1892 by Bath Iron Works
, Bath, Maine
; sponsored by Ms. M. Hichborn; commissioned on 22 October 1894, Commander
Thomas Perry in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet
.
waters in February 1895. She called at the Azores
and Gibraltar
, passed through the Suez Canal
, visited Zanzibar
and Mozambique
, and rounded Cape of Good Hope
before arriving on station at Pernambuco
, Brazil
on 13 October 1895. She cruised in South America
n and West Indian waters save for an overhaul period in Norfolk, Virginia
until March 1898.
Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
, Castine was called north to take her place on the blockade surrounding Cuba
in March 1898. She served in the force which accompanied the Army
's transports to Cuba, and remained in the Caribbean
until the close of the war.
In December 1898, Castine sailed from Boston, Massachusetts for the Suez Canal
on her way to the Far East. Upon her arrival in the Philippine Islands, she began duty in coordination with the Army to put down the insurrection following the Spanish-American War. Operating primarily in the southern islands, she supervised the evacuation of the Spanish
garrison at Zamboanga
in May 1899. With a cruise to Chinese
ports in 1900, Castine remained in the Far East until June 1901, when she cleared for the Suez Canal and the east coast.
Castine was out of commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
from 8 October 1901-12 November 1903. Upon recommissioning, she saw duty in the South Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, and from 23 September 1905-4 October 1908 was again out of commission, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
.
From October 1908-May 1913, Castine served as a submarine tender
at east coast bases, then returned to the Caribbean until July 1917. She later cruised off Vera Cruz
and Tampico
.
On 5 August 1917, Castine sailed to join the Patrol Force at Gibraltar
, where she served until 21 December 1918. The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain William C. Asserson (August 21, 1875-July 8, 1939) for distinguished service as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Castine, engaged in the exacting and hazardous duty of transporting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines. Castine returned to the United States, and was decommissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana
on 28 August 1919. Castine was sold on 5 August 1921.
in the harbor of Santo Domingo when the harbor was pounded by massive waves of indeterminent origin. Castine narrowly escaped; Memphis did not.
Castine and Memphis both made preparations to leave the harbor as soon as trouble was evident and began to raise steam; Memphis—a much larger ship—required significantly more time to prepare to get underway and was ultimately battered to near-destruction. Although under minimal power, Castine managed to reach safer waters by putting to sea through the large waves. The ship was damaged by them and at times in danger of capsizing.
In his 1966 account of the incident, "The Wreck of the Memphis", Edward L. Beach, Jr. (Captain, USN (ret.) and the son of the captain of Memphis) described the heroic efforts of Castine to assist crew of Memphis who had been returning to their ship in a motor launch but had been swamped by the rough seas.
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. She was the first Navy ship named for Castine, Maine
Castine, Maine
Castine is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States and was once the capital of Acadia . The population was 1,343 at the 2000 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine...
.
Castine was launched on 11 May 1892 by Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
, Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
; sponsored by Ms. M. Hichborn; commissioned on 22 October 1894, Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Thomas Perry in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
.
Service history
Assigned to the South Atlantic, Castine cleared New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
waters in February 1895. She called at the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, passed through the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, visited Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and rounded Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
before arriving on station at Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on 13 October 1895. She cruised in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n and West Indian waters save for an overhaul period in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
until March 1898.
Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Castine was called north to take her place on the blockade surrounding Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in March 1898. She served in the force which accompanied the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's transports to Cuba, and remained in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
until the close of the war.
In December 1898, Castine sailed from Boston, Massachusetts for the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
on her way to the Far East. Upon her arrival in the Philippine Islands, she began duty in coordination with the Army to put down the insurrection following the Spanish-American War. Operating primarily in the southern islands, she supervised the evacuation of the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
garrison at Zamboanga
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
in May 1899. With a cruise to Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
ports in 1900, Castine remained in the Far East until June 1901, when she cleared for the Suez Canal and the east coast.
Castine was out of commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from 8 October 1901-12 November 1903. Upon recommissioning, she saw duty in the South Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, and from 23 September 1905-4 October 1908 was again out of commission, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
.
From October 1908-May 1913, Castine served as a submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
at east coast bases, then returned to the Caribbean until July 1917. She later cruised off Vera Cruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
and Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
.
On 5 August 1917, Castine sailed to join the Patrol Force at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, where she served until 21 December 1918. The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain William C. Asserson (August 21, 1875-July 8, 1939) for distinguished service as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Castine, engaged in the exacting and hazardous duty of transporting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines. Castine returned to the United States, and was decommissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
on 28 August 1919. Castine was sold on 5 August 1921.
Near loss
Castine was at anchor on the afternoon of 29 August 1916 near the cruiser MemphisUSS Tennessee (ACR-10)
The second USS Tennessee , also referred to "Armored Cruiser No. 10", and later renamed Memphis and renumbered CA-10, was a United States Navy armored cruiser, the lead ship of her class....
in the harbor of Santo Domingo when the harbor was pounded by massive waves of indeterminent origin. Castine narrowly escaped; Memphis did not.
Castine and Memphis both made preparations to leave the harbor as soon as trouble was evident and began to raise steam; Memphis—a much larger ship—required significantly more time to prepare to get underway and was ultimately battered to near-destruction. Although under minimal power, Castine managed to reach safer waters by putting to sea through the large waves. The ship was damaged by them and at times in danger of capsizing.
In his 1966 account of the incident, "The Wreck of the Memphis", Edward L. Beach, Jr. (Captain, USN (ret.) and the son of the captain of Memphis) described the heroic efforts of Castine to assist crew of Memphis who had been returning to their ship in a motor launch but had been swamped by the rough seas.