USS Dolphin (PG-24)
Encyclopedia
USS Dolphin (PG-24)—a gunboat
/dispatch vessel—was the fourth ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the dolphin
. Dolphins keel was laid down by John Roach & Sons
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. Dolphin was the first Navy ship to fly the Flag of the President of the United States
during President Chester Arthur's administration. She was, in fact, the second Navy ship to serve as a Presidential Yacht.
on her way to the Pacific Squadron
for duty.
She visited ports in Japan
, Korea
, China
, Ceylon, India
, Arabia, Egypt
, Italy
, Spain
, and England
, and the islands of Madeira
and Bermuda
, 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 1889-12 June 1890. On 23 December, 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.
Out of commission from 1 May 1891-14 March 1892, Dolphin then resumed her cruising along the Atlantic coast, often carrying the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav). In April, 1893 President Grover Cleveland conducted New York's inaugural International Naval Review from the deck of the Dolphin. On 3 December 1895, she was assigned to the Special Service Squadron
and made a surveying expedition to Guatemala
in January-February 1896. She carried President
William McKinley
and his party to New York for the ceremonies at Grant's Tomb
on 23 April 1897. Dolphin was placed out of commission at New York on 23 November 1897.
, and served on blockade duty off Havana, Cuba in April-May. On 6 June, she came under fire from the Morro Battery
at Santiago
. On 14 June, she provided fire support for elements of the 1st Marine Battalion at the Battle of Cuzco Well
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba resulting in a total rout of the Spanish forces. Later that month, she sailed for Norfolk, arriving on 2 July.
in Europe, Dolphin served as a special dispatch ship for the SecNav and often carried the President of the United States
and other important officials and diplomats. She visited Washington Navy Yard
for the Peace Jubilee of 14 May-30 June 1899; New York City for the Dewey
celebration of 26-29 September; and Alexandria, Virginia
, for the city's sesquicentennial on 10 October. From 7 November 1899-2 February 1900, she cruised to Venezuela
to survey the mouth of the Orinoco River. She departed Washington, DC on 11 January 1902 to survey the southeast coast of Santo Domingo
, then carried the Chief of the Bureau of Equipment from Havana for a tour of inspection of the coaling stations in the West Indies. She returned to Washington on 6 May.
Dolphin sailed from Norfolk on 2 December 1902 to carry mail and dispatches to Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, then took the U.S. Minister to Venezuela to La Guaira
, arriving on 11 January 1903. She continued to cruise in the West Indies until returning to Washington, DC on 19 April. From 1903-1905, she carried such dignitaries as the Naval Committee, Secretary of the Navy, Admiral
and Mrs. George Dewey
, the Philippine Commissioners, the Attorney General, Prince Louis of Battenberg and his party, and President Theodore Roosevelt
on various cruises. Early in August 1905, she carried the Japanese peace plenipotentiaries from Oyster Bay, New York, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, to negotiate the settlement of the Russo-Japanese War
. In 1907, the first song broadcast over wireless radio was sung by Eugenia Farrar from the deck of Dolphin, docked at Brooklyn Naval Yard.
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
.
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 Leahy
and Richard E. Byrd, both of whom served on board.
on 9 April 1914, the Tampico Affair
began. The U.S. demanded their release and an apology. The Mexican government agreed, but when a warship of the Kaiserliche Marine
arrived with guns and supplies for the Mexicans, war threatened. President Woodrow Wilson
ordered the American naval forces to occupy Tampico, Mexico, and the navy bombarded Veracruz
, Mexico. The issue was settled through the ABC Conference held in Niagara Falls, Canada, and the United States withdrew its naval force from Mexico, ending the incident. Subsequently, Dolphin assisted in the occupation of Santo Domingo
from 12-22 May 1916. Her career as flagship continued until 1917.
, Dolphin received word four days later that war had been declared between the U.S. and Germany
.
The next day, she arrived at St. Thomas and the squadron commander assumed office as Governor of the Virgin Islands
on 9 April. Dolphin carried the Governor and his staff to the islands of St. Croix
and St. John
to hoist the American flag with proper ceremony. On 26 April, she began a search for the steamer Nordskar, flying Danish colors
, but suspected of aiding enemy operations. She found her at St. Lucia on 5 May and since her registry showed irregularities, Dolphin kept her in custody until departing for Key West, Florida
on 28 June, when she turned her charge over to British authorities. Dolphin continued to patrol in the Caribbean Sea
until arriving at Washington on 6 September.
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, Dolphin was one of three U.S. Navy vessels in commission or considered for service, and should not be confused with , a fishing vessel
the U.S. Navy considered for service as a patrol vessel in 1917 but apparently never acquired from her owners, or with , a patrol vessel in commission during 1918.
and joined gunboat to represent the U.S. at the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Straits of Magellan. Dolphin returned to Balboa, Panama
, and was based there for target practice, hydrographic experiments, and to obtain political information, visiting various neighboring countries to promote friendly relations. On 16 September 1921, she was at Puerto Barrios
, Guatemala
, to attend the anniversary of Guatemalan independence.
Dolphin arrived at Boston Navy Yard
on 14 October. She was decommissioned on 8 December and sold on 25 February 1922.
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:...
/dispatch vessel—was the fourth ship 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...
to be named for the dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
. Dolphins keel was laid down by John Roach & Sons
John Roach & Sons
John Roach & Sons was a major 19th-century American shipbuilding and manufacturing firm founded in 1864 by Irish-American immigrant John Roach. Between 1871 and 1885, the company was the largest shipbuilding firm in the United States, building more iron ships than its next two major competitors...
of Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 12 April 1884, with Captain George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
in command, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 8 December 1885 with Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
R. W. Meade in command. Dolphin was the first Navy ship to fly the Flag of the President of the United States
Flag of the President of the United States
The Flag of the President of the United States consists of the presidential coat of arms on a dark blue background. While having the same design as the presidential seal since 1945, the flag has a separate history, and the designs on the flag and seal have at different times influenced each other...
during President Chester Arthur's administration. She was, in fact, the second Navy ship to serve as a Presidential Yacht.
Pre-Spanish-American War
The first of the vessels of the "New Navy" to be completed, Dolphin was assigned to the North Atlantic Station, cruising along the eastern seaboard until February 1886. She then sailed around South AmericaSouth 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...
on her way to the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
for duty.
She visited ports in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
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...
, Ceylon, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Arabia, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
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...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the islands of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, before arriving at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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 1889-12 June 1890. On 23 December, she was reassigned to the Squadron of Evolution
Squadron of Evolution
The Squadron of Evolution " —sometimes referred to as the "White Squadron"— was a transitional unit in the United States Navy, during the late 19th century. Composed of the cruisers , , , USS Yorktown, and dispatch boat . Having both full rigged masts and steam engines, it was influential in the...
and sailed from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 7 January 1891 for a Caribbean cruise, returning to 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....
on 7 April.
Out of commission from 1 May 1891-14 March 1892, Dolphin then resumed her cruising along the Atlantic coast, often carrying the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav). In April, 1893 President Grover Cleveland conducted New York's inaugural International Naval Review from the deck of the Dolphin. On 3 December 1895, she was assigned to the Special Service Squadron
Special Service Squadron
The Special Service Squadron was a component of the United States Navy during the 1920s and 1930s.Under the United States Fleet, the squadron patrolled the Caribbean Sea as an instrument of gunboat diplomacy. It was headquartered in Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.-Commanders:* C.H. Hockson 1907 * Henry...
and made a surveying expedition to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
in January-February 1896. She carried President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
and his party to New York for the ceremonies at Grant's Tomb
Grant's Tomb
General Grant National Memorial , better known as Grant's Tomb, is a mausoleum containing the bodies of Ulysses S. Grant , American Civil War General and 18th President of the United States, and his wife, Julia Dent Grant...
on 23 April 1897. Dolphin was placed out of commission at New York on 23 November 1897.
Spanish-American War
Dolphin was recommissioned on 24 March 1898, just prior to the outbreak of the Spanish-American WarSpanish-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...
, and served on blockade duty off Havana, Cuba in April-May. On 6 June, she came under fire from the Morro Battery
Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca
The Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca is a fortress on the coast of the Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba...
at Santiago
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
. On 14 June, she provided fire support for elements of the 1st Marine Battalion at the Battle of Cuzco Well
1898 invasion of Guantánamo Bay
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...
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba resulting in a total rout of the Spanish forces. Later that month, she sailed for Norfolk, arriving on 2 July.
Pre-World War I
From 1899 until the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Europe, Dolphin served as a special dispatch ship for the SecNav and often carried the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and other important officials and diplomats. She visited Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
for the Peace Jubilee of 14 May-30 June 1899; New York City for the Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
celebration of 26-29 September; and Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, for the city's sesquicentennial on 10 October. From 7 November 1899-2 February 1900, she cruised to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
to survey the mouth of the Orinoco River. She departed Washington, DC on 11 January 1902 to survey the southeast coast of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, then carried the Chief of the Bureau of Equipment from Havana for a tour of inspection of the coaling stations in the West Indies. She returned to Washington on 6 May.
Dolphin sailed from Norfolk on 2 December 1902 to carry mail and dispatches to Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, then took the U.S. Minister to Venezuela to La Guaira
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
, arriving on 11 January 1903. She continued to cruise in the West Indies until returning to Washington, DC on 19 April. From 1903-1905, she carried such dignitaries as the Naval Committee, Secretary of the Navy, Admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
and Mrs. George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
, the Philippine Commissioners, the Attorney General, Prince Louis of Battenberg and his party, and President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on various cruises. Early in August 1905, she carried the Japanese peace plenipotentiaries from Oyster Bay, New York, to 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...
, to negotiate the settlement of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. In 1907, the first song broadcast over wireless radio was sung by Eugenia Farrar from the deck of Dolphin, docked at Brooklyn Naval Yard.
She continued on primarily ceremonial duty, participating in the interment of John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, and the departure ceremonies for the Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
until 22 October 1908, when she became flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the Third Squadron, 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...
.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
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 Leahy
William Leahy
William Leahy may refer to:* William D. Leahy , American naval officer, diplomat. and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in World War II* William Leahy , Australian World War I Distinguished Conduct Medal recipient...
and Richard E. Byrd, both of whom served on board.
Tampico Affair
In the spring of 1914, as the tensions that would lead to World War I mounted, the Third Squadron—with Dolphin as flagship—sailed into Tampico Bay to protect American lives and property. When some sailors from Dolphin were arrested by the Mexican governmentMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on 9 April 1914, the Tampico Affair
Tampico Affair
The Tampico Affair started off as a minor incident involving U.S. sailors and Mexican land forces loyal to General Victoriano Huerta during the guerra de las facciones phase of the Mexican Revolution...
began. The U.S. demanded their release and an apology. The Mexican government agreed, but when a warship of the Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
arrived with guns and supplies for the Mexicans, war threatened. President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
ordered the American naval forces to occupy Tampico, Mexico, and the navy bombarded Veracruz
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...
, Mexico. The issue was settled through the ABC Conference held in Niagara Falls, Canada, and the United States withdrew its naval force from Mexico, ending the incident. Subsequently, Dolphin assisted in the occupation of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
from 12-22 May 1916. Her career as flagship continued until 1917.
World War I
Sailing from Washington, D.C. on 2 April 1917 to take possession of the recently purchased Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, Dolphin received word four days later that war had been declared between the U.S. and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The next day, she arrived at St. Thomas and the squadron commander assumed office as Governor of the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
on 9 April. Dolphin carried the Governor and his staff to the islands of St. Croix
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
and St. John
Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint John is an island in the Caribbean Sea and a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. St...
to hoist the American flag with proper ceremony. On 26 April, she began a search for the steamer Nordskar, flying Danish colors
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, but suspected of aiding enemy operations. She found her at St. Lucia on 5 May and since her registry showed irregularities, Dolphin kept her in custody until departing for Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
on 28 June, when she turned her charge over to British authorities. Dolphin continued to patrol in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
until arriving at Washington on 6 September.
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
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and the Caribbean Sea to protect merchant shipping until the end of the war.
During World War I, Dolphin was one of three U.S. Navy vessels in commission or considered for service, and should not be confused with , a fishing vessel
Fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....
the U.S. Navy considered for service as a patrol vessel in 1917 but apparently never acquired from her owners, or with , a patrol vessel in commission during 1918.
Inter-war period
She remained in the Caribbean until her departure for New York City on 25 June 1920. After an overhaul at Boston, Massachusetts, she sailed on 16 October as flagship of the Special Service SquadronSpecial Service Squadron
The Special Service Squadron was a component of the United States Navy during the 1920s and 1930s.Under the United States Fleet, the squadron patrolled the Caribbean Sea as an instrument of gunboat diplomacy. It was headquartered in Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.-Commanders:* C.H. Hockson 1907 * Henry...
and joined gunboat to represent the U.S. at the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Straits of Magellan. Dolphin returned to Balboa, Panama
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
, and was based there for target practice, hydrographic experiments, and to obtain political information, visiting various neighboring countries to promote friendly relations. On 16 September 1921, she was at Puerto Barrios
Puerto Barrios
Puerto Barrios is a city in Guatemala, located within the Gulf of Honduras at. The bay in which the harbour is located is called Bahia de Amatique. Puerto Barrios is the departmental seat of Izabal department and the administrative seat of Puerto Barrios municipality.Puerto Barrios was named after...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, to attend the anniversary of Guatemalan independence.
Dolphin arrived at Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
on 14 October. She was decommissioned on 8 December and sold on 25 February 1922.