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USS Elcano (PG-38)
Encyclopedia
USS Elcano (PG-38) was a gunboat
captured by the United States Navy
from the Spanish Navy
during the Spanish-American War
. She was officially commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1902. She served for many years in the Yangtze Patrol
where she saw action against pirates and warlords. She served until decommissioning
in 1928, when she was sunk for target practice.
, where she arrived on 26 September 1886.
During the Spanish-American War
, she captured the American bark Saranac on 26 February 1898. Saranac—under Captain Bartaby—was carrying 1640 ST (1,487.8 t) of coal
from Newcastle, New South Wales, to Iloilo
, for Admiral Dewey
's fleet.
The Americans seized Elcano during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. She was officially turned over to the US Navy on 9 November 1898.
Naval Yard, Philippines, for use as a gunboat. The U.S Navy commissioned her on 20 November 1902 as the USS Elcano, Gunboat No. 38, under her first captain, Lieutenant Commander A.G. Winterhalter.
Elcano left Manila on 26 December 1902 for service with what would become the U.S. Yangtze Patrol. She sailed with another ex-Spanish gunboat——and the collier Pompey; the little flotilla arrived in Shanghai
in February 1903.
The gunboats' task was primarily to protect American lives and property in China, especially American-flagged vessels operating on the Yangtze River
. The U.S. had sent gunboats to China in the past, but this flotilla was the first that the U.S. Navy had created specifically to patrol the Yangtze. However, they were not well-suited to river patrol because of their deep (ocean-going) draft and their weak power.
Still, Elcano remained based in Shanghai until 20 October 1907. She then returned to Cavite where the U.S. Navy decommissioned her on 1 November.
The U.S. Navy recommissioned Elcano on 5 December 1910 and she returned to China in March 1911. There she was based at Amoy
until the start of World War I
. She returned to Manila in April 1917, and then patrolled off Mariveles, Bataan
, and Corregidor Island until the end of the war.
Elcano returned to Shanghai on 3 February 1920 where she rejoined the Yangtze Patrol. On 17 July, the Navy reclassified her as PG-38 (Patrol Gunboat 38).
As a member of the Yangtze River Patrol Elcano was involved in numerous skirmishes with Chinese warlords and pirates. In July 1921, she assisted in the landing of U.S. Marines at Ichang
, where she remained until September 1922. During the Chinese revolution of 1926-1927, Elcano brought refugees back to the coast from deep inland. On 24 March 1927, Elcano shelled the base of Socony Hill in Nanking to protect the American Consul General and others who were being besieged there. Eventually, American sailors rescued the American civilians.
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:...
captured by 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...
from the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
during 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...
. She was officially commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1902. She served for many years in the Yangtze Patrol
Yangtze Patrol
The Yangtze Patrol, from 1854 to 1945, was a prolonged naval operation to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. Initially the patrol was carried out by ships of the United States Navy's East India and Asiatic Squadrons. In 1922, the "YangPat" was established as a formal...
where she saw action against pirates and warlords. She served until decommissioning
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
in 1928, when she was sunk for target practice.
Spanish Navy
Elcano was built in 1885 by the Carraca Arsenal at Cadiz, Spain. The Spanish Navy stationed her at the Port of ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, where she arrived on 26 September 1886.
During 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...
, she captured the American bark Saranac on 26 February 1898. Saranac—under Captain Bartaby—was carrying 1640 ST (1,487.8 t) of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from Newcastle, New South Wales, to Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
, for Admiral 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...
's fleet.
The Americans seized Elcano during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. She was officially turned over to the US Navy on 9 November 1898.
U.S Navy
The U.S Navy had Elcano fitted at the CaviteCavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
Naval Yard, Philippines, for use as a gunboat. The U.S Navy commissioned her on 20 November 1902 as the USS Elcano, Gunboat No. 38, under her first captain, Lieutenant Commander A.G. Winterhalter.
Elcano left Manila on 26 December 1902 for service with what would become the U.S. Yangtze Patrol. She sailed with another ex-Spanish gunboat——and the collier Pompey; the little flotilla arrived in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in February 1903.
The gunboats' task was primarily to protect American lives and property in China, especially American-flagged vessels operating on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. The U.S. had sent gunboats to China in the past, but this flotilla was the first that the U.S. Navy had created specifically to patrol the Yangtze. However, they were not well-suited to river patrol because of their deep (ocean-going) draft and their weak power.
Still, Elcano remained based in Shanghai until 20 October 1907. She then returned to Cavite where the U.S. Navy decommissioned her on 1 November.
The U.S. Navy recommissioned Elcano on 5 December 1910 and she returned to China in March 1911. There she was based at Amoy
Amoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
until the start of World War I
World 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...
. She returned to Manila in April 1917, and then patrolled off Mariveles, Bataan
Mariveles, Bataan
Mariveles is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 102,844 people in 19,460 households...
, and Corregidor Island until the end of the war.
Elcano returned to Shanghai on 3 February 1920 where she rejoined the Yangtze Patrol. On 17 July, the Navy reclassified her as PG-38 (Patrol Gunboat 38).
As a member of the Yangtze River Patrol Elcano was involved in numerous skirmishes with Chinese warlords and pirates. In July 1921, she assisted in the landing of U.S. Marines at Ichang
Yichang
Yichang is a prefecture-level city located in Hubei province of the People's Republic of China. It is the second largest city in Hubei province after the province capital, Wuhan. The Three Gorges Dam is located within its administrative area, in Yiling District.-History:In ancient times Yichang...
, where she remained until September 1922. During the Chinese revolution of 1926-1927, Elcano brought refugees back to the coast from deep inland. On 24 March 1927, Elcano shelled the base of Socony Hill in Nanking to protect the American Consul General and others who were being besieged there. Eventually, American sailors rescued the American civilians.