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USS Helena (PG-9)
Encyclopedia
USS Helena (PG-9) was a gunboat
of the United States Navy
that participated in the Spanish-American War
and was later stationed in the Far East
for many years.
The gunboat was launched by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co.
, Newport News, Virginia
on 30 January 1896; sponsored by Agnes Belle Steele, daughter of the mayor of Helena
; commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 8 July 1897, Commander
William T. Swinburne
in command.
In a Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute
for that year, it was written:
, cruising primarily in home waters. During the Spanish-American War
, she stood by in Cuba
n waters, where she saw action several times. On 2-3 July 1898, she exchanged fire with enemy batteries at Fort Tunas. On 18 July, she was part of the squadron which closed the port of Manzanillo
by sinking or destroying eight small vessels there during a vigorous attack.
at the close of the Spanish-American War was the Philippine-American War
. To aid in suppressing this rebellion, Helena sailed from Boston
on 3 November 1898, bound for duty on the Asiatic Squadron
, via the Suez Canal
, arriving Philippines
on 10 February 1899. On 21 May, she was present at the evacuation of Jolo
by the Spanish and the landing of American troops to replace them. During June, she stood by with other vessels in Manila Bay
to support the Army
during its offensive south of Manila into Cavite Province. One of her landing parties brought troops ashore in an assault which carried the strong defenses along the Zapote River
on 13 June. On 7 November, Helena bombarded San Fabian
in Lingayen Gulf
, and covered the landing of 2,500 troops there, on the same beaches that would again be stormed by US troops 45 years later.
waters from October 1900-December 1902, then returned to the Philippines until March 1903 when she sailed back to the China coast. In December 1904, she moored once more at Cavite in the Philippines, where she was placed out of commission on 19 April 1905.
Helena recommissioned on 16 July 1906, and cruised on the Asiatic Station until June 1907. From that time on, with intervals for overhaul, Helena served both with the South China patrol and Yangtze River Patrol
. She was placed in reduced commission on 29 June 1929, but continued to serve on the South China Patrol until 27 May 1932, when she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
. She was sold on 7 July 1934.
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...
that participated in 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...
and was later stationed in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
for many years.
The gunboat was launched by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co.
Northrop Grumman Newport News
Newport News Shipbuilding , originally Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , was the largest privately-owned shipyard in the United States prior to being purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2001...
, Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
on 30 January 1896; sponsored by Agnes Belle Steele, daughter of the mayor of Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
; commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 8 July 1897, 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...
William T. Swinburne
William T. Swinburne
William T. Swinburne was a rear admiral of the United States Navy and one-time Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet.-Biography:...
in command.
In a Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute
United States Naval Institute
The United States Naval Institute , based at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is a private, non-profit, professional military association that seeks to offer independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national defense issues...
for that year, it was written:
:She is designed to meet the requirements of roomy and well-ventilated quarters, so as to provide for refugees, as in the case of missionaries, and to enable her to carry a large landing party. She has berthing capacity for many men besides her crew, and carries ships' boats of an unusual size, her steam cutter and sailing launch being each 33 feet long, or as large as those supplied to the heaviest battleships.
Spanish-American War
Helenas first assignment was with the North Atlantic FleetUnited 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...
, cruising primarily in home waters. 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 stood by in 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...
n waters, where she saw action several times. On 2-3 July 1898, she exchanged fire with enemy batteries at Fort Tunas. On 18 July, she was part of the squadron which closed the port of Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Cuba
Manzanillo is a municipality and city in the Granma Province of Cuba.It is a port city in the Granma Province in eastern Cuba on the Gulf of Guacanayabo, near the delta of the Cauto River...
by sinking or destroying eight small vessels there during a vigorous attack.
Philippine-American War
The great problem facing the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the close of the Spanish-American War was the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. To aid in suppressing this rebellion, Helena sailed from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on 3 November 1898, bound for duty on the Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
, via 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...
, arriving Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on 10 February 1899. On 21 May, she was present at the evacuation of Jolo
Jolo
Jolo may refer to:* Jolo Island* Jolo, Sulu* Jolo, West Virginia* Jolo is also the nickname of Swedish author Jan Olof Olsson....
by the Spanish and the landing of American troops to replace them. During June, she stood by with other vessels in Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
to support 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...
during its offensive south of Manila into Cavite Province. One of her landing parties brought troops ashore in an assault which carried the strong defenses along the Zapote River
Battle of Zapote Bridge
The Battle of Zapote River, also known as the Battle of Zapote Bridge, was fought on June 13, 1899 between 3,000 Americans and 5,000 Filipinos. It was the second largest battle of the Philippine-American War. Zapote River separates what is now the city of Las Piñas in Metro Manila from Bacoor in...
on 13 June. On 7 November, Helena bombarded San Fabian
San Fabián
San Fabián is one of 21 communes in the Ñuble Province of central Chile's Biobío Region. The capital is the town of San Fabián de Alico. The commune spans an area of .-Administration:...
in Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
, and covered the landing of 2,500 troops there, on the same beaches that would again be stormed by US troops 45 years later.
Post-war service
Helena remained in the Far East for the rest of her naval service, engaged in protecting American lives and interests. She served in ChineseChina
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...
waters from October 1900-December 1902, then returned to the Philippines until March 1903 when she sailed back to the China coast. In December 1904, she moored once more at Cavite in the Philippines, where she was placed out of commission on 19 April 1905.
Helena recommissioned on 16 July 1906, and cruised on the Asiatic Station until June 1907. From that time on, with intervals for overhaul, Helena served both with the South China patrol and Yangtze River 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...
. She was placed in reduced commission on 29 June 1929, but continued to serve on the South China Patrol until 27 May 1932, when she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
. She was sold on 7 July 1934.