USS Southery (IX-26)
Encyclopedia
USS Southery, a steamer built in 1889 by R. Thompson Sons & Co.
at Sunderland, England, was purchased by the United States Navy
on 16 April 1898. She was converted to a collier
at the Boston Navy Yard
and commissioned there on 2 May 1898, Commander
Walton Goodwin in command.
on 6 June and, for the remainder of 1898 and into 1899, she cruised the Atlantic coast from Boston to as far south as Jamaica
. On 18 February 1899, the converted collier was placed out of commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard and converted to a prison ship
. Southery was moved to Boston on 6 April 1902, where she resumed duty as a prison ship. In early July 1903, the prison ship was shifted to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. In February 1913, she became station ship at Portsmouth.
in the spring of 1917, Southery was still at Portsmouth. On 27 April, she received half of the first draft of recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and, for five months, trained them intensively. She returned to duty as a prison ship on 25 September 1917 and was so employed until 7 November 1918, when she became receiving ship at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
On 16 April 1922, Southery moved to the Boston Navy Yard
and assumed duty there as receiving ship on the 26th. She continued in the assignment until she decommissioned on 12 July 1933. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 1 September, and her hulk was sold to Boston Iron and Metal Co. of Baltimore, Maryland on 1 December.
J.L. Thompson and Sons
J.L. Thompson and Sons was a shipyard on the River Wear, Sunderland, which produced ships from the mid-18th century until the 1980s. The world-famous Liberty Ship was among the designs to be created, produced and manufactured at the yard's base at North Sands....
at Sunderland, England, was purchased 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...
on 16 April 1898. She was converted to a collier
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
at the 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...
and commissioned there on 2 May 1898, 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...
Walton Goodwin in command.
1898-1916
Southery steamed out of BostonBoston
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 6 June and, for the remainder of 1898 and into 1899, she cruised the Atlantic coast from Boston to as far south as Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. On 18 February 1899, the converted collier was placed out of commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard and converted to a prison ship
Prison ship
A prison ship, historically sometimes called a prison hulk, is a vessel used as a prison, often to hold convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies. This practice was popular with the British government in the 18th and 19th centuries....
. Southery was moved to Boston on 6 April 1902, where she resumed duty as a prison ship. In early July 1903, the prison ship was shifted 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...
. In February 1913, she became station ship at Portsmouth.
1917-1933
When the United States entered 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 the spring of 1917, Southery was still at Portsmouth. On 27 April, she received half of the first draft of recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and, for five months, trained them intensively. She returned to duty as a prison ship on 25 September 1917 and was so employed until 7 November 1918, when she became receiving ship at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
On 16 April 1922, Southery moved to the 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...
and assumed duty there as receiving ship on the 26th. She continued in the assignment until she decommissioned on 12 July 1933. Her name was 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...
on 1 September, and her hulk was sold to Boston Iron and Metal Co. of Baltimore, Maryland on 1 December.