A History and Roster of the
of the U.S.S. ANNAPOLIS
by Patrick McSherry
The Patrol Gunboat U.S.S. ANNAPOLIS
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History
of the ANNAPOLIS ||| Technotes on ANNAPOLIS
||| Crew Roster of the ANNAPOLIS
GENERAL:
The ANNAPOLIS was a gunboat that served in the North Atlantic squadron,
seeing service in Cuba and on the U.S. east coast during the Spanish
American War.
BACKGROUND:
The ANNAPOLIS was launched on December 23, 1896 by the company of
Lewis Nixon and was commissioned PG-10 (Patrol Gunboat 10) on July 20,
1897 under the command of Commander John J. Hunker.
When the Battleship MAINE exploded in Havana
harbor, ANNAPOLIS was located in Venezuela. Shortly before the Spanish
American War began, the ANNAPOLIS was assigned to the Navy's North
Atlantic Squadron in March of 1898. When war broke out, she was on the
Florida coast. As part of the North Atlantic Squadron, ANNAPOLIS took
part in numerous actions during the war, including a skirmish with
Spanish gunboats off Havana on May 15, an attack on Siboney on June 22,
an attack on Baracoa on July 15. At Baracoa, the vessel
communicated with Cuban insurgents and got into a firefight with shore
battery. In the action ANNAPOLIS silenced the guns and set fire to the
Spanish barracks. ANNAPOLIS took several hits but reported no damage or
injuries. On July 18, acting in conjunction with the WASP and LEYDEN,
ANNAPOLIS entered the Bay of Nipe and sunk the Spanish gunboat DON JORGE
JUAN.
With the destruction of Admiral Cervera's squadron on the surrender of
Spanish forces around Santiago, Cuba, the action now centered on the
invasion of Puerto Rico. ANNAPOLIS took part in the defense of the
landing forces at Ponce. Hostilities ended with the armistice that was
agreed to on August 12, 1898. No longer needed at the front, ANNAPOLIS
became a training vessel beginning on October 21, a role she served
until being decommissioned on September 5, 1899.
The vessel was recommissioned in 1900, serving in the Asiatic Squadron
until her next decommissioning in 1904.From 1907 to 1911, ANNAPOLIS
served as the station ship at Tutuila, Samoa. From 1912 to 1919, the
vessel cruised off of Mexico and Central America. In 1920 ANNAPOLIS was
recommissioned and refitted and then loaned to the Commissioners of
Navigation in Philadelphia, serving as a training vessel. Later she
served as the Pennsylvania State Nautical Schoolship. In 1940, the ship
was converted to a merchant vessel and was renamed KEYSTONE STATE. The
ship was scrapped in 1950.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The vessel carried a full barkentine sail rig, meaning that she was
not designed to be fully part of the modern steam navy. To man the
sails, she likely had to carry additional cew for that purpose. Her
design also provide for relatively small coal bunkers and her listed
coal endurance seems to take into account the use of sails in addition
to the engine. She had one screw rather than two, making her less
maneuverable than vessels with multiple screws. The vessel was
unarmored. However, she carried a decent battery for a ship of her size
and proved herself in action during the war. Lastly, the vessel was a
composite warship, or ship with a steel or iron frame, with wooden hull.
This type of ship was outdated in a steel ship navy.
TECHNOTES
The Profile of the
ANNAPOLIS
| Classification: |
|
Patrol Gunboat
PG-10 (Composite Gunboat) |
| Keel Laid: |
|
April 1896 |
| Launched: |
|
December 23, 1896 |
| Commissioned: |
|
July 20, 1897 |
| Rig: |
|
Barkentine |
| Armament: |
|
Six 4-inch rapid-fire guns |
|
|
Four 6-pounder rapid fire guns |
|
|
Two 1-pounder rapid-fire guns |
|
|
One Colt machine gun |
| Contractor: |
|
Lewis Nixon, Elizabethport, NJ |
| Length: |
|
168 feet |
| Beam: |
|
36 feet |
| Mean draft: |
|
12 feet |
| Max. draft fully loaded: |
|
13 feet 9 inches |
| Displacement: |
|
1,000 tons |
| Complement: |
|
11 Officers and 124 enlisted men |
| Engine type: |
|
Vertical triple expansion engines,
generating 1,227 hp.; Single screw |
| Boiler type: |
|
Two Babcock and Wilcox boilers |
| Speed: |
|
13.17 knots |
| Coal bunker capacity: |
|
225 tons |
| Endurance @ 10 knots: |
|
5,328 nautical miles |
The
Roster:
Officers (partial roster):
HUNKER,
John J., Commander (Commanding)
MENTZ,
George W., Lieutenant
KLINE,
George W., Lieutenant Junior Grade
ZIEGEMEIER,
Henry J., Ensign
TOMPKINS,
John T., Ensign
POOR,
Charles L., Ensign
PALMER,
Samuel B., Assistant Surgeon
FYFFE,
Joseph, Assistant Paymaster
ROMMEL,
Charles E., Passed Assistant Engineer
MAJOR,
S.I.M., Naval Cadet
TAUSSIG,
J.W., Naval Cadet
MATTHEWS,
J.E., Naval Cadet
SAYLES
JR., W.R., Naval Cadet
MILLER,
N.S., Naval Cadet
LEWIS,
J.E., Naval Cadet
WATTS,
W.C., Naval Cadet
Enlisted Men:
ANDERSEN,
Reginald,
Quartermaster Third Class
ANDERSON,
John, Landsman
BAIRD,
Adrian, Apprentice Second Class
BARRETT,
George M., Gunner’s Mate Third Class
BARRY,
Joseph, Fireman First Class
BARWICK,
William S., Ordinary Seaman
BJORNSTAD,
Julius, Fireman First Class
BLADES,
Frank S., Apprentice Second Class
BLAKE,
James, Landsman
BROWN,
Milton, Ship’s Cook First Class
CASSIDY,
Edward, Seaman
CHAMBERS,
Homer A., Apprentice Second Class
CLARK,
Frank, Coal Passer
COOK,
Philip, Apprentice Second Class
CURRY,
Charles Wilens, Ordinary Seaman
DAHLBURG,
Sigfried,
Chief Steward
DOWD,
Thomas James, Chief Yeoman
DOWNEY,
Martin, Apprentice Second Class
DYSON,
William H., Mess Attendant
ECKHOFF,
Ernest, Carpenter’s Mate Second Class
EDWARDS,
John, Coal Passer
EGAN,
Harry, Boatswain’s Mate First Class
ELLIOTT,
Arthur R., Gunner’s Mate Third Class
FEULOK,
Adolph, Coxswain
FITZPATRICK,
John, Apprentice Second Class
FLYNN,
Charles, Master at Arms Third Class
GANTRE,
Phillip, Apprentice Second Class
GARDNER,
Charles T., Apprentice Second Class
GARDNER,
Henry Arthur, Ordinary Seaman
GILROY,
John Joseph, Seaman
GRILLS,
William, Blacksmith
GUSTAFSON,
Kaarl, Coxswain
HANSON,
Hjalmar, Seaman
HARRIS,
William D., Apprentice Second Class
HARVEY,
Walter, Landsman
HASHI,
Kaner, Wardroom Steward
HASOMOTO,
Mess Attendant
HAWKINS,
James A., Apprentice Second Class
HAYDEN,
James R., Landsman
HENDRIKSEN,
Andrew,
Coxswain
HENSITIS,
Charles W., Gunner’s Mate Second Class
HICKEY,
Maurice, Apprentice Second Class
JEFFRIES,
Thomas, Chief Boatswain’s Mate
JOHNSON,
Milton W., Apprentice Second Class
KARLSSON,
John F., Boatswain’s Mate Second Class
KELLEY,
Oscar S., Yeoman Second Class
KIERNAN,
John, Fireman Second Class
KIMURA,
Cikizo, Mess Attendant
KISAKOW,
Gewata, Mess Attendant
LAGACH,
William J., Landsman
LANE,
Francis P., Machinist First Class
LEONARD,
Harry, Boatswain’s Mate First Class
LUNDY,
Frederic K., Ordinary Seaman
MACE,
Elliott, Landsman
MARCEY,
Charles J., Boilermaker
McDERMOTT,
James E., Fireman Second Class
McENTES,
Thomas E., Plumbers and Fitters
McKENNA,
John F., Apprentice Second Class
MENZIES,
John J., Hospital Apprentice
MOHAN,
Anthony, Apprentice Second Class
MOORE,
Clyde W., Apprentice Second Class
MOORE,
Sherwood T., Machinist Second Class
MORAN,
Henry, Boatswain’s Mate First Class
MORROW,
Charles L., Landsman
MULKERN,
James E., Fireman Second Class
MUNSIE,
Walter G., Boatswain’s Mate First Class
MURRAY,
Hugh, Oiler
MURPHY,
Philip E., Apprentice Second Class
NITSCHKE,
Albert, Boatswain’s Mate Second Class
NOLD,
Joseph C., Apprentice Second Class
OBERLEY,
Joseph, Apprentice Second Class
OLIVER,
Clifford W., Mess Attendant
OLSEN,
Johan, Seaman
O’NEIL,
Joseph G., Apprentice Third Class
O’NEILL,
Martin, Fireman Second Class
OTA,
Rikizo, Wardroom Cook
PETERSON,
Pricey F., Apprentice Second Class
PHINNEY,
Elijah H., Chief Yeoman
PROESCHER,
William,
Gunner’s Mate First Class
QUILL,
James, Chief Machinist
RICKETTS,
John C., Chief Quartermaster
ROACH,
Edward, Coal Passer
ROCHE,
John David, Landsman
RODES,
Alfred A., Coxswain
ROGERS,
Thomas J., Coal Passer
SANDERS,
Harry Leon, Landsman
SANDERS,
William, Landsman
SCHIEB,
Peter, Painter
SCHREIBER,
Martin M., Chief Machinist
SEBURG,
Clarence, Fireman First Class
SHEA,
Daniel, Chief Carpenter’s Mate
SIMONSSON,
Axel, Seaman
SIOGUERO,
Birges, Coxswain
SMITH,
David, Shipwright
SMITH,
Ray C., Apprentice Second Class
SPEARS,
Lewis, Hospital Apprentice
STERNO,
Joseph Nelson, Landsman
SUMMER,
William P., Ordinary Seaman
THOMSEN,
Freeman, Fireman Second Class
TOMPKINS,
Edward S., Apprentice Second Class
TRAVERS,
Dennie C., Apprentice Second Class
TRAVERS,
Joseph, Apprentice Second Class
TYRRELL,
Thomas E., Apprentice Second Class
VAN
HORN, Philip H., Apprentice Second Class
WELDON,
John P., Oiler
WELSH,
James L., Apprentice Second Class
WHIPP,
Robert A., Chief Gunner’s Mate
WIEGURA,
Owen G., Apprentice Second Class
WILLIAMS,
Henry F., Apprentice Second Class
WILSON,
Christian, Gunner’s Mate Second Class
WRIGHT,
Harry F., Apprentice Second Class
Marine Guard:
DALY,
Michael, Private
FLANDERS,
Frank J., Corporal
GORRELL,
Charles P., Private
HOWLETT,
George L., Private
MANN,
Nicholas, Private
McGONIGLE,
Edward, Private
McINTIRE,
Bert R., Private
MILLER,
Gustave P., Private
MITSCHALL,
Louis E., First Sergeant
RYAN,
Thomas F., Corporal
WILLIAMS,
Francis, Private
WILSON,
Angus, Private
Bibliography:
Alden, John D., The American Steel Navy.
(Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1972) 378.
Clerk of Joint Committee on Printing, The Abridgement of Message
from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of
Congress. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899). Vol. 2
1192-1195, 1248-1249; Vol. 4, 252, 266.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
Vol.1 (Washington: Naval Department, 1959) 47.
Johnston, Edgar, Lt., The Great Spanish American
War Scenes. (Chicago: W. B. Conkey Company).
Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
(Washington: Government Printing Office, 1898) 13
Weaver, Barry, Col Albert F. Gleim and Danny J. Farak, The
West Indies Naval Campaign Medal of 1898 - The Sampson Medal, the
Ships and Men. (Arlington, VA: Planchet Press, 1986) (data
contributed by Douglas Davis).
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