USS Panther (1889)
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| Missing image Uss_panther_1889.jpg USS Panther | |
| Career | Missing image USN-Jack.png United States Navy Jack |
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| Built (as Austin): | 1889 |
| Purchased: | 12 April 1898 |
| Commissioned (as USS Panther): | 22 April 1898 |
| Decommissioned (Ordinary): | 20 October 1899 |
| Recommissioned: | 19 June 1902 |
| Decommissioned: | 21 October 1903 |
| Recommissioned: | 18 November 1907 |
| Decommissioned: | May 1922 |
| Disposition: | sold 24 March 1923 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 4696 metric Tonne (4,260 ton) |
| Length: | 98.86 m (324 ft 4 in) |
| Breadth: | 12.3 m (40 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 5.5 m (18 ft 2.5 in) |
| Complement: | 138 |
| Propulsion: | Steam |
| Speed: | 26 km/h (14 knots) |
| Armament: | 6 × five-inch 2 × four-inch 6 × three-pounder 1 × colt 1 three-inch howitzer |
The first USS Panther (AD-6), the former Austin, was an auxiliary cruiser in the United States Navy.
Panther was built by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. in 1889, purchased by the Navy from Red D Line Steamship Co. 12 April 1898, and commissioned at New York 22 April 1898, Commander George C. Reiter in command. Panther was designated AD-6 in 1920.
Panther was pressed into service immediately after commissioning as the Spanish-American War broke out. In April, Panther joined the North Atlantic Fleet, portions of which blockaded Cuba throughout the conflict.
Admiral William T. Sampson received word from Key West early in May that Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete’s squadron was very likely at Santiago, Cuba. Panther and other ships of the American fleet patrolled off that port until she steamed to Guantánamo 11 June with 646 Marines, who landed at Caimanera and entrenched themselves in preparation for the ensuing battle. Panther withdrew to her former position with the fleet in the successful campaign at Santiago. After the destruction of the Spanish fleet, Panther steamed to New York, to cruise between New York, Boston, Norfolk, and Portsmouth until 20 October 1899, when she went into ordinary at Philadelphia.
She remained in ordinary until recommissioning 19 June 1902, when she fitted out as a training ship. In July, she steamed to New York to begin operations with various state militias. In this connection, she embarked crews from New Jersey in July, Pennsylvania in early August, and Connecticut later that month. In 1902, disturbing conditions in the West Indies and Caribbean required the constant presence of U.S. ships to maintain order and preserve U.S. treaty rights. In September 1902, Panther embarked a Marine battalion and departed for Caribbean waters to serve as a station ship to protect American interests during unrest in Honduras. She continued with the Caribbean Squadron until 21 October 1903, when she decommissioned at Philadelphia.
Panther recommissioned 18 November 1907 to serve as auxiliary repair ship for the North Atlantic Fleet until April 1917. She served as one of the auxillary ships for the Great White Fleet's cruise around the world (December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909). She sailed for Brest 1 July 1917 to serve as tender for the U.S. destroyer force throughout World War I. After the war, her duties took her to ports such as Kirkwall, Scotland; Devonport, England; Lisbon, and Ponta Delgada.
In 1921, American interest shifted to China; the Navy’s Yangtze River Patrol had operated there for some years, guaranteeing the prevention of strife and the protection of persons and interests in the region. Panther joined the Asiatic Station, ready to defend U.S. interests in maritime affairs, on the other side of the globe. She continued her duties on station until 1922, when she returned stateside to decommission in May. She subsequently was sold to Tioga Steel Co., Philadelphia, 24 March 1923.
See also
USS Panther for additional ships bearing this name.
1898 invasion of Guantánamo Bay for additional information on the landing of the Marines.
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.