USSHarvard(1888)
 USSPlattsburghat New York Navy Yard
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | SSCity of New York |
| Operator | Inman Line |
| Builder | John Brown and Company,Clydebank,Scotland |
| Launched | 15 March 1888 |
| Fate | To the American Line, 1893 |
 United States | |
| Name | SSNew York |
| Operator | American Line |
| Route | Southamptonto New York |
| Acquired | 1893 |
| Fate |
|
 United States | |
| Name | USSHarvard |
| Acquired | by charter |
| Commissioned | 26 April 1898 |
| Decommissioned | 2 September 1898 |
| Fate | Returned to owner |
| United States | |
| Name | USSPlattsburg |
| Acquired | by charter, 9 May 1918 |
| Commissioned | 24 May 1918 |
| Fate | Returned to owner, 6 October 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 10,499 long tons (10,667 t)GRT |
| Displacement | 17,270 long tons (17,547 t) |
| Length | 585 ft (178 m) |
| Beam | 63 ft 3 in (19.28 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Speed | 20knots(37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 407 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
The firstUSSHarvardof theUnited States Navywas anauxiliary cruiserin theSpanish–American War.She was launched asCity of New York,and later commissioned asPlattsburg(SP-1645)for service in World War I.
Originally aschooner-riggedsteamship,she was launched in 1888 asCity of New YorkbyJohn Brown and Company,Clydebank,Scotland,for theInman Line.Sister ship ofCity of Paris,City of New Yorkwas one of the largest and best liners of her day, and one of the first steamships with twin screws. She was transferred to American registry under theAmerican Linein 1893 asNew York.These ships brought the United States to the front rank in the Atlantic passenger trade, andNew Yorkestablished the record for theSouthamptonto New York crossing in September 1893.
Spanish–American War
[edit]At the outbreak of theSpanish–American War,New Yorkwas chartered as an auxiliary cruiser with a civilian crew, commissioning on 26 April 1898 at New York, CaptainC. S. Cottonin command and renamedHarvard.Assigned as a scout,Harvarddeparted New York on 30 April to cruise West Indian waters in search of the Spanish fleet. After sending back several reports on the location of Spanish units in the Caribbean,Harvardwas blockaded by a larger force atSaint-Pierre, Martiniquefrom 11 to 17 May, after which she proceeded toSantiago de CubaandSt. Nicholas Mole,Haiti,with dispatches fromCommodoreWinfield Scott Schley.Interrupting her scouting duties,Harvardreturned toNewport News, Virginia,7–26 June during which time her crew was officially taken into the Naval Service.
Harvardreturned to the Caribbean with troops and supplies, arriving atAltares,Cuba, about 1 July. The morning of 3 July, she received the electrifying news that the Spanish fleet had sortied. After Rear AdmiralWilliam T. Sampson's smashingvictory off Santiago,she rescued survivors. Despite the high surf and ammunition explosions from the stricken Spanish ships,Harvardsucceeded in recovering over 600 officers and men.
On 4 July 1898, the 9th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry were guarding the prisoners of war insideHarvard.A guard ordered a prisoner, who was attempting to cross the line, to return. The prisoner did not understand English and the guard fired a shot causing other prisoners to stand up. Fearing the prisoners were about to attack, the guards opened fire killing six prisoners and wounding thirteen more. After the investigation, it was concluded that it was a mistake. The tragedy was known asHarvard Incident.
No longer needed as a scout in the Caribbean,Harvardwas sent back to the United States 10 July 1898. She was temporarily turned over to theWar Department,and returned to Santiago de Cuba to transport troops back to the United States.Harvardarrived at New York on 27 August and decommissioned 2 September 1898 atNew York Navy Yard.
World War I and demise
[edit]Reverting to her old name,New York,the ship resumed transatlantic service with the American Line until World War I. During this period she underwent extensive conversion in 1903, when one of her three funnels was removed. When United States joined World War I, again needed in support of American forces abroad,New Yorkwas chartered by the Navy 9 May 1918 for use as atroop transport.She commissioned asPlattsburgon 24 May 1918 and commanded byClaude C. Bloch.
Plattsburgmade four voyages from New York toLiverpooltransporting theAmerican Expeditionary Forceto Europe, and after the end of the war made a total of seven voyages, bringing home over 24,000 veterans. She returned to New York after her final crossing on 29 August 1919, and was returned to her owners on 6 October 1919.
AsNew York,the ship once again plied the Atlantic with passengers, but she was no longer a first-class liner and was withdrawn from service in 1920. Sold to thePolish Navigation Company,she made two more voyages, but the company was soon forced to close down and the ship was scrapped in 1923.
References
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This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.