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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Elk (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Side-wheel Steamer (Tinclad # 47):

Built in 1863 as the side-wheel steamer Countess at Cincinnati

Purchased for the navy by ADM. David D. Porter, 8 December 1863

Converted to a Gunboat and renamed Elk 26 January 1864,

Commissioned, USS Elk, 6 May 1864, LCDR. J. H. Gillis in command

During the Civil War USS Elk was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and patrolled the waters off New Orleans and Mobile, and in the lower Mississippi River

Decommissioned, date unknown, at New Orleans

Sold, 24 August 1865, at New Orleans, re-documented as SS Countess

Final Disposition, sunk in 1868

Specifications:
Displacement 162 t.
Length 156'
Beam 29'
Depth of Hold 3' 10"
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 65

Armament

two 32-pdrs

four 24-pdr smoothbores

Propulsion steam

two side-wheels

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
094611501	175k	*Namesake* Elk - one of the largest species within the deer family, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America, as well as Central and East Asia. (Wikipedia)		Tommy Trampp
	184k	USS Elk officers on the ship's upper deck, seen from a similar river steamer during the Civil War. Note fancy woodwork around the deck edge and pilothouse roof, bullet-proof metal plating and ship's number ("47") on the pilothouse, and smokestack brace. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 54359		Bill Gonyo

USS Elk (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 2 July 2021