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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Dai Ching

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Screw Steamer:
  • Built in 1862-63 for the China trade
  • Launched in 1863
  • Purchased by the US Navy, 21 April 1863
  • Fitted out at New York Navy Yard
  • Commissioned USS Dai Ching, 11 June 1863, LCDR.J. C. Chaplin in command
  • Dai Ching joined in the search for the Confederate privateer Tacony on the northeastern coast between 14 and 20 June 1863
  • Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade Squadron, Dai Ching joined the Squadron off Charleston, S.C., 24 July, 1863
  • Dai Ching participated in the attack on Fort Wagner, 25 July and on 13-14 August took part in assaults on Forts Wagner and Sumter followed by a series of assaults on the other works in Charleston Harbor between 17 and 22 August
  • She captured the schooner George Chisholm. 14 November, 1864 with a cargo of salt off Santee River in South Carolina
  • Dai Ching participated in an expedition up the St. John's River, FL. remaining in the area from 6 February to 7 March 1864
  • She returned to patrolling on the South Carolina coast and in January 1865 patrolled in the Combahee River
  • Captured the schooner Coquette loaded with cotton, 26 January 1865
  • Final Disposition, that same day Dai Ching was abandoned after a seven hour defense while laying aground under the guns of a Confederate battery. She was struck 30 times by shot and shell, her guns disabled, her machinery destroyed, she was set afire by her crew, all of whom escaped safely
    Specifications:
    Displacement 520 t.
    Length 170'6"
    Beam 29'4"
    Draft 9'6"
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Speed 6 kts
    Complement 83
    Armament
    four 24-pdr smoothbore cannons
    two 20-pdr rifles
    one 100-pdr rifle
    Propulsion
    one steam engine
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
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    Dai Ching
    098684501    		 344k USS Dai Ching some of the officers and crew posing with the ship's 100-pdr rifle.
    ©Getty Images.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Dai Ching
    098684502    		 147k USS Dai Ching ship's officers, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    USS Dai Ching
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 25 September 2020