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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

USRC Thetis
ex-USS Thetis

Thetis served the U.S. Navy, Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard.
Revenue Cutter:

  • Built in 1881 by Alexander Stephen and Sons, Dundee, Scotland
  • Acquired by the Navy 2 February 1884
  • Decommissioned 26 November 1884 and laid up at New York
  • Recommissioned 15 January 1887
  • Placed "in ordinary" in July 1897 at Mare Island, CA
  • Transferred to the Revenue Cutter Service in the spring of 1899
  • Returned to Navy custody in October 1899 but transferred back to the Revenue Cutter Service permanently
  • Decommissioned 13 July 1905
  • Recommissioned 26 April 1906
  • Decommissioned 30 April 1916 at San Francisco, CA
  • Sold 3 June 1916 to W. and S. Job and Co. of New York City
  • Grounded at Freshwater Bay, approximately 2 miles from St. Johns, Newfoundland and remained until she broke up.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 1,250 t.
  • Length 188' 6"
  • Beam 29'
  • Draft 17' 10"
  • Armament: (Navy) one Howitzer, (Revenue Cutter Service) three 3-pounder rapid fire guns
  • Propulsion one compound-expansion steam engine and sail, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Thetis
    Thetis 77k Thetis (center) and Revenue Cutter Bear (left), hampered by ice during their search for the Greely Expedition, 1884
    U.S. Navy photo from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    USRC Thetis
    Thetis 441k c. 1901
    Broadside view of USRC Thetis at Pt. Barrow
    Donated to Mare Island Shipyard in 1987 by 2nd LT Francis R. Shoemaker
    Mare Island photo PG Thetis Pt. Barrow 1901-01    		 Darryl Baker
    Thetis 360k c. 1901/1902
    Bow view of the USRC Thetis at Pt. Barrow
    Donated to Mare Island Shipyard in 1987 by 2nd LT Francis R. Shoemaker
    Mare Island photo PG Thetis Pt. Barrow 1901-02    		 Darryl Baker
    Thetis 299k c. 1901
    2nd LT Francis R. Shoemaker aboard the USRC Thetis at Pt. Barrow
    Donated to Mare Island Shipyard in 1987 by 2nd LT Francis R. Shoemaker
    Mare Island photo PG Thetis Pt. Barrow 1901-03    		 Darryl Baker
    Thetis 308k c. 1905
    USRC Thetis in Hawaiian waters
    Donated to Mare Island Shipyard in 1987 by 2nd LT Francis R. Shoemaker
    Mare Island photo PG Thetis Hawaii 1904-05    		 Darryl Baker
    Thetis 430k c. 1910
    USRC Thetis is at her berth at Mare Island. The Receiving Ship Independence is seen aft of Thetis
    U.S. Navy photo 1910-01    		 Darryl Baker
    Thetis 99k USRC Thetis at anchor
    Photo from the 1914 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    Thetis 491k c. April 1980
    Photo of the 55mm Hotchkiss revolving cannon from the USS Thetis now located in Alden Park at Mare Island
    U.S. Navy photo PG Thetis 165646-4-80    		 Darryl Baker
    View the
    Thetis history entry located on the Coast Guard Cutter History web site.
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