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Gunboat Photo Archive

USCGC Beta (WIX 272)

Call sign:
Nan - Rush - Cast - Easy

ex-USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WIX 272)

Call sign (1924):
Nan - Item - Vice - Sail

ex-USCGC Vicksburg
ex-USS Vicksburg (PG 11)

Call sign (1919):
George - Rush - Mike - Have

ex-USS Vicksburg, Gunboat No. 11

Call sign (1912):
Nan - Vice - Nan

Vicksburg served both the Navy, the State of Washington and the Coast Guard

Annapolis Class Gunboat:

The second Vicksburg was laid down 17 January 1896 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine

Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels of 1911 states keel laid in March 1896

Launched 5 December 1896

Delivered 27 June 1897

Commissioned USS Vicksburg Gunboat No. 11, 23 October 1897 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, NH

Decommissioned 24 May 1899 at Boston, MA

Recommissioned 15 May 1900 at Newport, RI

Placed out of commission, in reserve, 15 July 1904 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA

Recommissioned 17 May 1909

Decommissioned 18 June 1912 and transferred to the Washington State Militia Nautical School

Recommissioned in May 1914

Decommissioned in June 1914 and placed back in a reserve status

Placed back in full commission 13 April 1917 at Puget Sound, WA

Decommissioned 16 October 1919 at Puget Sound

Designated PG-11, 17 July 1920

Transferred to the Coast Guard 2 May 1921 and struck from the Navy Register

Commissioned USCGC Vicksburg 1 July 1921

Decommissioned 12 October 1921 at Coast Guard Depot South Baltimore, MD

Recommissioned 1 June 1922 at New London, CT

Renamed Alexander Hamilton 18 August 1922

Recommissioned 6 March 1923 as USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WIX 272)

Placed in commission 13 March 1923

Placed out of commission 26 March 1923

Placed in commission 29 May 1923 at New London

Placed out of commission 15 September 1924 at New London

Placed in commission 28 May 1924 at New London

Placed out of commission 1 September 1924 at New London

Placed in commission 28 May 1925 at New London

Placed out of commission 31 August 1925

Placed in commission 28 May 1927 at New London

Placed out of commission 23 June 1927 after being disabled at beginning of practice cruise

Placed in commission 28 May 1928

Placed out of commission 31 August 1928 at New London

Placed in commission 16 May 1929 at New London

Placed out of commission 26 August 1929 at New London

Placed in commission 17 May 1930 at New London

Placed out of commission 7 June 1930 at New London

Assigned permanently to Coast Guard Depot Curtis Bay, MD as Station ship 14 January 1931

Renamed Beta, 12 January 1942

Reassigned as a Station Ship 1 July 1940 at New London, CT

Decommissioned 30 December 1944

Returned to U.S. Navy 12 March 1945

Transferred to the War Shipping Administration 28 March 1946 and sold for scrap.

Specifications:

Displacement 1,010 t.

Length 204' 5"

Beam 35' 3"

1921 - 36'

Draft 12' 9"

1921 - 12'

Speed 6.5 kts. under sail, 13 kts. under steam

Complement 173

Armament: Six 1" gun mounts, four 6-pounder rapid fire mounts, two 1-pounder rapid fire mounts, and one Colt machine gun

1905 - Six 4" rapid fire mounts, four 6-pounder rapid fire mounts, two 1-pounder rapid fire mounts and two .30 cal. Colt machine guns

1911 - Six 4"/40 rapid fire mounts, four 6-pounder rapid fire mounts and two 1-pounder rapid fire mounts

Propulsion: Two single-ended cylinderical boilers, one 1,118ihp vertical triple expansion steam engine and sail, one shaft.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Vicksburg, Gunboat No. 11
	86k	Under sail. c. 1898 U.S. Navy photo NR&L(O) 4889	Naval Historical Center
	88k	Under sail, circa 1897-1898 U.S. Navy photo NH 42053-A	Naval Historical Center
	102k	Original photo: At anchor, circa the early 1900s Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution U.S. Navy photo NH 44258 Replacement photo: Library of Congress photo	Original photo: Naval Historical Center Replacement photo: Robert Jensen
	26k	Three members of the ship's crew, photographed by McMillan, Vallejo, California, circa the early 1900s. These men are (from left to right): Machinist 2nd Class A.E. Flesher; Shipfitter 2nd Class F.R. Shuster; and Carpenter's Mate 2nd Class C.A. Kilwinski Courtesy of the Navy/Marine Corps Museum, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 86335	Robert Hurst
	107k	Ship's officers in 1900. The Commanding Officer, seated in the middle, is Commander Edward B. Barry. The officer standing in the middle, directly behind Cdr. Barry, appears to be Assistant Surgeon Karl Ohnesorg Photographed by Elmer Chickering. Courtesy of the Navy/Marine Corps Museum, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 98339	Robert Hurst
	128k	Coaling at Isabella, Basilan Island, Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN U.S. Navy photo NH 42054	Naval Historical Center
	107k	On the marine railway at Canacao, near Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN U.S. Navy photo NH 42055	Naval Historical Center
	108k	U.S. Army Officers of the Aguinaldo expedition, lounging on the quarter deck of Vicksburg, while she was underway in the Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN Naval Historical Center photo NH 52982	Robert Hurst
	97k	Assistant Surgeon Karl Ohnesorg, USN. On board Vicksburg, during operations in the Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN Naval Historical Center photo NH 47534
	87k	Brigadier General Frederick Funston, USA conversing with the ship's Executive Officer on board Vicksburg, during operations in the Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN Naval Historical Center photo NH 52982
	117k	Commander Edward B. Barry, USN, Commanding Officer, Vicksburg. Seated on the deck of his ship, during operations the Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 56816
	127k	Lieutenant Commander James H. Glennon, USN, Executive Officer, Vicksburg. Seated on the deck of his ship, during operations in the Philippines, 1901 Courtesy of Captain Fletcher L. Sheffield, USN Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 49335
	67k	Chief Watertender John King was born in Ireland, 7 February 1865. Served in the United States Navy from July 1893 until August 1919. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism while serving in Vicksburg in 1901. The second Medal of Honor was awarded for heroism during the explosion of the boilers in Salem [Scout Cruiser No. 3]. The USS John King (DDG 3) was named in his honor Oil painting portrait by Mr. Mario Zazzera of Naples, Italy, January 1969 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 70299-KN CITATION: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (First Award) to Watertender John King, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Vicksburg, at the time of the accident to the boilers, 29 May 1901 CITATION: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (Second Award) to Watertender John King, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving as Watertender on board the U.S.S. Salem, on the occasion of the accident to one of the boilers of that vessel, 13 September 1909	Bob Chancola Photo added 13 April 2022
	151k	Ship's officers and crew, circa 1904. Photographed by Karl Lewis Collection of Captain Frederick R. Naile, USN. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Whitney Ashbridge, 1979 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 98333	Robert Hurst
	80k	Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, circa June 1904, upon her return to the United States from Asiatic waters. Note the "homeward bound" pennant flying from her mainmast peak Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1971 U.S. Navy photo NH 75176	Naval Historical Center
	331k	8 July 1904 Mare Island Navy Yard, CA The Hospital Ship Relief is moored forward	Darryl Baker
	304k	8 July 1904 Mare Island Navy Yard, CA Looking aft
	320k	15 July 1904 Mare Island Navy Yard, CA The Hospital Ship Relief is moored forward
	91k	Mare Island Navy Yard, California. An early U.S. Navy submarine (probably Grampus or Pike) underway off the yard, circa early 1905. Gunboats Petrel and Princeton are in the center background. At left are the decommissioned gunboats Annapolis and Vicksburg. Courtesy of Ted Stone, 1986. U.S. Navy photo NH 100915	Naval Historical Center
	148k	c. 1912 Mare Island Navy Yard, CA A tug is made up to her port side. You can see the tug's stack just aft of Vicksburg stack.	Darryl Baker
	97k	In a Pacific coast harbor, during World War I. Collection of William Crawford, who served in Vicksburg at the time. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Ann Jordan, 1976. U.S. Navy photo NH 98334	Naval Historical Center
	125k	Looking down on the ship from her foremast, taken during World War I From the collection of William Crawford, who served in Vicksburg at the time. Donated by his daughter, Mrs Ann Jordan, 1976 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 98335	Robert Hurst
	212k	Blacksmithing on board Vicksburg, during World War I Collection of William Crawford, who served in Vicksburg at the time. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Ann Jordan, 1976 Naval Historical Center photo NH 98337
	100k	Commanding Officer's inspection, during World War I Collection of William Crawford, who served in Vicksburg at the time. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Ann Jordan, 1976 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 98336
	87k	Diver prepares to go over the side of one of the ship's boats, during World War I Collection of William Crawford, who served in Vicksburg at the time. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Ann Jordan, 1976 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 98338
	133k	German prisoners under guard on board the ship. They had been captured on the schooner Alexander Agassiz off Mazatlan, Mexico, 17 March 1918 Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43113
	121k	The schooner Alexander Agassiz photographed at the time of her capture by Vicksburg off Mazatlan, Mexico, 17 March 1918. She was suspected of being a potential German raider or contraband carrier. The prize crew is seen here going aboard. USS SC-302 is in the background Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 2644
	207k	German Schooner Alexander Agassiz alongside Vicksburg in March 1918 U.S. Army Signal Corps photo 111-SC-7235 from the War Department, U.S. Army War College, Historical Section
USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WIX 272)
	86k		Robert Hurst
	104k	Under sail, circa 1922-1930, while serving as U.S. Coast Guard Academy training ship Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975 U.S. Navy photo NH 83221	Naval Historical Center
	112k	Underway prior to 1930 Photo from "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II" by Robert L. Schiena	Robert Hurst

Commanding Officers
01	CDR Abraham B. H. Lillie, USN - USNA Class of 1866 Retired as Rear Admiral	23 October 1897
02	CDR Edward Buttevant Barry, USN - USNA Class of 1869 Retired as Rear Admiral	15 May 1900
03	CDR Gottfried Blockinger, USN - USNA Class of 1868 Retired as Rear Admiral	24 December 1902
04	CDR William Alexander Marshall, USN - USNA Class of 1871	22 April 1903
05	CDR Arthur Wright Dodd, USN - USNA Class of 1877	25 December 1906 - 3 July 1907
06	CDR Alexander Seaman Halstead, USN - USNA Class of 1883 Retired as Rear Admiral	17 May 1909
07	CDR Marcus Lyon Miller, USN - USNA Class of 1888	29 August 1910 - 31 August 1912
08	LT William Jacob Moses, USN - USNA Class of 1902	31 August 1912 - 11 February 1913
09	Chief Boatswain Frederick Ross Hazard, USN	11 February 1913
10	CDR Charles Edwin Reordan, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1909	13 April 1917

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan

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This page created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Tom Bateman

NavSource Online:Gunboat Photo Archive

USCGC Beta (WIX 272)

ex-USCGC Alexander Hamilton (WIX 272)

ex-USCGC Vicksburgex-USS Vicksburg (PG 11)

ex-USS Vicksburg, Gunboat No. 11

NavSource Online:
Gunboat Photo Archive

ex-USCGC Vicksburg
ex-USS Vicksburg (PG 11)