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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Nina

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Spanish Campaign Medal

District Harbor Tug (Palos Class Screw Steamer):

Built by Reaney, Son, and Archbold, Chester, PA

Laid down, 1864

Launched, 27 May 1865

Delivered at New York Navy Yard, 26 September 1865

Commissioned, 30 September 1865

Placed in service as a yard tug at Washington Navy Yard, 6 January 1866, Acting Ensign Frank C. Hall commanding that ship and sister tugs Primrose and Rescue

Converted to a Torpedo Boat, commissioned USS Nina, 31 March 1870, LT. Godfrey Hunter in command

Reassigned to Newport, R.I. in April 1870

Refitted in May 1884 for special service as a salvage ship

Reassigned to New York Navy Yard in 1885

Reassigned to Newport in 1890

Reassigned to New York Navy Yard in 1892 as a yard tug

Commissioned as a tender and supply vessel to the Torpedo Boat Flotilla, 1902

Decommissioned, at New York, 21 March 1903

Loaned to the Lighthouse service from October 1903 to April 1904

Returned to US Navy custody and recommissioned, 9 September 1905

Converted to a Submarine Tender in 1906, assigned to the Newport Torpedo Station

Deaprted Norfolk for Boston, 1830 hours, 06 February 1910

Last sighted at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay

Feared lost 11 February 1910 - an extensive search revealed no trace, assumed lost in gale that swept area

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 March 1910

Wreck discovered near Fenwick Island Shoals, Delaware, 1978

Her entire crew of 31 died in service aboard and remain on duty

Specifications:
Displacement 420 tons displacement
Length 137' 0" overall
Beam 26'
Draft 9' 6"
Speed 10 knots
Complement 52
Armament two 3-pounders
Fuel Capacity unknown
Propulsion

vertical compound steam, single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
140890401	93k	USS Nina salvaging the wreck of sidewheel gunboat USS Tallapoosa sunk in Martha’s Vineyard Sound, circa 1885 to 1889.. US Navy photo	Robert Hurst
140890404	466k	USS Nina in drydock, as fitted with J.J. Kundstadter's patent screw propelling and steering apparatus,circa 1880. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 74289, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, 1971	Robert Hurst
140890402	422k	USS Nina in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 09 August 1905. Note the eagle over the pilot house, a feature of many American civilian tugs at this time. The schooner rig has been removed. Connecticut (Battleship # 18) is fitting out in the distance, with her three smokestacks and upper forward superstructure visible beyond Nina's bow. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 44705	Mike Green
140890403	422k	Poor quality photo of USS Nina during her time as First Submarine Flotilla's tender, 1906-1910. The photo has been signed by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 58080	Robert Hurst

USS Nina
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Submarine Tenders of the United States Navy

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index

Back To The District Harbor Tug (YT) Photo Index

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This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 24 March 2023