USS ''Hawk'' (PY-2/IX-14) was the converted British-built civilian yacht ''Hermione'' of 1891, acquired for service as a patrol yacht in the Spanish–American War. She later served in the Ohio and New York naval militias and on the Great Lakes until decommissioned in 1940.

Civilian yacht

The steam yacht ''Hermione'' was designed by

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

naval architect George L. Watson and built by

Fleming & Ferguson Fleming and Ferguson was a Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding company that traded between 1877 and 1969. History 1877–1914 William Y. Fleming and Peter Ferguson (1840–1911) founded the company in Paisley, Scotland in 1877, making ...

Paisley, Scotland Paisley ( ; sco, Paisley, gd, Pàislig ) is a large town situated in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Located north of the Gleniffer Braes, the town borders the city of Glasgow to the east, and straddles the banks of the White Cart Wate ...

, in 1891 for James and Richard Allan of the Allen Line, Glasgow. In June 1895 she was chartered to the American businessman

Robert Goelet Robert Goelet Jr. (September 29, 1841 – April 27, 1899) was an American heir, businessman and yachtsman from New York City during the Gilded Age. Early life Robert Goelet was born on September 29, 1841 in Manhattan, New York City, to Sarah ...

. The yacht was later sold to the American politician and manufacturer,

Henry L. Pierce Henry Lillie Pierce (August 23, 1825 – December 17, 1896) was a United States representative from Massachusetts. He was born in Stoughton. He attended the State normal school at Bridgewater, and was engaged in manufacturing. He served as May ...

Spanish–American War

''Hermione'' was purchased by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

on 2 April 1898, renamed ''Hawk'', and commissioned three days later, Lt.

John Hood John Hood may refer to: People * John Hood (MP, fl.1393–99), English politician, MP for Leominster * John Hood (MP, fl.1421–29), English politician, MP for Leominster *John Hood (inventor) (1720–1783), Irish surveyor and inventor *John Hood ( ...

in command. She sailed from

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

in late April 1898 to join the North Atlantic Squadron in blockading

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

. On 23 May she accompanied Admiral Sampson's flagship out from Key West. Two weeks later she attacked and destroyed enemy ship ''Alphonso XII'', which carried cargo for Cuba. In late summer she departed for

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

where she decommissioned on 14 September 1898.

Naval militia service

Recommissioned in 1900, she was loaned to the

Ohio Naval Militia The Ohio Naval Militia (Ohio Navy) is the naval militia of the State of Ohio. It is the naval arm of the State of Ohio's Adjutant General's Department, and is part of Ohio's military forces. Their operational headquarters are on the Camp Perry Joi ...

where she served for nine years. On 3 August 1909 ''Hawk'' was transferred to the Naval Militia of New York, and served for 10 years in the Buffalo area. She decommissioned on 21 May 1919 and joined the Reserve Fleet. After World War I, she was reclassified as PY-2, and again redesignated IX-14 on 1 July 1921.

Great Lakes

''Hawk'' once again recommissioned on 16 April 1922 and was assigned to the

9th Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

. She operated in the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

area for the duration of her service. She decommissioned on 14 February 1940 and was sold on 25 February to the Indiana Salvage Co.,

Michigan City, Indiana Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It is one of the two principal cities of the Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City Combined sta ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hawk Ships built on the River Clyde Patrol vessels of the United States Navy 1891 ships Spanish–American War naval ships of the United States