The sixth USS ''Hornet'' was a
gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.
History Pre-ste ...
in 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 ...
. ''Hornet'', the former
yacht
A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...
''Alicia'', was built by
Harlan and Hollingsworth,
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington (Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christina ...
, in 1890; purchased from
Henry Morrison Flagler
Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was an American industrialist and a founder of Standard Oil, which was first based in Ohio. He was also a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder ...
on 6 April 1898; and commissioned at
New York 12 April 1898, Lieutenant
James Meredith Helm in command.
Service history
Six days after she commissioned, ''Hornet'' sailed to join the American fleet blockading Spanish
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 ...
. Reaching
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. 24 April, she cruised in Cuban waters with several short trips to
Key West. On 30 June 1898, ''Hornet''
was sent to reconnoiter cays and shoals off the Spanish fort at
Manzanillo in company with and . Early that morning, she seized the
schooner ''Nickerson'', of English registry but loaded with provisions and under a Spanish crew, trying to make her way into the blockaded harbor. At 08:15, the American ships spotted a Spanish gunboat anchored under the blockhouses of the
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, but closed for action anyway. Although under heavy and continuous fire from shore batteries and a small arms fusillade from Spanish troops, the American ships fired on and sank the gunboat, withdrawing with no casualties. That same day the three ships entered Manzanillo harbor and were soon deep in battle, with shells splashing in the water all around. ''Hornet''s main steam pipe was cut by a Spanish shell and the ship filled with steam.
Although disabled, ''Hornet'' continued to fire on the enemy, her crew passing ammunition through the scalding steam as they drifted close in under the shore batteries. A small Spanish sloop came in from port, assuming that ''Hornet''s attention was totally centered on her starboard batteries which were pounding the enemy. ''Hornet''s alert crew shifted to port and with one well-placed shot from the six-pounder sent the
sloop, rifles and all, to the bottom. By now ''Hornet'' had drifted dangerously close to shoal water. ''Wompatuck'' steamed over to tow her, all guns still blazing. Despite the day's heated action, not one sailor had been lost.
On 11 July, ''Hornet'' was back on station, joining ''Hist'' and ''Wompatuck'' to cut the cable near
Santa Cruz del Sur
Santa Cruz del Sur is a town and municipality in Cuba. It is located in Camagüey Province south of the provincial capital of Camagüey. It lies on the Caribbean coast.
Geography
The municipality is divided into the barrios of Buenaventura, Do ...
, destroying telegraphic communication between Havana and Manzanillo. A week later she returned to Manzanillo as the American fleet entered the harbor.
In 100 minutes of sharp action, ''Hornet'' and her
sister ships sank nine Spanish ships as well as four armed pontoons, while under heavy fire from shore batteries and enemy troops lining the harbor.
Departing Key West on 10 August, ''Hornet'' reached
Norfolk, Virginia two weeks later and decommissioned on 18 October. Loaned to the
North Carolina Naval Militia
The North Carolina Naval Militia is the inactive naval militia of North Carolina. The naval militia, along with the North Carolina National Guard, the North Carolina State Defense Militia, and the historic military commands, is a component of the ...
, she served with them until 1902 and then reported to Norfolk as tender to the
receiving ship
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Hulk may be used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, an abandoned wreck or shell, or to refer to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipmen ...
. ''Hornet''s name was struck 18 March 1910. She was sold 12 July 1910 to N. S. Sterns of
.
Image gallery
Image:jsj-210-alicia.jpg, The yacht ''Alicia'', later renamed the USS ''Hornet'', as it appeared in 1895. Photograph by John S. Johnston.
Image:USS Hornet (formerly Alicia).jpg, After she became the USS ''Hornet''. View from Stern.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hornet
Gunboats of the United States Navy
Ships built by Harlan and Hollingsworth
Steam yachts
1890 ships