The first USS ''McKee'' (Torpedo Boat No. 18/TB-18) was laid down on 11 September 1897 by

Columbian Iron Works The Columbian Iron Works and Dry Dock Company (1872–1899), was located in Baltimore, Maryland on the Locust Point peninsula, adjacent to Fort McHenry. Founded by William T. Malster (1843–1907) who later partnered with William B. Reane ...

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

, Maryland, United States, launched 5 March 1898; sponsored by Mrs. William H. Humrichouse; and commissioned 16 May 1898. ''McKee'' underwent sea trials in

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...

and then sailed to New York to assume coastal defense duties during

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 = (cloc ...

. Reassigned to Torpedo Station Newport, R.I., the coal‑burning

torpedo boat A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...

operated along the

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...

coast until returning to New York 13 December 1903, where she decommissioned 22 December 1903. Eight months later, 6 August 1904, she recommissioned and steamed back to Newport. From 1907 to 1910 she operated from New York, then was assigned special duty in the reserve at Newport. On 29 January 1912 she arrived New York and decommissioned. Struck from the

Navy list A Navy Directory, formerly the Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval autho ...

6 April 1912, ''McKee'' was towed to Norfolk, Virginia and used as a target. On 24 September 1920 she was ordered sunk near Craney Island, an order carried out later that fall.

References

;Citations ;Sources * *''Technical data from''

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mckee (TB-18 Torpedo boats of the United States Navy Ships built in Baltimore 1898 ships