For other ships with the same name, see USS Helena.
USS Helena (PG-9) was a Wilmington-class gunboat of the United States Navy. She participated in the Spanish–American War, and served in the Far East for many years. The (PG-9) was the first of five Navy vessels named after the capital city of Montana.
She is designed to meet the requirements of roomy and well-ventilated quarters, so as to provide for refugees, as in the case of missionaries, and to enable her to carry a large landing party. She has berthing capacity for many men besides her crew, and carries ships' boats of an unusual size, her steam cutter and sailing launch being each 33 feet long, or as large as those supplied to the heaviest battleships.
Helena's first assignment was with the North Atlantic Fleet, cruising primarily in home waters. During the Spanish–American War, she stood by in the Cuban waters, where she saw action several times. On 2–3 July 1898, she exchanged fire with enemy batteries at Fort Tunas. On 18 July, she was part of the squadron that closed the port of Manzanillo, sinking or destroying ten vessels there during the Third Battle of Manzanillo.
Officers in 1898The crew in 1900.
Philippine-American Waredit
The great problem facing the United States at the close of the Spanish–American War was the Philippine–American War. To aid in suppressing this rebellion, Helena sailed from Boston on 3 November 1898, bound for duty on the Asiatic Squadron, via the Suez Canal, arriving at the Philippines on 10 February 1899. On 21 May, she was present at the evacuation of Jolo by the Spanish, and the landing of the American troops to replace them. During June, she stood by with other vessels in Manila Bay to support the Army during its offensive south of Manila into the Cavite Province. One of her landing parties brought troops ashore in an assault that carried the strong defenses along the Zapote River on 13 June. On 7 November, Helena bombarded San Fabian in Lingayen Gulf, and covered the landing of 2,500 troops there, on the same beaches that would again be stormed by US troops 45 years later.
Post-waredit
Helena remained in the Far East for the rest of her naval service, engaged in protecting American lives and interests. She served in the Chinese waters from October 1900 – December 1902, then returned to the Philippines until March 1903, when she sailed back to the China coast. In December 1904, she moored once more at Cavite in the Philippines, where she was placed out of commission on 19 April 1905.
Helena was recommissioned on 16 July 1906, and cruised on the Asiatic Station until June 1907. From that time on, with intervals for overhaul, Helena served both with the South China patrol and the Yangtze River Patrol. She was placed in reduced commission on 29 June 1929, but continued to serve on the South China Patrol until 27 May 1932, when she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. The gunboat was sold on 7 July 1934.
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For other ships with the same name see USS Helena USS Helena PG 9 was a Wilmington class gunboat of the United States Navy She participated in the Spanish American War and served in the Far East for many years The PG 9 was the first of five Navy vessels named after the capital city of Montana USS Helena PG 9 at anchorHistory United States NameHelena NamesakeHelena Montana BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding Co Newport News Virginia Laid down10 October 1894 Launched30 January 1896 Commissioned8 July 1897 Decommissioned27 May 1932 Stricken27 May 1932 FateSold for scrap 7 July 1934 General characteristics TypeWilmington class gunboat Displacement1 390 long tons 1 410 t Length250 ft 9 in 76 43 m Beam40 ft 11 in 12 47 m Draft9 ft 2 7 m Propulsion2 vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines 2 2 screws 3 Speed13 kn 24 km h 15 mph Range2 200 nmi 4 074 km 2 532 mi at 10 kn 19 km h 12 mph 1 Complement175 Armament4 4 in 100 mm 40 cal guns 4 11 pounder guns 1 3 in 76 mm gun 4 3 pounder guns Service record Operations Spanish American War Philippine American War The gunboat was launched by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co Newport News Virginia on 30 January 1896 And she was sponsored by Agnes Belle Steele daughter of the mayor of the city of Helena commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 8 July 1897 with Commander William T Swinburne in command In the Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute for that year it was written She is designed to meet the requirements of roomy and well ventilated quarters so as to provide for refugees as in the case of missionaries and to enable her to carry a large landing party She has berthing capacity for many men besides her crew and carries ships boats of an unusual size her steam cutter and sailing launch being each 33 feet long or as large as those supplied to the heaviest battleships Contents 1 Service history 1 1 Spanish American War 1 2 Philippine American War 1 3 Post war 2 Awards 3 References 4 External linksService history editSpanish American War edit Helena s first assignment was with the North Atlantic Fleet cruising primarily in home waters During the Spanish American War she stood by in the Cuban waters where she saw action several times On 2 3 July 1898 she exchanged fire with enemy batteries at Fort Tunas On 18 July she was part of the squadron that closed the port of Manzanillo sinking or destroying ten vessels there during the Third Battle of Manzanillo nbsp Officers in 1898 nbsp The crew in 1900 Philippine American War edit The great problem facing the United States at the close of the Spanish American War was the Philippine American War To aid in suppressing this rebellion Helena sailed from Boston on 3 November 1898 bound for duty on the Asiatic Squadron via the Suez Canal arriving at the Philippines on 10 February 1899 On 21 May she was present at the evacuation of Jolo by the Spanish and the landing of the American troops to replace them During June she stood by with other vessels in Manila Bay to support the Army during its offensive south of Manila into the Cavite Province One of her landing parties brought troops ashore in an assault that carried the strong defenses along the Zapote River on 13 June On 7 November Helena bombarded San Fabian in Lingayen Gulf and covered the landing of 2 500 troops there on the same beaches that would again be stormed by US troops 45 years later Post war edit Helena remained in the Far East for the rest of her naval service engaged in protecting American lives and interests She served in the Chinese waters from October 1900 December 1902 then returned to the Philippines until March 1903 when she sailed back to the China coast In December 1904 she moored once more at Cavite in the Philippines where she was placed out of commission on 19 April 1905 Helena was recommissioned on 16 July 1906 and cruised on the Asiatic Station until June 1907 From that time on with intervals for overhaul Helena served both with the South China patrol and the Yangtze River Patrol She was placed in reduced commission on 29 June 1929 but continued to serve on the South China Patrol until 27 May 1932 when she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register The gunboat was sold on 7 July 1934 Awards editSampson Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Philippine Campaign Medal Victory Medal Yangtze Service MedalReferences edit 2001 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War I pg Random House London ISBN 1851703780 2001 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War I pg 143 Random House London ISBN 1851703780 2001 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War I pg 143 Random House London ISBN 1851703780 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Jane s Fighting Ships of World War I London Random House Group Ltd 2001 ISBN 1 85170 378 0 External links editPhoto gallery of USS Helena Gunboat No 9 PG 9 at NavSource Naval History http usshelena org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Helena PG 9 amp oldid 1094367106, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
