USS Germantown (1846) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States Navy |
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| Name | USS Germantown |
| Namesake | Germantown, Pennsylvania |
| Builder | Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Launched | 22 August 1846 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Lavinia Fanning Watson |
| Commissioned | 9 March 1847 |
| Decommissioned | 25 February 1848 |
| Recommissioned | 8 April 1848 |
| Decommissioned | 21 September 1850 |
| Recommissioned | 23 December 1850 |
| Decommissioned | 9 April 1853 |
| Recommissioned | 23 November 1853 |
| Decommissioned | 12 February 1857 |
| Recommissioned | 15 July 1857 |
| Decommissioned | 18 April 1860 |
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| Acquired | Recaptured May 1862 |
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 Confederate States Navy |
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| Name | CSS Germantown |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
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| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop-of-war |
| Displacement | 939 long tons (954 t) |
| Length | 150 ft (46 m) |
| Beam | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
| Complement | 210 officers and enlisted |
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The USS Germantown was a sailing warship, called a sloop-of-war, that served in the United States Navy. She was active from 1847 to 1860. This ship took part in the Mexican–American War and traveled to many places around the world. She sailed in the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean near Africa and South America, and even in East Asia.
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Germantown was sunk on purpose to stop her from being captured. However, the Confederates raised her and used her as a floating fort called the CSS Germantown. She was sunk again in 1862.
Contents
Building and First Use
Germantown was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched into the water on August 22, 1846. Miss Lavinia Fanning Watson was her sponsor, a special person who helps name and launch a ship.
Because of ice in Philadelphia, the ship was moved to Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, on December 18, 1846. There, she was prepared for service. Germantown officially joined the Navy on March 9, 1847. Her first commander was Franklin Buchanan.
Ship's Adventures
Mexican–American War Service (1847–1848)
Germantown left Norfolk, Virginia, on March 15, 1847. She was heading to join Matthew C. Perry's Home Squadron during the Mexican–American War. On April 1, 1847, she arrived near Sacrificios Island. The next day, she was off Alvarado, Mexico, when the town surrendered without a fight.
The ship then sailed with the squadron to Tuxpan, Mexico. This was the last important fortified place on the Gulf of Mexico not held by the U.S. Navy. On April 18, 1847, sailors and Marines from Germantown went ashore. They successfully attacked the Mexican forts. They also got back guns and supplies that the Mexicans had taken from a wrecked U.S. ship, the USS Truxtun.
After patrolling near Lobos Island, Germantown sent 130 men to help in a second attack on Tabasco, Mexico. From June 13 to 16, 1847, this force, led by Commodore Perry, destroyed the defenses and took over the town.
For the next six months, Germantown patrolled the Mexican coast. She blocked Mexican ports along the Gulf of Mexico. From August 9 to November 10, 1847, she served as Commodore Perry's main ship. She returned to Sacrificios Island on January 8, 1848. On January 15, 1848, she left for the United States, carrying the bodies of American soldiers who had died. She stopped in Havana, Cuba, and arrived in Norfolk on February 16, 1848. She was taken out of service for repairs on February 25, 1848.
Germantown was put back into service on April 8, 1848, with Commander Charles Lowndes in charge. She left Norfolk on April 25, 1848, and returned to Veracruz on May 19, 1848. There, she rejoined Commodore Perry's Home Squadron. On June 3, 1848, while off Laguna de Terminos, she received news that the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been approved. This treaty officially ended the war. She returned to Veracruz on July 9, 1848. After getting government messages, she left Punta de Antón Lizardo on August 29, 1848. She sailed to Pensacola, Florida, arriving on September 12, 1848.
Caribbean Patrols (1848–1850)
Germantown left Pensacola on October 1, 1848. She sailed to the West Indies and arrived at St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on October 28, 1848. She actively patrolled near the Virgin Islands until June 30, 1849, when she sailed back to the United States. After visiting Key West, Florida, and Norfolk, she returned to St. Thomas on February 10, 1850. She protected American trade in the Caribbean until she was ordered back to the United States on August 8, 1850. She reached New York City on September 11, 1850, and was taken out of service there on September 21, 1850.
African Squadron Duty (1851–1853)
Germantown was put back into service on December 23, 1850, with Commander J. D. Knight in command. On January 10, 1851, she became the main ship for Commodore Elie A. F. La Vallette's African Squadron. She left on April 12, 1851, sailing past the Madeira Islands to the Cape Verde Islands. She arrived at Porto Praya on May 14, 1851, to take over from the Plymouth.
For almost two years, she operated from Porto Praya. She sailed the South Atlantic Ocean to St. Helena Island and along the African coast. During this time, the squadron helped Americans, protected trade, and kept missionaries safe. They also worked to stop the illegal slave trade. On February 8, 1853, Germantown captured the American ship Rachel P. Brown. This ship was suspected of being a slave ship, so Germantown sent her to Norfolk. After being replaced by the USS Constitution, she left Porto Praya on March 4, 1853. On her way home, she collected information for Matthew Fontaine Maury's study of winds and ocean currents. She arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 30, 1853, and was taken out of service on April 9, 1853.
Brazil Squadron Service (1853–1857)
Germantown was put back into service on November 23, 1853, with Commander W. F. Lynch in command. She sailed on December 3, 1853, to join Commodore W. D. Salter's Brazil Squadron. She arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 16, 1854. She joined other ships and patrolled the South Atlantic from Bahia, Brazil, to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 1855, she spent much time off Montevideo, Uruguay. There were political problems and rebellions that put foreign people and their property at risk. Commander Lynch sent a group of Marines ashore on August 28, 1855, to protect American interests. Three months later, during another uprising, sailors and Marines helped forces from three other countries guard their consulates and the custom house. After her duty with the Brazil Squadron, Germantown left Bahia on January 8, 1857. She reached Hampton Roads, Virginia, on February 9, 1857, and was taken out of service on February 12, 1857.
East India Squadron (1857–1860)
Germantown was put back into service again on July 15, 1857, with Commander R. L. Page in command. She was assigned to duty in East Asia. She left Norfolk on August 4, 1857, and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to Ceylon. On December 22, 1857, she joined Josiah Tattnall III's East India Squadron off Point de Gala. For two years, she sailed in East Asian waters. She visited major ports in China and Japan. The squadron worked to protect American interests in East Asia. She returned to Norfolk in April 1860, sailing again around the Cape of Good Hope. She was taken out of service there on April 18, 1860.
American Civil War (1861–1864)
Germantown was not in service but was ready to sail, just waiting for a crew. On April 20, 1861, at Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, she was sunk on purpose. This was done to stop the Confederates from capturing her as the American Civil War began. Union forces were leaving Norfolk at that time.
The Confederates raised her in June 1861. They turned her into a floating battery called CSS Germantown. She was used near Craney Island to protect Norfolk. The Confederates filled her with sand and sank her again as a blockship in the Elizabeth River. This happened just before they left Norfolk on May 10, 1862. Union forces raised Germantown on April 22, 1863. She was not used for service again. Her old hull was sold at an auction in Norfolk on February 8, 1864.
