USS Scorpion (1847) facts for kids
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The third USS Scorpion was a steamer, which is a ship powered by steam. It served in the United States Navy from 1847 to 1848.
The Scorpion was first built in 1846. It was a commercial steamship named SS Aurora. A company called Bishop and Simonson built it in New York City. The U.S. Navy bought Aurora on January 7, 1847. They needed it for the Mexican War. The ship officially joined the Navy as USS Scorpion on February 23, 1847. Commander Abraham Bigelow was its first captain.
Role in the Mexican War
The Scorpion was sent to the Gulf of Mexico. It joined a group of ships called the Home Squadron. This group was at Anton Lizardo, Mexico, by April 27, 1847. The Scorpion took part in an important mission. This mission was against Tabasco on June 16, 1847. It was during the Second Battle of Tabasco. The Scorpion was the flagship for Commodore Matthew C. Perry. This means it was the ship where the main commander stayed.
End of Service
After the battle, Scorpion went back to Anton Lizardo on July 25, 1847. It then patrolled the coast of Mexico for the rest of the war. When the war ended, it sailed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. It arrived there on August 11, 1848. The Navy took the ship out of service on August 21, 1848. It was then sold at an auction on December 23, 1848.
After being sold, it became a civilian ship again. It was renamed Isthmus. This merchant steamer was sadly lost at sea in 1854.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | USS Scorpion |
| Namesake | Scorpions |
| Builder | Bishop and Simonson, New York, New York |
| Completed | 1846 |
| Acquired | 7 January 1847 |
| Commissioned | 23 February 1847 |
| Decommissioned | 21 August 1848 |
| Fate | Sold 23 December 1848 |
| Notes |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Steamer |
| Tonnage | 339 |
| Length | 160 ft 9 in (49.00 m) |
| Beam | 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam |
| Speed | 7.5 knots |
| Complement | 60 |
| Armament |
|
