Dubuque-class gunboat

The Dubuque class gunboats were a class of gunboats built by the United States prior to World War I. The class was designed in 1903. The United States Navy commissioned 2 Dubuque-class gunboats in 1903. Dubuques had a design speed of 12 knots, and a main armament of six 4" rapid fire guns and four 6-pounder rapid fire guns in single mounts.

Design
In 1902, two gunboats, USS Dubuque (PG-17) and USS Paducah (PG-18) were ordered from Gas Engine & Power Company & Charles L. Seabury Company of New York for survey and patrol duties in the Caribbean. They were 174 ft long between perpendiculars and 200 ft long overall, with an unusual high and rounded bow, fitted with a bowsprit. Beam was 35 ft with a draft of 13 ft. Displacement was 1084 LT. The hull was of composite construction, with steel above the waterline and wood below. Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers fed vertical triple-expansion steam engines rated at 1250 ihp, driving two shafts and giving a speed of 13 kn. Two tall and thin funnels were fitted.