USS Scourge (1846)

USS Scourge was a steamer warship in service during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). She was the third United States Navy ship of that name.

Acquisition
The ship was built as merchant steamer Bangor, by Betts, Harlan, and Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware. She was powered by twin screws and was the first iron-hulled, sea-going merchant vessel in the United States.

She was bought by the U.S. on December 30, 1846 for service in the Gulf of Mexico. Once equipped, she was renamed Scourge under the command of Lieutenant Charles G. Hunter.

Service
Scourge joined the forces of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in the Gulf of Mexico on March 29, 1847. She was part of the "Mosquito Flotilla" and was immediately assigned to take part in a concerted sea-land attack upon the port of Alvarado. On 31 March 1847, Scourge, acting alone, captured the port, which had been abandoned by its garrison.

After this action, the vessel participated in the captures of La Peña, Palma Sola, Hospital Hill, Tuxpan and Tabasco. Previous to the attack on Tabasco, Lieutenant Lockwood, officer in command, became one of the first officers to protect a vessel's exposed machinery by using sandbags.

Sale
Scourge was sold in New Orleans, Louisiana to another country on 7 October 1848.