| USS McKee (TB-18) | |
|---|---|
| Career (U.S.) |  |
| Namesake: | Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee |
| Ordered: | 10 June 1896 (authorised) |
| Builder: | Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, MD |
| Laid down: | 11 September 1897 |
| Launched: | 5 March 1898 |
| Commissioned: | 16 May 1898 |
| Decommissioned: | 10 March 1916 |
| Struck: | 6 April 1912 |
| Fate: | sunk as target ship, fall 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | MacKenzie (TB-17) |
| Displacement: | 65 tons |
| Length: | 101 ft 6 in (30.94 m) |
| Beam: | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Draft: | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 Thornycroft boilers, 1-shaft vertical triple expansion engines, 850 ihp (626 kW) |
| Speed: | 20 kn |
| Complement: | 12 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
2 × 1-pounder guns 2 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes |
The first USS McKee (Torpedo Boat No. 18/TB-18) was laid down on 11 September 1897 by Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, launched 5 March 1898; sponsored by Mrs. William H. Humrichouse; and commissioned 16 May 1898, Lt. C. M. Knepper in command.
McKee underwent sea trials in Chesapeake Bay and then sailed to New York to assume coastal defense duties during Spanish American War. Reassigned to Torpedo Station Newport, R.I., the coal‑burning torpedo boat operated along the New England coast until returning to New York 13 December 1903, where she decommissioned 22 December 1903.
Eight months later, 6 August 1904, she recommissioned and steamed back to Newport. From 1907 to 1910 she operated from New York, then was assigned special duty in the reserve at Newport. On 29 January 1912 she arrived New York and decommissioned. Struck from the Navy list 6 April 1912, McKee was towed to Norfolk and used as a target. On 24 September 1920 she was ordered sunk near Craney Island, an order carried out later that fall.
References[]
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Technical data from Gardiner, Robert (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 161. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
External links[]
- Photo gallery at Naval Historical Center
- Photo gallery at Navsource.org
The original article can be found at USS McKee (TB-18) and the edit history here.