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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 76433-A:  Steam yacht Illawarra, which became USS Oneida in 1898

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Oneida (1898-1915).
Later (1917-1918) USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and USS SP-509.
Originally Civilian Steam Yacht Illawarra (1896) and later Pilot Boat Henry P. Williams

USS Oneida, a 150-ton patrol vessel, was built at Bath, Maine, in 1896 as a civilian steam yacht. She was acquired by the Navy in April 1898 for Spanish-American War service under the name Illawarra. Renamed Oneida, she was placed in commission at the end of that month and was purchased in May. The ship was decommissioned in September 1898 and remained inactive until September 1912. She was then recommissioned as a Naval Militia training ship and later had other duties. USS Oneida was sold in late 1915.

Her purchaser, the Pilots' Association of Charleston, South Carolina, renamed her Henry P. Williams and used her as a pilot boat. Though described on her official data card as being in "poor condition", she was again taken over by the Navy in June 1917 and commissioned in August as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509). Renamed SP-509 in 1918, her second tour of Naval duty lasted until the day after Christmas 1918, when she was returned to the Charleston Pilots' Association.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Oneida (1898-1915), USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509), USS SP-509, the civilian steam yacht Illawarra and the pilot boat Henry P. Williams.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 76433-A

Illawarra
(American Steam Yacht, 1896)

Underway prior to the Spanish-American War.
Photographed by N.L. Stebbins.
This yacht served as USS Oneida from 1898 to 1915 and as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and USS SP-509 in 1917-1918.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43066

USS Oneida
(1898-1915)

Photographed circa May 1898, possibly at Boston, Mass. Ship in right background is SS Chatham, which was converted to the U.S. Navy repair ship Vulcan at Boston in May 1898. Ship in left distance is USS Southery.
Though sold in 1915, Oneida returned to Navy service in 1917 as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and was renamed SP-509 in 1918.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106033

USS Oneida
(1898-1915)

In port, probably circa 1912-1915.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 100425

USS Oneida
(1898-1915)

Eleven of the ship's crew on deck with a puppy, probably circa 1913-1915.
The original postcard-format photographic print was accompanied by a newspaper clipping, dated January 15 (presumably 1914 or 1915), reporting that Oneida's crew were officially commended by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels for their "heroic work" in rescuing passengers of the disabled steamer Pilot Boy, of the Beaufort-Savannah line, on the previous 13th of December.

Donation of Ted Stone, 1985.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 430 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102837

Henry P. Williams
(American Pilot Boat, 1896)

Probably photographed off Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1916-1917. A four-masted schooner is under sail in the left distance.
Built in 1896 as the steam yacht Illawarra, this vessel was USS Oneida from 1898 until late 1915, when she was sold to the Pilots' Association of Charleston, S.C. She was again taken over by the Navy on 27 June 1917 and placed in commission as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) on 6 August 1917. Later renamed SP-509, she was returned to her owners on 26 December 1918.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 9 October 1998
    Revised and expanded 18 March 2005
    New image added 7 January 2009