Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Scorpion (1898-1929, later PY-3)

USS Scorpion, a 775-ton yacht, was built in 1896 at South Brooklyn, New York, as the civilian yacht Sovereign. Purchased by the Navy in April 1898, she served off Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1899-1907, she mainly operated in the Caribbean area, and was sent to Constantinople, Turkey, in 1908 to serve as the Navy's station ship there. For nearly two decades, she provided a United States presence in Turkey and elsewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

During World War I, Scorpion was interned by the Turkish Government, but was promptly restored to U.S. Navy control after the Armistice. Classified PY-3 in 1920, she returned to the United States for decommissioning in 1927 and was sold in June 1929.

This page features an 1898 view of USS Scorpion.

If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

Photo #: NR&L(O) 2197

USS Scorpion (1898-1929)


At the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, circa April 1898.
Note battery of four 5"/40 guns located on her sides, fore and aft of the superstructure. This was by far the heaviest battery fitted to any yacht converted for Spanish-American War service.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 61,598 bytes; 740 x 645 pixels

 

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

11 October 1998