USS Talbot, first of a two-unit class of 46.5-ton torpedo boats built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island, was commissioned in early April 1898. She cruised along the U.S. east coast during most of the Spanish-American War, deploying to Havana, Cuba, shortly before the conflict's end. During the evening of 2 August 1898, while steaming toward Key West, Florida, she was rammed by the tug Uncas. Talbot returned north for repairs, returning to service two months later, then began several years on training service at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1899-1900 she was also employed in an early test of oil fuel. After being in reserve from February 1904 to August 1906, Talbot returned to commissioned status and spent the next year and a half in the Chesapeake Bay area. She was assigned to the Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1908-1911.
After being declared unfit for further service as a combat vessel, Talbot was decommissioned at the beginning of May 1912, but soon began a new career as a ferryboat running between the Washington Navy Yard and Indian Head, Maryland. Renamed Berceau in 1918 and designated YFB-3 in 1920, she remained on ferry duty for another two decades. The former torpedo boat was placed out of service in June 1940, stricken from the list of Naval vessels in July 1944, and sold for scrap.
USS Talbot was named in honor of Lieutenant John Gunnell Talbot (1844-1870), who perished on 19 December 1870 while attempting to arrange for the rescue of the survivors USS Saginaw after she was wrecked in the mid-Pacific.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15), which was later the ferry boat Berceau (YFB-3).
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 63733 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) Possibly photographed when delivered to the Navy in 1898. Note that her torpedo boat number, "15", is worn on her bow in small figures. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 58112 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) Photograph autographed by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, circa the early 1960s. He twice commanded this torpedo boat for special operations, on 6 and 16 July 1909, while also commanding the submarine Plunger. This image, unautographed, is Photo # NH 63733. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 63732 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) Underway, circa the early 1900s. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 58110 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) Underway, circa the early 1900s. The original print was autographed by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz circa the early 1960s. He twice commanded this torpedo boat for special operations, on 6 and 16 July 1909. This image, unautographed, is Photo # NH 63732. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-15-15-4 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) At the New York Navy Yard, November 1900. The armored cruiser New York is in the background. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 72KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-15-15-5 USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) Under tow by a steam launch, at the New York Navy Yard, November 1900. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
USS Talbot is seen in the background of the following photographs:
Photo #: 19-N-60-10-17 Destroyers at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, Autumn 1907 The destroyers in the foreground basin (from left to right): USS Hull (Destroyer # 7); USS Lawrence (Destroyer # 8); USS Hopkins (Destroyer # 6); USS Whipple (Destroyer # 15) and USS Truxtun (Destroyer # 14). USS Stewart (Destroyer # 13) is at the end of the dock, at right, and USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) is hauled out on the marine railway at left. On the opposite side of the river are several torpedo boats of the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla and their barracks ship, the old cruiser Atlanta. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-60-10-20 Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia Waterfront scene, Autumn 1907. Ships at left are (from front to rear): USS Hopkins (Destroyer # 6); USS Lawrence (Destroyer # 8); USS Hull (Destroyer # 7); USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) and USS Moccasin (Submarine # 5). The latter two are hauled out on the marine railway. USS Stewart (Destroyer # 13) is in the right foreground. Ahead of her are a torpedo boat, a barge and the tug Mohawk. Three battleships are docked beyond them, with USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) furthest to the right. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 565 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 19-N-14-29-2 USS Gwin (Torpedo Boat # 16) Under construction at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1897. USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 15) in the right center background, also under construction. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
USS Talbot MAY be one of the torpedo boats seen in the middle distance in the following photograph:
Related image (if only by error): The original source for Photo # NH 82831 erroneously identifies the ship partially visible in the immediate background as USS Talbot (Torpedo Boat # 16). However, the vessel seen is actually USS Cushing (Torpedo Boat # 1).
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made October 1998
Extensively revised and expanded 26 April 2005