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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 89439:  USS Thornton steaming through heavy seas in the Gulf of Mexico, March 1909

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

USS Thornton (Torpedo Boat # 33), 1902-1920.
Renamed Coast Torpedo Boat # 16 in 1918

USS Thornton, a 200-ton Blakeley class torpedo boat built at Richmond, Virginia, was commissioned in June 1902. She served along the U.S. East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico area during her entire active career, often as a unit of the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla. In September 1909 Thornton left her usual operating areas to take part in a cruise up the Mississippi River. After several years of inactivity at Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1917 the torpedo boat was recommissioned for World War I service. Converted to a minesweeper, she was employed in the lower Chesapeake Bay region. Damaged in collision with USS Joseph F. Bellows (SP-323) on 8 April 1918, Thornton was decommissioned in May and laid up. Her name was changed to Coast Torpedo Boat # 16 at the beginning of August 1918, thus freeing the name Thornton for assignment to a new destroyer. She was stricken from the Navy list in May 1919 and sold in August 1920.

USS Thornton was named in honor of James S. Thornton (1826-1875), who performed distinguished service during the Civil War.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Thornton (Torpedo Boat # 33).

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 63753

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

Off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during Founder's Week, 1908.
Photographed by William H. Rau.
Note the ketch under sail and several four-masted schooners in the background.

Courtesy of William H. Davis.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 89439

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

Steaming through heavy seas in the Gulf of Mexico, March 1909, while commanded by Lieutenant C.A. Blakely.
Photographed by Enrique Muller, New York.
The original print was framed with the following poem:
"D'ye mind the days of the steaming (dides - ?)?
And the life lines fore and aft.
And the boarding seas o'er the weather vail"
That swept over decks like a raft."

Donation of Admiral G. Koch, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 94250

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

Steaming through heavy seas in the Gulf of Mexico, March 1909.

Collection of Commander S.D. Hart, USN (Medical Corps). Donated by Mrs. Philip Francis, 1983

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 435 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 100025

U.S. Navy Torpedo Craft at Cairo, Illinois


During their Mississippi River cruise, 26 September 1909.
Photographed by A.E. Kerr.
They are (from left to right):
USS Wilkes (Torpedo Boat # 35);
USS Thornton (Torpedo Boat # 33);
USS Tingey (Torpedo Boat # 34); and
USS Macdonough (Destroyer # 9).
Note that all are flying 46-star jacks.

Courtesy of R.D. Jeska, 1984.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-15-16-4

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

Fitting out at the William R. Trigg Company shipyard, Richmond, Virginia, 30 June 1900.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-15-16-6

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

Fitting out at the William R. Trigg Company shipyard, Richmond, Virginia, 30 June 1900.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-14212

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

In port, circa 1901, probably at Richmond, Virginia, while fitting out.
Note the sailing vessels in the background.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 620 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-15-16-7

USS Thornton
(Torpedo Boat # 33)

View on deck, 28 June 1901, while she was fitting out. Probably taken at Richmond, Virginia.
Note the large wrench mounted on the side of her after conning tower (center foreground).

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


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


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Page made 21 September 2006