USS Patapsco (1862)

USS Patapsco

Pencil sketch of Patapsco

Career

United States Navy Jack

Ordered:

Laid down:

Launched:

Commissioned:

Fate:

sunk in battle, 15 January 1865

Struck:

General Characteristics

Displacement:

1875 tons

Length:

241 ft (73 m)

Beam:

46 ft (14 m)

Draft:

11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)

Propulsion:

Speed:

6 kts (11 km/h)

Range:

Depth:

Complement:

105 officers and enlisted

Armament:

â€¢ 1 × 15 in (380 mm) D.sb.,
â€¢ 1 × 150-pdr. P.r.

The fourth USS Patapsco was an ironclad monitor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the Patapsco River in Maryland.

Patapsco was built by Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Delaware; launched 27 September 1862; and commissioned 2 January 1863, Commander Daniel Ammen in command.

Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Patapsco participated in an attack on Fort McAllister at Savannah, Georgia 3 March 1863. Moving to the North Edisto River in April, she sailed for Charleston, South Carolina on the 5th to participate in the assault on that city's defenses. Under almost continuous fire during the remainder of April and in July and August, she continued to operate against the forts in Charleston Harbor, and on 8â€"9 September she supported the storming of Fort Sumter. Through the fall of 1863 and 1864, she remained off that South Carolina city, engaged in the general attacks on the harbor's defenses.

On the evening of 15 January 1865, however, while covering picket boats dragging for torpedoes (mines), Patapsco hit a torpedo and sank in less than a minute, taking 62 of her crew with her.

References