The first USS Gwin (Torpedo Boat No. 16/TB-16/YFB-4), was launched 15 November 1897 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, Rhode Island, and commissioned at Newport 4 April 1898, Lt, (j.g.) C. S. Williams in command.

USS Cyane YFB-4
Ferryboat USS Cyane (YFB-4), ex-USS Gwin (TB-16), in 1922
History
United States
NameGwin
NamesakeLt. Commander William Gwin
Ordered10 June 1896 (authorised)
BuilderHerreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, RI
Laid down14 April 1897
Launched15 November 1897
Commissioned4 April 1898
Decommissioned30 April 1925
RenamedCyane, 11 April 1918
ReclassifiedYFB-4, 17 July 1920
Stricken30 April 1925
Identification
FateSold for scrap, 24 September 1925
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeTalbot-class torpedo boat
Displacement46 long tons (47 t)[2]
Length100 ft (30 m)
Beam12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Draft3 ft 3 in (0.99 m) (mean)[2]
Installed power
Propulsion
  • vertical triple expansion engine
  • 1 × screw propellers
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
  • 20.88 kn (24.03 mph; 38.67 km/h) (Speed on Trial)[2]
Complement16 officers and enlisted
Armament

She departed Newport 24 June, cruising down the eastern seaboard as far as Florida, thence on patrol off Cuba from 6 to 14 August 1898 as America went to war with Spain. She returned north to Annapolis 31 August and served as cadet training ship for the US Naval Academy until placed in reserve at Norfolk on 10 July 1903.

Gwin remained in reserve until June 1908 when she began assisting in experimental torpedo work out of Newport, Rhode Island. This duty terminated 18 April 1914 when Gwin decommissioned for use as a ferryboat. On 11 April 1918 her name was changed to Cyane, and she was re-classified YFB-4 on 17 July 1920. Her name was struck from the Navy Register 30 April 1925 and she was sold for scrapping 24 September 1925.

References

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  1. ^ "USS Gwin (TB-16)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Table 11 – Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 725. 1921.
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