>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.210.





PANTHER



AD-6

Displacement:  4,260 t.

Length:  324’4”

Beam:  40’6”

Draft:  18’2.5”

Speed:  13 k.

Complement:  138

Armament:  6 5”; 2 4”; 6 3-pdrs.; 1 Colt machine gun; 

	1 3” howitzer



	The first PANTHER, the former AUSTIN, an auxiliary 

cruiser built by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. 

in 1889, was purchased by the Navy from Red D Line Steamship 

Co. 12 April 1898, and commissioned at New York 22 April 

1898, Comdr. George C. Reiter in command.



	PANTHER was pressed into service immediately after 

commissioning as war broke out between the United States and 

Spain.  In April, PANTHER joined the North Atlantic Fleet, 

portions of which blockaded Cuba throughout the conflict.



	Admiral Sampson received word from Key West early in 

May that Cervera's squadron was very likely at Santiago.  

PANTHER and other ships of the American fleet patrolled off 

that port until she steamed to Guantanamo 11 June with 646 

marines, who landed at Caimanera and entrenched themselves 

in preparation for the ensuing battle.  PANTHER withdrew to 

her former position with the fleet in the successful 

campaign at Santiago.  After the destruction of the Spanish 

fleet, PANTHER steamed to New York, to cruise between New 

York, Boston, Norfolk, and Portsmouth until 20 October 1899, 

when she went into ordinary at Philadelphia.



	She remained in ordinary until recommissioning 19 June 

1902, when she fitted out as a training ship.  In July, she 

steamed to New York to begin operations with various state 

militias.  In this connection, she embarked crews from New 

Jersey in July, Pennsylvania in early August, and 

Connecticut later that month.  In 1902, disturbing 

conditions in the West Indies and Caribbean required the 

constant presence of U.S. ships to maintain order and 

preserve U.S. treaty rights.  In September 1902, PANTHER 

embarked a Marine battalion and departed for Caribbean 

waters to serve as a station ship to protect American 

interests during unrest in Honduras.  She continued with the 

Caribbean Squadron until 21 October 1903, when she 

decommissioned at Philadelphia.



	PANTHER recommissioned 18 November 1907 to serve as 

auxiliary repair ship for the North Atlantic Fleet until 

April 1917.  She sailed for Brest 1 July to serve as tender 

for the U.S. destroyer force throughout World War I.  After 

the war, her duties took her to ports such as Kirkwall, 

Scotland; Davenport, England; Lisbon, and Ponta Delgada.



	In 1921, American interest shifted to China; the Navy's 

Yangtze River Patrol had operated there for some years, 

guaranteeing the prevention of strife and the protection of 

persons and interests in the region.  PANTHER joined the 

Asiatic Station, ready to defend U.S. interests in maritime 

affairs, on the other side of the globe.  She continued her 

duties on station until 1922, when she returned stateside to 

decommission in May.  She subsequently was sold to Tioga 

Steel Co., Philadelphia, 24 March 1923.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com