USS Champion (1859)

USS Champion (1859), an armed river steamer, was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1859 as Champion No. 4; purchased there on 14 March 1863; fitted out at Cairo, Illinois; and commissioned on 26 April 1863, Acting Master Alfred Phelps, Jr., in command.

USS Champion (1863-1865, "Tinclad" # 24) Lithograph by Middleton, Strobridge & Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1864, after a drawing by Chas. A. Fisher. Inscription below the image reads: "United States Steamer Champion. Mississippi Squadron. Acting Ensign Thomas Divins, Commanding Nov. 1864". Thomas "Divins" is a misprint for Thomas Divine.
History
United States
Name: USS Champion
Ordered: as Champion No. 4
Laid down: date unknown
Launched: 1859
Acquired: 14 March 1863
Commissioned: 26 April 1863
Decommissioned: 1 July 1865
Stricken: 1865 (est.)
Fate: sold, 29 November 1865
General characteristics
Type: Gunboat
Displacement: 115 long tons (117 t)
Length: 145 ft 8 in (44.40 m)
Beam: 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
Draft: 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 4 kn (4.6 mph; 7.4 km/h)
Complement: Unknown
Armament: 2 × 30-pounder rifled gun, 1 × 24-pounder smoothbore gun, 1 × 12-pounder smoothbore gun

Civil War operations

Operating almost continuously from 27 April 1863 – 9 June 1865, Champion patrolled the Mississippi River, Tennessee River, and the Red River. She transported troops, prisoners, supplies, and cotton; towed and convoyed ships; and delivered dispatches.

Decommissioning

Her yeoman service ended at Mound City, Illinois, where she was decommissioned on 1 July. Champion was sold 29 November 1865.

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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