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