USS Pinta (1864)

The USS "Pinta" was an iron hulled screw tug launched October 29 1864 by Reaney, Son and Archbold, Chester, Pa., was completed in October 1865 and commissioned there, Lt. Comdr. Henry H. Gorringe in command.

Except for a period in ordinary during 1867, "Pinta" served on harbor duty at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1866 until laid up in 1872. She recommissioned at Philadelphia November 22 1873 and operated out of Key West on various duties including messenger service, naval drill in Florida Bay and towing and freight services. She decommissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard April 15 1876 and was laid up there until reactivated as a yard tug in 1878.

Overhauled at the Norfolk Navy Yard from 1881 until February 24 1883 in preparation for duty off Alaska, "Pinta" arrived Sitka, Alaska, and relieved "Adams" August 17 1884. She patrolled Alaskan waters protecting the seal fisheries until April 10 1889 when she sailed for the Mare Island Navy Yard for repairs. She returned to her home port, Sitka, October 17 1889 and continued to engage in patrol operations in the Bering Sea. Among the Alaskan ports she frequently visited were: Fort Wrangel, Fort Rupert, Port Simpson, Port Protection, Port Chester, William Henry, Juneau, Killisnoo, Ketchikan, Shakan, Loring, Hoonah, and Killimo.

"Pinta" returned to Mare Island Navy Yard July 17 1897 and decommissioned there August 4 1897. In 1898 she underwent repairs. She served with the Naval Militia at San Diego, Calif. from 1898 to January 2 1908 when she was struck from the Navy Register.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p7/pinta.htm