USS Scourge (1846)

USS "Scourge" was a steamer warship in service during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) between Mexico and the United States. She was the third United States Navy ship of that name.

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Acquisition

The ship was built as merchant steamer "Bangor", by Betts, Harlan, and Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware. She was powered by twin screws and was the first iron-hulled, sea-going merchant vessel in the United States.

She was bought by the U.S. on December 30 1846 so it would be in combat in the Gulf of Mexico. Once equipped, she was renamed "USS "Scourge", under the command of Lieutenant Charles G. Hunter.

ervice

"Scourge" joined the forces of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in the Gulf of Mexico on March 29 1847. It was part of the "Mosquito Flotilla" and it was immediately assigned to start a blockade over Alvarado, port that had an already concerted attack by air and land. On 31 March 1847, acting alone, "Scourge" captured a defenseless and abandoned, military-wise, port of Alvarado.

After this action, the vessel participated on the captures of La Peña, Plama Sola, Hospital Hill, Tuxpan and Tabasco. Previous to the attack on Tabasco, Lieut. Lockwood, officer in command, became one of the first officers to protect a vessel's exposed machinery by using sandbags.

ale

The "Scourge" was sold in New Orleans, Louisiana to another country on October 7 1848.

ee also

*See USS "Scourge" for other ships of the same name.
* List of United States Navy Ships
* Mexican-American War
* US Navy
*es icon Alvarado

References

External links

* [http://www.navyhistory.com/MISC%202/scourageIII.html NavyHistory.com]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s7/scourge-iii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Scourge"]