- USS Biddle (TB-26)
The first USS "Biddle" (Torpedo Boat No. 26/TB-26/Coast Torpedo Boat No. 12) was a
torpedo boat in theUnited States Navy . She was named for Captain Nicholas Biddle."Biddle" was launched
18 May 1901 byBath Iron Works , Ltd.,Bath, Maine ; sponsored by Miss Emily B. Biddle, great-great-grandniece of Captain Biddle; and commissioned26 October 1901 , Lieutenant S. S. Robison in command."Biddle" departed
Newport, Rhode Island ,1 November 1901 forPort Royal, South Carolina where she went into reserve. Following recommissioning28 May 1902 she cruised with theTorpedo Boat Flotilla along the Atlantic coast and in theWest Indies until January 1903. She went into reserve again16 February 1903 atNorfolk Navy Yard and remained there until recommissioned14 May 1909 . "Biddle" spent the summer cruising with the Atlantic Torpedo Fleet and then went into reserve atCharleston Navy Yard 18 November 1909 . In October 1911 she shifted to the Reserve Flotilla Division atAnnapolis, Maryland , and went into ordinary at the Naval Academy,13 March 1914 .After serving with the
Pennsylvania Naval Militia (June-September 1915) "Biddle" reverted to the Annapolis Reserve torpedo Division. Recommissioned6 April 1917 she served in the 5th Naval District as a patrol and despatch vessel at Norfolk. "Biddle" was renamed "Coast Torpedo Boat No. 12",1 August 1918 .Ordered to
Philadelphia Navy Yard in January 1919, she was decommissioned12 March 1919 and sold19 July 1920 .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b6/biddle-i.htm
*"Additional technical data from" cite book
last = Gardiner
first = Robert
coauthors =
title = Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905
publisher = Conway Maritime Press
date = 1979
pages = p. 161
month =
isbn = 0 85177 133 5
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