USS Bancroft (1892)

Career (USA)
Namesake:	George Bancroft
Laid down:	1891
Launched:	30 April 1892
Commissioned:	3 March 1893
Decommissioned:	1905
Struck:	30 June 1906
Fate:	Transferred to Revenue Cutter Service
General characteristics
Displacement:	839 tons
Length:	189 ft 5 in (57.73 m)
Beam:	32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Draft:	12 ft 11 in (3.94 m)
Speed:	14.3 knots
Complement:	130
Armament:	4 x 4", 2 x 6 pounders, 2 x 3 pounders, 1 x 1 pounder, 1 x 37mm Hotchkiss revolving cannon, 1 x Gatling gun

For other ships of the same name, see USS Bancroft.

The USS Bancroft was a United States Navy steel gunboat, launched 30 April 1892 and commissioned 3 March 1893.

Bancroft was designated as a practice ship for the United States Naval Academy midshipmen and stationed at Annapolis, Maryland. During 1893-96 she cruised along the east coast visiting various shipyards with groups of midshipmen embarked. In September 1896 she sailed to join the European Squadron and for the next year and a half protected American interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Called home when Congress declared war upon Spain, Bancroft reached Boston, Massachusetts, 4 April 1898 and served with the North Atlantic Squadron between 9 May and 9 August. She convoyed troop transports to Cuba and was on blockade duty at Havana and the Isle of Pines. On 28 July, Bancroft seized a small schooner.

Bancroft returned to Boston 2 September and was placed out of commission 30 September 1898. After being recommissioned 14 August 1900, she cruised in Colombian waters 26 November, 1900 - 12 February 1901 making surveys. Returning to Boston 29 April, 1901, she went out of commission 25 May 1901. Recommissioned 6 October 1902 she served until 1905 as a station ship at San Juan, Puerto Rico, cruising in the West Indies and patrolling the area. Bancroft was transferred to the Revenue Cutter Service 30 June 1906.

References

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