USS Gamma (1863)

Career (US)	Union Navy Jack
Name:	USS Gamma
Ordered:	as R. F. Loper
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	1863
Acquired:	3 June 1864
Commissioned:	1864
Decommissioned:	1865
Struck:	1865 (est.)
Fate:	sold, 25 October 1865
General characteristics
Displacement:	36 tons
Length:	65'
Beam:	14'
Draught:	depth of hold 6'
Propulsion:	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed:	12 knots
Complement:	not known
Armament:	eight Enfield rifles one spar torpedo

USS Gamma (1863) was a small steamer acquired by the Union Navy during close of the American Civil War.

She was employed by the Navy as a tugboat and, since she carried a spar torpedo, as a torpedo boat, capable of ramming and sinking another ship with her explosive torpedo.

Constructed as a tugboat in 1863

Gamma was built in 1863 as steamer R. F. Loper at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.; purchased there 3 June 1864; renamed Gamma, but was also called Tug Number 3 and Picket Boat Number 3.

Assigned to the James River

Gamma was assigned as a picket boat in the James River, Ens. Henry F. Curtis in command. She arrived at New Bern, North Carolina, from the James River 3 April 1865.

Placed at the disposal of General William Tecumseh Sherman's quartermaster, she served in the sounds of North Carolina until close of the Civil War.

Post-war decommissioning, sale, and subsequent career

She was sold by public auction at New York City 25 October 1865 to D. Trundy. Redocumented as merchant steamer Peter Smith 13 December 1865, she burned at New York City 9 May 1893.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

• United States Navy
• American Civil War

External links

• USS Gamma