Myrtle, 1872
Any of several evergreen shrubs of the family Myrtaceae having solitary white or pinkish flowers and dark-colored berries.
Builder: Birely, Hillmand & Streaker, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Length: 140'
Beam: 25' 8"
Draft: 11' 3"
Displacement: 542 tons
Cost: $44,500
Commissioned: 1872
Decommissioned: 1922
Disposition: Sold
Machinery: Inverted cylinder locomotive crank steam engine; 162 BHP; coal-fired boiler; single propeller;
Performance & Endurance:
Max:
Cruising:
Deck Gear: steam-powered winch
Complement: 19 (1907)
Armament: None
Tender History:
The Myrtle was constructed as an engineering tender by Birely, Hillmand & Streaker in Philadelphia for $44,500. She entered service in 1872 and saw service in both the 1st and 2nd Lighthouse Districts and was based out of Boston, Massachusetts and later New York. In April 1914 she was transferred to the 9th Lighthouse District in Puerto Rico. She was transferred back to New York in February 1917.
When the United States entered World War I as a belligerent, Myrtle was acquired by the Navy from the Lighthouse Service under an Executive Order of 11 April 1917. She was assigned to the 3d Naval District, New York. She operated under this district command during her entire period of naval service. Myrtle was returned to the U.S. Lighthouse Service by an Executive Order of 1 July 1919.
She was placed out of service and then sold on 14 December 1922.
Sources:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington, DC: USGPO.
Douglas Peterson. United States Lighthouse Service Tenders, 1840-1939. Annapolis: Eastwind Publishing, 2000.