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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Trenton (I)

Wooden-hulled screw-steamer:

Laid down in 1875 at New York Navy Yard

Launched, 1 January 1876

Commissioned USS Trenton, 14 February 1877, CAPT. John Lee Davis in command

Departed New York , 8 March 1877 to serve as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron until 7 September 1881

Decommissioned, 9 November 1881, at New York Navy Yard

Recommissioned, 18 September 1883, for service on the Asiatic Station until the spring of 1886, CAPT. Robert Lees Phythian, in command

Decommissioned, 17 September 1886, at Norfolk Navy Yard, for repairs

Recommissioned, 16 May 1887 to cruise the South Atlantic and reaching Apia, Samoa to join the Pacific Squadron, 10 March 1889

Final Disposition, destroyed by a hurricane six days later while still at anchor in Apia harbor, declared a total loss

Struck from the Naval Register, 13 April 1891

Specifications:
Displacement 3,800 t.
Length 253'
Beam 48'
Draft 20' 6" (mean)
Speed 14 Kts.
Complement 477
Armament

eleven 8" muzzle-loading rifles

two 20-pdr breach-loading rifles
Propulsion Sail and Steam

coal fired boilers, compound reciprocating engine

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
098600135	79k	USS Trenton armament arrangement, 1976. Drawing from a contemporary publication. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 43587	Robert Hurst
	105k	USS Trenton ready for launching at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, on or about 1 January 1876. Note her bulbous bow. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 44792, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.	Robert Hurst
	218k	Drawing comparing the machinery installation of USS Wampanoag, USS Tennessee and USS Trenton. It is marked: "Copy from Roach's April 16th (18)77". The plan emphasizes the savings in weight, space and personnel represented in the machinery and boilers of *Tennessee* and *Trenton* as compared with *Wampanoag. The original drawing is # 107-10-5A in Record Group 19, National Archives. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 76383*	Robert Hurst
	103k	USS Trenton in port, during the later 1870s on the 1880s. US Navy photo #: NH 299 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN(MC), 1931.	US Naval Historical Center
	103k	USS Trenton and USS Alliance at Smyrna, Turkey in 1878. US Navy photo #: NH 85816 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photographed by Rubellin, Smyrna. Donation of The Reverend Bradford Johnson, 1966.	US Naval Historical Center
	88k	USS Trenton photographed by F.C. Gould, Gravesend, England, in 1880. US Navy photo #: NH 97928 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.	US Naval Historical Center
	60k	USS Trenton in Chinese waters, 1884. US Navy photo #: NH 97931 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.	US Naval Historical Center
	103k	USS Trenton in a Far Eastern port, circa 1883-1886. The original print is a letterpress reproduction of a photograph, published circa the 1880s by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York. It bears the name of the noted marine photographer E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City. US Navy photo #: NH 63406 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	103k	USS Trenton reefing top sails, probably while in New York Harbor in the mid-1880s. The original print is a letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published circa the 1880s by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York. US Navy photo #: NH 63407 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	103k	USS Trenton making sail, probably while in New York Harbor in the mid-1880s. The original print is a letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published circa the 1880s by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York. US Navy photo #: NH 2909 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	58k	USS Trenton painting by Tomaso DeSimone, depicting the ship at Villefranche, France, in 1878, while she was flagship of the European Squadron. A French warship is in the right background. US Navy photo #: NH 85565-KN from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.	US Naval Historical Center
	98k	Photograph of a painting of USS Trenton presented to the City of Trenton, New Jersey, by the ship's petty officers and crew, 1879. It depicts *Trenton* off Naples, Italy. The original photograph was donated by Rear Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, USN, 1934. . US Navy photo #: NH 619 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	111k	Bugler leads a formation of crewmen and officers during exercises on the spar deck in 1880, while USS Trenton was serving in the European Squadron. US Navy photo #: NH 97929 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation	US Naval Historical Center
	114k	Inspection during the crew's battalion drill, while USS Trenton was serving in the European Squadron, 1880. Crewmen are armed with cutlasses. Note bugler at right. . US Navy photo #: NH 68737 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.	US Naval Historical Center
	141k	USS Trenton officers in 1886, when the ship was flagship of Rear Admiral John Lee Davis, Commanding the Asiatic Station. Among those present are (as identified by the donor): Captain Robert L. Phythian, Commanding Officer (seated, 3rd from left); Lieutenant Albert G. Berry (standing in 2nd row, 5th from right); Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Moses L. Wood (standing in 2nd row, 6th from right). Also present (probably) are: Captain Henry A. Bartlett, USMC (seated, 2nd from right); Lieutenant Commander Asa Walker (seated, 2nd from left). Note folding chair in right center, next to the fancy binnacle. . US Navy photo #: NH 97930 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of Miss M.L. Berry, 1969.	US Naval Historical Center
	157k	Sailors of USS Trenton's port watch pose on the spar deck amidships, with the landing force's artillery piece and two cats, 1886. View looks forward on the port side, from abaft the main mast. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42107 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	168k	Sailors of USS Trenton's starboard watch pose on the spar deck amidships, with a Gatling gun and its ammunition boxes, 1886. View looks forward on the starboard side, from abaft the main mast. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42106 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	132k	USS Trenton's apprentices pose with Colt revolvers, cutlasses and a Gatling gun, 1886. View looks forward on the spar deck, from abaft the main mast on the starboard side. Note the steam launch on its davits, in the left center background. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42108 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	170k	USS Trenton's Marines on the spar deck, 1886. They are armed with "trap-door" Springfield rifles, with fixed bayonets. View looks forward on the starboard side, from abaft the main mast. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 60756 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	150k	The Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey visits USS Trenton in 1886, probably soon after she returned from service in the Far East. Those present are (from left to right): Captain Robert F. Bradford; Rear Admiral James E. Jouett, President of the Board; Commander Henry C. Taylor; Chief Engineer Philip Inch; and Naval Constructor Philip Hichborn. View looks aft from alongside the ship's steering wheel. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42109 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	137k	Marines and Sailors of USS Trenton's landing party paraded on her spar deck, 1886. View looks aft on the starboard side, from alongside the smokestack. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42101 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	123k	USS Trenton's Sailors and Marines stand inspection on her spar deck, 1886. View looks aft on the port side, from alongside the smokestack, with pulling boats suspended from davits. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42102 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	182k	"Abandoned" -- a view on USS Trenton's spar deck, looking forward on the starboard side from alongside the ship's after pivot gun, during drills in 1886. The pivot gun is an eight-inch rifle, converted from a XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore. Note Gatling gun on a field carriage at right and fancy round skylight in the center. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 2908 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	86k	USS Trenton crewmen exercising with the ship's forward pivot gun, 1886. This gun is an eight-inch rifle, converted from a XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 60342 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	146k	Firing USS Trenton's forward pivot gun, 1886. This gun is an eight-inch rifle, converted from a XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 60343 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	84k	Explosion of a spar torpedo deployed from USS Trenton's port side, during exercises in a U.S. east coast harbor, 6 September 1886. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42105 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	84k	USS Trenton's boats underway during boat drills in a U.S. east coast harbor, 1886. Note steam launch at right, with what appears to be a spar torpedo extending from its bow. Letterpress reproduction of a photograph by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City, published by the Photo-Gravure Company, New York, circa 1886. US Navy photo #: NH 42100-B from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	275k	An undivided back postcard image of USS Trenton showing her in Drydock #2 at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth VA, September 1886. *Trenton* was decommissioned for repairs at the Navy Yard, 17 September 1886 and recommissioned 16 May of 1887 for service in the South Atlantic.	Souvenir Postcard Co., dated 1905. Courtesy Brian Baird NNSY (Norfolk Naval Shipyard) from 1976 to 2011
	119k	"The Trenton before the Hurricane" Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows USS Trenton at anchor in Apia Harbor prior to the storm, before she had made heavy weather preparations. US Navy photo #: NH 42119 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Miss Elsie S. Kimberly, January 1958.	US Naval Historical Center
	65k	An engraving from the "Illustrated London News", dated 27 April 1899. An artist's conception of the USS Trenton being passed by the Third-class cruiser HMS Calliope during the Apia tropical cyclone at Samoa, 16 March 1889. The crew of *Trenton* is cheering *Calliope* as the latter steamed seaward to safety at the peak of the hurricane. *Calliope* actually passed to *Trenton*'s port, very close aboard.	Robert Hurst
	100k	"Trenton dragging along the reefs" Artwork by Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberly, contained in his personal journal of the Apia Hurricane. It shows USS Trenton during the height of the storm, with her anchors dragging as she is pushed deeper into Apia Harbor. Note that she is shown with steam up. Water entering through her low hawse pipes (visible at her bow) ultimately put out her fires, greatly reducing her ability to survive the wind and waves. US Navy photo #: NH 42120 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Donation of Miss Elsie S. Kimberly, January 1958.	US Naval Historical Center
	93k	Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, following the storm of 15-16 March 1889. USS Trenton is in the center, with salvage operations underway. Barely visible on her opposite side is the sunken USS Vandalia. Surf is breaking on the reef, closer to the camera. US Navy photo #: NH 97994 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Richard H. Jackson, 1965.	US Naval Historical Center
	93k	Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, soon after the storm of 15-16 March 1889. The view looks about northward, with USS Trenton and the sunken USS Vandalia at left, the German corvette *Olga* beached in the center distance and USS Nipsic beached in the right center. US Navy photo #: NH 2150 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	87k	Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, during salvage efforts soon after the storm of 15-16 March 1889. The view looks about northward, with USS Trenton and the sunken USS Vandalia to the left and the beached German corvette Olga at right. Wreckage just off *Trenton's stern may be from the German gunboat Eber, which was destroyed when she struck the harbor reef during the hurricane. US Navy photo #: NH 42298* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	82k	Wrecked ships in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa soon after the storm of 15-16 March 1889. The view looks northwestward, with the shattered bow of the German gunboat *Eber* on the beach in the foreground. The stern of USS Trenton is at right, with the sunken USS Vandalia alongside. The German gunboat *Adler* is on her side in the center distance. *Trenton's starboard quarter gallery has been largely ripped away. US Navy photo #: NH 42298* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	112k	Scene in Apia Harbor, Upolu, Samoa, during salvage efforts, circa late March or early April. The view looks about northwestward. In the foreground are improvised shear legs and purchase for handling guns, carriages and other heavy weights removed from the wrecks. This arrangement was used both in landing materials and later in embarking it on USS Monongahela for transit home. The bow of the German gunboat *Eber* is at left, by the shear legs. USS Trenton is in the center, with the sunken USS Vandalia alongside. *Vandalia's smokestack has been removed to replace that of USS Nipsic, which is probably the ship in the right distance. In the left distance is the German gunboat Adler, on her side in shallow water. US Navy photo #: NH 2149* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center