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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNC Zafiro

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Philippines Campaign Medal
Screw Collier:
  • Built in 1884 at Aberdeen, Scotland by Hall, Russell & Co. for the China and Manila Steam Navigation Co.
  • Purchased by Admiral Dewey at Hong Kong, 9 April 1898
  • Commissioned USNC Zafiro, 10 April 1898, at Hong Kong
  • Decommissioned, 10 June 1904, at Cavite Navy Yard, Luzon, Philippines
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 January 1906
  • Sold, 21 October 1910 to Mr. J.W. Zeeve, Seattle, WA.
  • Sold , 20 October, 1910, by Zeeve to the Government of Mexico
  • In 1917, the vessel reappeared as the French-flagged sailing vessel Bowler
  • On 20 August 1919, she was reregistered in Panama as the Belen Quezada, as the first international “ flag of convenience “ vessel to run alcohol between Canada and the United States during Prohibition
  • Deleted from the Panamanian ship registry in 1931 and, presumably, scrapped shortly after
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,062 t. (gross)
    Length 213' 9"
    Beam 31' 10"
    Draft 15' 6"
    Speed 10.5 kts.
    Complement
    1 officer (1898)
    34 (1900)
    Armament
    two 37mm revolving cannons (1900)
    Propulsion
    two coal fired boilers
    one compound steam engine, 34” x 66” with 42” stroke, 1475hp
    Rebuilt in 1917 with a 350hp Atlas diesel engine
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USNC Zafiro
    Iris 65k USNC Zafiro at anchor at Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, 8 October 1903.
    Photo from "U.S.Warships of World War One" with permission from the author Paul H. Silverstone.    		 Robert Hurst
    Merchant Service
    Iris
    09029602    		 117k Ex-USNC Zafiro seen here as Motor ship Bowler Photographed by Stuart Thompson in Vancouver, 1917. The 213 ft 8.5 in (65.138 m) Bowler was built by Hall, Russel & Co, in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1884. Here she is shown in Vancouver in 1917, freshly rebuilt with a brand new 350 h.p.. Atlas diesel engine. The owner in 1917-1918 was Charles L. Goodson, Vancouver. John Spivey
    USNC Zafiro
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 August 2024