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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Buffalo (AD-8)
ex
Transport (1906 - 1918)
Auxiliary Cruiser (1898 - 1906)

International Radio Call Sign, 1912:
Nan - Cast - Unit NCU

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal - Philippine Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - China Relief Expedition Medal - Mexican Service Medal - World War I Victory Medal (with Asiatic and Mobile Base clasps)
Personnel Awards

Navy Cross - CAPT. Charles M. Tozer (CO 5/17 - 5/19)

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Final Disposition, sold, September 1927, fate unknown.

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Specifications:
Displacement 6,530 t.
Length 406’ 1"
Beam 48’ 3"
Draft 20’9"
Speed 14.5 kts.
Complement 50

Armament

two 5" guns

four 4" guns.

Propulsion

coal fired boilers

steam turbine

single propeller

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
Nictheroy
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105941	93k	Nictheroy (Brazilian auxiliary cruiser, 1893-1898, ex SS El Cid, later USS Buffalo) probably shown fitting out for Brazilian Navy service in November 1898 at the Morgan Iron Works, New York City. Her single 15-inch dynamite gun is on the forecastle. A small quick fire gun, probably one of her eight 6-pounder Hotchkiss weapons, is barely visible behind a shield on the weather deck aft. Six of the other 6-pounders were carried being behind ports in the hull along with four tubes for Howell torpedoes. Her former name, El Cid, has been painted out on the bow but the ship still wears the rest of her mercantile paint scheme. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105941, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105942	129k	Nictheroy fitting out for Brazilian Navy service in November 1898 at the Morgan Iron Works, New York City. Her single 15-inch dynamite gun on the forecastle was offset 3 feet to starboard of the centerline and was trainable right ahead and on both bows. The gun on the right may be one of the two 33-pounder (4-inch) Hotchkiss quick fire guns that were listed as having been "mounted forward on the bluff of the bow on each side," although it might also be a smaller caliber weapon. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105942, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105943	115k	Nictheroy fitting out for Brazilian Navy service in November 1898 at the Morgan Iron Works, New York City. Shown looking forward from near the stern, aft of the main mast. The gun is probably one of the ship's nine one-pounder Hotchkiss quick fire weapons, eight of which were mounted on top of the deck houses. She also had two 1-pounder Hotchkiss machine guns on top of the pilot house. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105943, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105944	96k	Nictheroy fitting out for Brazilian Navy service in November 1898 at the Morgan Iron Works, New York City. The gun, which is mounted on the stern, is almost certainly a 4.7" quick fire weapon built by the Hotchkiss Ordnance Co. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105944, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
USS Buffalo
	65k	USS Buffalo on 29 November 1898 soon after having been commissioned as an auxiliary cruiser. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 754, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	32k	USS Buffalo, CDR. Hutchins, Commanding Officer, Photo by Edward H. Hart., (between 1898 and 1901) Photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA		Bill Gonyo
	143k	USS Buffalo at Brooklyn Navy Yard, date unknown. Library of Congress, LC-D4-20263		Mike Green
	66k	Watercolor by D'Esposito, 1900 of USS Buffalo. The artist may have been Gaetano D'Esposito (1858-1911) or Vicenzo D'Esposito (1886-1946). Both painted many maritime scenes in and near Malta. Courtesy of LT. H. C. Allen, 1940, from the collection of Admiral C. T. Hutchins. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 57991, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo # NH 56660-A	92k	USS Buffalo probably photographed while serving as a training ship between 1900 and 1905. Courtesy of Howard I. Chapelle, Smithsonian Institution. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo # NH 56660-A and NH 56645, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo # NH 56645	78k
09030892	429k	USS Buffalo outboard of USAT Lawton which is out of commission at Mare Island circa 1905-07. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum		Darryl Baker
	112k	USS Buffalo at anchor with boats out, date and location unknown. Library of Congress, LC-D4-20261		Mike Green
	108k	USS Buffalo while serving as a training ship in 1902. US. Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 56644, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	1.20k	The Auxiliary Cruiser USS Buffalo appears on the far right of USS Texas, center, at Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1903. In the far distant center is either USS Illinois (BB-7) or USS Alabama (BB-8).		Library of Congress photo courtesy of det 4a15442 via en.wikipedia.org
	64k	USS Buffalo at Algiers in January 1904 while serving as a training ship. Courtesy of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (MC), 1933. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 434, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	483k	A boiler going aboard USS Buffalo at Mare Island, 7 August 1906. US Navy photo MINSY 712 12-8-1906 from the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo collection		Darryl Baker
	134k	"Teddy" the USS Buffalo mascot, circa 1908 Photo by Pillsbury Picture Co.		Darryl Baker
	357k	USS Buffalo at anchor in San Francisco Bay during the Portola Week Festival in October 1913. Photo by Dresser's 226 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA.		Robert M. Cieri
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105647	82k	USS Buffalo while serving as a transport The letters on the hillside on the left publicize the Portola Week Festival. Photo by Wilkinson. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105647, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	115k	USS Buffalo in drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard 20 May 1913. US Naval History and Heritage Command #: NH 78675, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105587	53k	USS Buffalo off Corinto, Nicaragua, circa 1913-1914. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105587, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105589	59k	USS Buffalo circa 1913-1914, possibly off the Central American coast. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105589, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	72k	USS Buffalo in drydock, circa 1914, possibly at the Mare Island Navy Yard before departing on the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Photo from the collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command #: NH 105590, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
	163k	Post card image of a stern view of USS Buffalo in drydock possibly circa 1914 at the Mare Island Navy Yard. US Navy photo.		Tommy Trampp
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105447	85k	USS Buffalo at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. loading supplies, circa April 1914 while preparing for the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Photo courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #'s NH 105447 and NH 105448, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green - 105447 and Robert Hurst - 105448
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105448	78k
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105445	48k	USS Buffalo leaving Mare Island, Navy Yard for the California City Coaling Depot in early May, 1914, just before departing on the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Photo Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 105445, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105592	81k	USS Buffalo assisting the grounded three-masted wooden cannery bark Paramita in Lost Harbor, Akun Island, Alaska in May or June 1914. Paramita was run aground in Lost Harbor after flooding from an earlier grounding in a storm at Ugamak Island on 14 May 1914 ignited lime in her holds. Heavy seas later destroyed the wreck. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105592.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105591	58k	USS Buffalo in Unalaska Bay in May or June 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition, viewed from Mount B allyhoo. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105591.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105460	65k	USS Buffalo at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, coal dock in late June 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #'s NH 105460, NH 105462 and NH 105451.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105462	81k
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105451	68k
	50k	USS Buffalo at Kodiak, Alaska, 4 July 1914, during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105444.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105470	83k	USS Buffalo moored pierside at the Naval Coaling Station Sitka, Alaska, in October or late September 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105470.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105473	81k	USS Buffalo moored pierside at the Naval Coaling Station Sitka, Alaska, in October or late September 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. The two coal sheds of the coaling station are on the left, as are the three towers of the co-located radio station. The tower on the right is of a different type and was probably added by the 1914 expedition. Collection of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, donated by Louisa R. Alger, 1962. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105473.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105453	86k	USS Buffalo preparing to lay a communications cable at Sitka, Alaska, in October or late September 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. A steam launch from the ship is alongside an improvised pontoon carrying the cable reel. The cable has been connected at the Sitka end and the pontoon will soon be towed across the channel, paying out cable on the way. Buffalo is moored at the pier of the Japonski Island Naval Coaling Station, with the station's two coal sheds visible to the right. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105453, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105452	74k	USS Buffalo laying a communications cable at Sitka, Alaska, in October or late September 1914 during the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Two steam launches from the ship and an improvised pontoon carrying the cable reel are part way across the channel during the cable laying operation. Buffalo is moored at the pier of the Japonski Island Naval Coaling Station, with the station's two coal sheds visible to the right. The radio station is just to the right of the coaling station. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105452.		Robert Hurst
	54k	USS Buffalo returning to Mare Island, Navy Yard, 27 October 1914, at the conclusion of the 1914 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Photo Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 105446, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
	81k	USS Buffalo in San Francisco Bay on 28 March 1916 while serving as a transport. Note the ferry Berkeley to the left and the large pier in the distance to the right. Courtesy of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 92202.		Robert Hurst
	71k	USS Buffalo probably while serving as a transport between 1906 and 1917. The original image is printed on postcard ("AZO") stock. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007 US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105102, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	38k	USS Buffalo in European waters, 12 November 1918 while wearing pattern camouflage paint. Photographed by E. J. Kelty US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 96642.		Robert Hurst
	75k	USS Buffalo at anchor in the harbor at Gibraltar circa December 1918, with USS Schley (Destroyer # 103) alongside and the collier USS Jupiter (Collier # 3) in the background. Note that Schley is still wearing pattern camouflage, while Buffalo has been repainted into overall grey. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 56643		Robert Hurst
	515k	USS Buffalo at anchor in the harbor at Villefranche, France, circa 1918-1919. Photo from Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, file name: M-46 AD-8 01.		Darryl Baker
	96k	USS Buffalo at Villefranche on the French Mediterranean coast in late 1918 or early 1919. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105907, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
NH 105527	99k	Bow and stern views of USS Buffalo in dry dock during or soon after World War I. The stern view shows her four-blade propeller and rudder. The original images were printed on postcard ("AZO") stock. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. US Naval Historical Center Photograph, Photo #: NH 105527, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
NH 105525	64k
	370k	USS Buffalo at anchor in the Azores, 3 May 1919. Photo from Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, file name: M-45 AD-8 01.		Darryl Baker
	68k	USS Buffalo in the Azores by St. Jacques circa early 1919. The ships in the distance to the right include a large armed yacht with two funnels and a merchant ship still wearing her World War I camouflage paint. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 105908, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst
	394k	USS Buffalo at anchor, 14 July 1919, location unknown. US Navy photo.		Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
	505k	USS Buffalo underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.		Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
	48k	USS Buffalo at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo from "Jane's All The World's Fighting Ships 1924."		Robert Hurst
	156k	USS Buffalo in "Red Lead Row" at the Destroyer Base, San Diego, CA., at the end of 1922. The similar ship behind her is USS Prairie (AD-5). This is an enlargement of part of Photo # NH 42539, which also shows at least 65 destroyers in this reserve fleet. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 43539-A, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Robert Hurst

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For more photos and information about USS Buffalo, see; Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) Henry Connelly (1864-1948) Photo Collection

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Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Hemphill, Joseph Newton	22 September 1898 - 3 July 1899
	Decommissioned	3 July 1899 - 2 April 1900
02	CDR. Hutchins, Charles Thomas	2 April 1900 - 10 May 1902
03	CAPT. Ross, Albert	10 May 1902 - 14 December 1903
04	CAPT. Everett, William	14 December 1903 - 4 April 1905
	Decommissioned	4 April 1905 - 17 November 1906
05	CDR. Parker, John Frederick	17 November 1906 - 7 May 1908
06	CDR. Brown, Guy Warner	7 May 1908 - 6 June 1908
07	CDR. Bostwick, Frank Matteson	6 June 1908 - 31 March 1910
08	CDR. Stone, Clarence Morton	31 March 1910 - 4 November 1911
09	CDR. Blamer, DeWitt	4 November 1911 - 25 September 1913
10	CAPT. Taylor, Montgomery Meigs	25 September 1913 - 27 January 1915
	Decommissioned	27 January 1915 - 29 November 1915
11	CDR. Ellis, Mark St.Clair	29 November 1915 - 5 July 1916
12	LCDR. Washington, Pope :RADM	5 July 1916 - 5 May 1917
13	CAPT. Tozer, Charles Maxon, USN Navy Cross	5 May 1917 - 15 May 1919
14	CAPT. Horne, Frederick Joseph :ADM	15 May 1919 - 22 May 1920
15	CDR. Babcock, John Vincent USN (USNA 1901)	22 May 1920 - 12 November 1921
16	CDR. Abernathy, Robert Andrew USN (USNA 1900)	12 November 1921 - 15 November 1922

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 1 April 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Captain Charles M. Tozer USN
Medal of Honor

Citation
The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain Charles M. Tozer, U.S. Navy for exceptionally meritorious service in command of the U.S.S. Buffalo (repair ship) in the war zone.

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