USS McKee (TB-18)

History
United States
Name	McKee
Namesake	Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee
Ordered	10 June 1896 (authorised)
Builder	Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, MD
Laid down	11 September 1897
Launched	5 March 1898
Sponsored by	Mrs. William H. Humrichouse
Commissioned	16 May 1898
Decommissioned	10 March 1916
Stricken	6 April 1912
Identification	TB-18
Fate	sunk as target ship, fall 1920
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	MacKenzie-class torpedo boat
Displacement	65 long tons (66 t)[2]
Length	99 ft 3 in (30.25 m)
Beam	12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
Draft	4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) (mean)[2]
Installed power	2 × Thornycroft boilers 850 ihp (630 kW)
Propulsion	vertical triple expansion engine 1 × screw propellers
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) 19.82 kn (22.81 mph; 36.71 km/h) (Speed on Trial)[2]
Complement	12 officers and enlisted
Armament	2 × 1-pounder (37 mm (1.46 in)) guns 2 × 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes (2x1)

The first USS McKee (Torpedo Boat No. 18/TB-18) was laid down on 11 September 1897 by Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, launched 5 March 1898; sponsored by Mrs. William H. Humrichouse; and commissioned 16 May 1898, Lt. C. M. Knepper in command.

McKee underwent sea trials in Chesapeake Bay and then sailed to New York to assume coastal defense duties during Spanish–American War. Reassigned to Torpedo Station Newport, R.I., the coal‑burning torpedo boat operated along the New England coast until returning to New York 13 December 1903, where she decommissioned 22 December 1903.

Eight months later, 6 August 1904, she recommissioned and steamed back to Newport. From 1907 to 1910 she operated from New York, then was assigned special duty in the reserve at Newport. On 29 January 1912 she arrived New York and decommissioned. Struck from the Navy list 6 April 1912, McKee was towed to Norfolk and used as a target. On 24 September 1920 she was ordered sunk near Craney Island, an order carried out later that fall.

References[]

Citations

Sources

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Technical data from Gardiner, Robert (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Conway Maritime Press. p. 161. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.

External links[]

• Photo gallery of McKee at NavSource Naval History