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| USN As Built Civilian Yacht U.S. Navy Coastal Minelayer Patrol Gunboat MTB Tender 1,922 Tons 267' x 35' 4" x 17' 2 x 3" 50 cal DP guns 20mm cannons  USN 1940   USN May 23, 1943 |
Ship History Built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Laid down November 14, 1928 as a steel-hulled civilian yacht Hi-Esmaro with two 1,500shp Cooper-Bessemer diesel engines driving two propeller shafts. Launched June 7, 1929. Delivered August 20, 1929 to owners Mr. Hiram Edward Manville and his wife Mrs. Henrietta Estelle Manville of New York, NY and used as their private yacht worth $1.5 million dollars. Wartime History On October 16, 1940 purchased by the U.S. Navy (USN) and converted into a coastal minelayer at New York Navy Yard. On October 31, 1940 renamed USS Niagara (CMc-2) named for Fort Niagara in New York. On November 12, 1940 reclassified as a patrol gunboat PG-52 with a crew of 139. Commissioned January 20, 1941 in New York with Lt. Edwin W. Herron in command. Armed with two 3" deck guns and 20mm cannons for anti-aircraft defense. On November 29, 1941 departs Pearl Harbor as part of a convoy of eight ships dubbed the "Pensacola Convoy" bound for Manila led by USS Pensacola (CA-24), USS Chaumont (AP-5) USS Republic (AP-33) USS Niagra (PG-52), U.S. Army transports USAT Meigs and USAT Willard A. Holbrook plus merchant vessels SS Admiral Halstead, SS Coast Farmer and MS Blomfontein. On December 5, 1941 the convoy crosses the equator. On December 7, 1941 at 8:25am approaching Fiji, informed that hostilities had commenced with Japan and proceeds to Suva where Niagara turns back for Pearl Harbor arriving December 15, 1941 and operates as a tender for Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 (MTBS 1) until April 1942. Next, escorts a convoy to San Diego then operates from Coco Solo tending PT Boats. In the summer to New York Navy Yard for an overhaul and was fitted out as a school ship and operates at Newport, Rhode Island supporting PT Boat training. On November 27, 1942 departs bound for the Pacific via Panama Canal and Society Islands. On January 13, 1943 while at sea reclassified as Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP-1), the first in the U.S. Navy. On January 17, 1943 arrives Noumea and operates as a tender for Motor Torpedo Boat Division 23 (MTBD 23), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 8 (MTBS 8). Ten days later, departs for Tulagi Harbor arriving February 17, 1943 and continues operating as a tender. On April 7, 1943 during the Japanese air raid moored on the west bank of the Maliali River on Tulagi with USS Rail (AM-26) moored outboard at the northern end of Tulagi Harbor. During the air raid, nine Japanese planes flew up the river at roughly 150' altitude and both ships opened fire with anti-aircraft gun fire. The lead plane was already on fire and crashed on Tulagi roughly 1,000 yards astern of Niagara. The fourth plane smoked and crashed. Several attempted to strafe both vessels but their gunfire was erratic. Another attacking plane was observed trailing smoke while another crashed into the hills off their starboard quarter. During the air raid, Niagara is damaged by friendly fire. On May 22, 1943 departs Tulagi Harbor leading five PT Boats from Motor Torpedo Boat Division 23 (MTB-23) in column including PT-144, PT-145, PT-146, PT-147, PT-148 bound for New Guinea. On May 23, 1943 in the morning the vessels were roughly 270 miles to the southeast when spotted by a Japanese bomber at high altitude that dropped four 60kg bombs. To avoid them, Niagara made a tight turn to starboard at maximum speed, then turned turned hard to port when the bombs were dropped. Three bombs were near misses off the starboard side and one near miss to port damaged her sound gear and the training mechanism of one of her 3" deck guns and temporarily disabled steering control but was repaired 30 minutes later and resumed cruising. An hour and a half after the first attack, six G4M1 Bettys from 702 Kōkūtai (702 Air Group) in two "V" formations at high altitute. Below, Niagara opened fire with her single operational 3" deck gun and all 20mm cannons as the bombers released a dozen 60kg bombs with one hit on the forecastle and several others were near misses. Damaged included a 14" hole roughly 6' below the waterline that flooded two storerooms, a passageway, and her engine room and cut power and stopped her main engines. Fires raged out of control below deck and the ship began to list to port. Although the crew restarted her engines seven minutes later, the increasing list and danger of gas exploding due to the fires and the crew abandoned ship. None of the crew were injured or killed in either air attack. Rescue Afterwards, PT-146 and PT-147 came alongside her stern to rescue the crew. Others deployed life boats or jumped over the side and were rescued by other PT Boats. Later, the rescued crew were disembarked on Guadalcanal. Sinking History Abandoned, the fire spread aft and ammunition began to cook off and explode on deck. To scuttle the damaged ship, PT-147 launched a torpedo that hit her fuel tanks causing an explosion and flames 300' high and Niagara sank within 45 seconds east of east of Cape Surville on southeast San Cristobal at roughly at Lat 11°00'S, Long 163°00'E. References NARA CINCPAC War Diary May 1943 pages 380, 396 (Page 380) War Plans - Daily Summary May 24, 1943 (USS Niagara) May 24 (-11) - USS Niagara was bombed twice in the vicinity of 10-35 S, 163-13 E and disabled. She was later torpedoed by BLUE PT and sank in 45 seconds. PTs and survivors later arrived at Guadalcanal." (Page 396) War Plans - Daily Summary May 25, 1943 1. Contacts and Actions with the enemy in the Pacific Ocean Areas. May 25 (Z) - Recent loss of USS Niagara is now reported as having been due to high level bombing and not torpedo attack." Kodochosho 702 Kōkūtai - May 23, 1943 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 "USS Niagara (AGP-1) sunk by Japanese aircraft bombing near San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands, 23 May 1943." Rikko to Ginga by Izawa (1995) by Yasuho Izawa page 230 "Six rikko (Betty) from 702 Ku claim one 10,000 ton class merchant vessel [USS Niagara] east of San Cristobal on May 23 [1943]." Solomons 1943: How the Allies Used Air Power to Turn the Tide in the South Pacific by Richard Dunn FindAGrave - Henrietta Estelle Romaine Manville (photo, grave photo) NavSource - Niagara (AGP 1) ex-Niagara (PG 52) ex-CMc-2 (photos) Thanks to Richard Dunn, Osamu Tagaya and Edward Rogers for additional information Contribute
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