|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN River Gunboat 395 Tons 159' 5" x 27' 1" x 5' 5" 2 x 3"/23 guns 10 x .30 caliber MG  USN circa 1930 |
Ship History Built by the Jiangnan (Kiangnan) Dockyard and Engineering Works in Shanghai. Laid down October 17, 1926 as a river gunboat. Launched June 14, 1927 as USS Tutuila (PG-44) named for Tutuila sponsored by Miss Beverly Pollard. Commissioned March 2, 1928 in the U.S. Navy (USN) and assigned to the Yangtze Patrol (YangPat) and underwent a shakedown cruise up the Yangtze River to Yichang. On June 16, 1928 reclassified as a river gunboat PR-4. In the middle of July 1928 joined by USS Guam (PR-3). Tutuila had a shallow draft was able to reach the upper stretch of the Yangtze River and was used to protect American interests from warlords and bandits, protect convoys and project American power. Second Sino-Japanese War During the Second Sino-Japanese War, American river boat operations were restricted by Japanese hostility. On August 3, 1938 Tutuila with U.S. Ambassador Nelson T. Johnson embarked and USS Luzon (PR-7) steamed up the Yangtze River to Chungking. In late October 1938, when the Japanese occupied Hankou movement down river was impossible. On May 8, 1940 Tutuila ran aground and sustained damaged and partially sunk and was stranded. On May 13, 1940 refloated then repaired and returned to service and moored in Lungmenhao Lagoon. On July 31, 1941 damaged by a near miss from Japanese bombs that resulted in holes at the waterline and destroyed the ship's motor skimmer and outboard motor. On December 6, 1941 the Yangtze Patrol was deactivated with Tutuila stranded at Chungking. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, Tutuila remained at Chungking. On January 18, 1942 decommissioned and the same day her remaining complement of two officers and 22 sailors are flown out of China. Afterwards, the vessel was under the jurisdiction of the Naval Attaché attached to the U.S. Embassy in Chungking. On February 16, 1942 transfered to Nationalist China under lend-lease. On March 19, 1942 leased to China and renamed Mei Yuan meaning "of American origin". On February 17, 1948 officially transferred to the Nationalist Chinese and used in the Chinese Civil War. Fate During May 1949 at Shanghai scuttled to prevent capture by Communist Chinese forces. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References NavSource - USS Tutuila (PR-4) / USS Tutuila (PG-44) Contribute
Information |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
