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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 53953:  USS Free Lance underway off New York City, probably in August 1898

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Free Lance (1898-1899).
Also served as USS Freelance (SP-830) in 1917-1918.
Originally Steam Yacht Free Lance (1895) and Freelance

USS Free Lance, 137-foot patrol vessel, was built in 1895 by Lewis Nixon of Elizabethport, New Jersey, as the civilian steam yacht of the same name. She was loaned to the Navy in May 1898 for use during the Spanish-American War and was employed as a patrol vessel off New York City during that conflict. Decommissioned late in August 1898, she was returned to her owner in early 1899.

Renamed Freelance after 1905, the yacht also had Navy service during the First World War. She was leased in July 1917 and placed in commission in September 1917 as USS Freelance (SP-830). Following another tour of patrol duty in the New York Harbor area, in December 1918 she was once more returned to her owner, F. Augustus Schermerhorn of New York City.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Free Lance and USS Freelance (SP-830), and the steam yacht Free Lance (later renamed Freelance).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 102819

Freelance
(American Steam Yacht, 1895)

Underway, prior to World War I.
This yacht served as USS Free Lance in 1898 and as USS Freelance (SP-830) in 1917-1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 53953

USS Free Lance
(1898-1899)

Underway off New York City, probably in August 1898.
A small sailboat is just astern of Free Lance, and USS New York (Armored Cruiser # 2) is in the background.
This steam yacht was also in Navy service during World War I, as USS Freelance (SP-830).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 53955

USS Free Lance
(1898-1899)

On patrol off New York City, probably in August 1898.
Note the sailboats and harbor craft in the background.
As USS Freelance (SP-830), this steam yacht had additional Navy service in 1917-1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 53954

USS Free Lance
(1898-1899)

At anchor off New York City, probably in August 1898.
Note the small sailboats in the left background.
As USS Freelance (SP-830), this steam yacht was also in Navy service during 1917-1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 690 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101720

USS Freelance
(SP-830)

In port during the World War I era.
Built in 1895, this steam yacht served as USS Free Lance from 12 May to 24 August 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Renamed Freelance in 1905, she was leased by the Navy on 19 July 1917 and placed in commission on 5 September 1917. USS Freelance was decommissioned and returned to her owner on 24 December 1918.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 37KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 


USS Freelance is partially visible in the extreme right of the following photograph of another ship:

Photo #: NH 105426

USS Bagley
(Torpedo Boat # 24)

Alongside the barge Dolphin (ID # 1314, also known as Coal Barge # 518) in a New York City area yacht basin, circa 1917-1918.
Partially visible at right is USS Freelance (SP-830). Another patrol vessel (converted yacht) and a tug are in the right background.
Printed on postcard ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 24 September 1998.
Expanded and revised 17 March 2005
New image added 12 May 2008