Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
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).
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 |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 24 September 1998.
Expanded and revised 17 March 2005
New image added 12 May 2008