USS Tunxis (1864)

Engraving of USS Tunxis published in "The Soldier in Our Civil War"
Engraving of USS Tunxis published in "The Soldier in Our Civil War"
History
United States
NameUSS Tunxis
OrderedApril 1863
BuilderReaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pennsylvania
Launched4 June 1864
Commissioned12 July 1864
DecommissionedSeptember 1864
FateBroken up, 1874
General characteristics
Class and typeCasco-class monitor
Displacement1,175 long tons (1,194 t)
Length225 ft (69 m)
Beam45 ft (14 m)
Draft9 ft (2.7 m)
PropulsionScrew steamer
Speed9 knots (17 km/h)
Complement69 officers and enlisted
Armament
  • 1 × 11 in (280 mm) smoothbore Dahlgren guns
  • 1 × 150-pounder rifle
Armor
  • Turret: 8 in (200 mm)
  • Pilothouse: 10 in (250 mm)
  • Hull: 3 in (76 mm)
  • Deck: 3 in (76 mm)

The first USS Tunxis was launched on 4 June 1864 at Chester, Pennsylvania, by Reaney, Son & Archbold; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 12 July 1864. On 21 September 1864, the light-draft monitor departed the sheltered waters of the navy yard on her maiden voyage. However, she soon began taking on water at such an alarming rate that she came about and returned to Philadelphia where she was decommissioned later in the month.