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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Iris (Torpedo Boat Tender)
ex
USS Iris (Collier) (1903 - 1909)
USS Iris (Distilling Ship) (1898 - 1903)

1910-International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Have - Unit NHU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Philippines Campaign Medal - China Relief Expedition Medal - Mexican Service Medal

Screw Steamer:

Laid down in 1885 as the iron hull cargo ship Drydenat Hawthorn Leslie & Co, Hebburn, England

Launched, 22 October 1885

1885 Dryden was delivered to Brazil & River Plate SN Co Ltd (Lamport & Holt), Liverpool

1895 Mendota SS Co Ltd (T Hogan & Sons, New York), Liverpool, renamed Menemsha

189? Miami SS Co Inc, New York

Purchased by the US Navy, 25 May 1898, from Miami Steamship Co.

Commissioned USS Iris, 1 August 1898, at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., as a distilling ship, LT. Arthur B. Connor in command

Decommissioned, 18 December 1903, at Mare Island Navy Yard

Placed in service in 1904 as a Collier for the Asiatic Squadron

Recommissioned, 15 October 1909, as a Torpedo Boat Tender for the Pacific Torpedo Fleet

Decommissioned, 2 May 1916, at Mare Island

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred, 3 May 1917, to the United States Shipping Board (USSB), San Francisco, CA.

1921 Paciﬁc Transport Co Inc (Qnrayne St Hoyt Inc), San Francisoo

Final Disposition, broken up third quarter 1928 by General Metals & Supply Co

Specifications:
Displacement 2,743 gt., 1,724 nt.
Length 310.0
Beam 38.8
Draft 27.0
Speed 10 kts.
Complement 124
Armament none
Propulsion

coal fired boilers

1 Hawthon Leslie & Co Ltd triple expansion steam engine (35 x 70 x 48 inches) 300 nhp

one screw

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Iris
09029511	168k	*Namesake* Iris - In Greek Mythology the personification and goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods Iris Carrying the Water of the River Styx to Olympus for the Gods to Swear By, Guy Head, c. 1793. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.	Tommy Trampp
	73k	Post card image of USS Iris at anchor, circa 1909, location unknown. US Navy photo courtesy Shipscribe web site.	Mike Green
	49k	USS Iris at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo by Muller, from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1914."	Robert Hurst
	100k	USS Iris at anchor in San Diego Bay, circa 1910-1916. Photographed by Lee Passmore, 'Post Card Artist' 25th & M Streets, San Diego. The original is printed on post card ('Vedox') stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008. US Naval Historical Center photo # NH 105724.	Robert Hurst
	86k	USS Iris at anchor in San Diego Bay, while serving as tender to the Pacific Fleet Torpedo Squadron, circa 1909-1912. *USS Rowan* (Torpedo Boat # 8)** is alongside. Photographed by Daniel, printed on postcard ('AZO') stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007 US Naval Historical Center Photo # NH 104449.	Robert Hurst
	114k	USS Iris at anchor in San Diego Bay, circa 1910, while serving as torpedo vessel tender for the Pacific Fleet. USS Davis (Torpedo Boat # 12) and *USS Fox* (Torpedo Boat # 13)** are alongside. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson. US Naval Historical Center Photo # NH 53268.	Robert Hurst
	109k	USS Iris at anchor, location unknown, with four submarines alongside, circa 1913-1916. An armored cruiser is in the left distance. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1968. US Naval Historical Center Photo # NH 65153.	Robert Hurst
	80k	USS Iris anchored off Guaymas, Mexico, 26 December 1915. photographed by Hopkins. Collection of Thomas P. Naughton, 1973. US Naval Historical Center Photo # NH 99201.	Robert Hurst
	54k	USS Iris moored to a buoy off Navy Yard Mare Island, 2 October 1916, after being decommissioned for the last time.US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2766-10-16, 10/2/1916 cropped	Darryl Baker
SS Iris (USSB)
	119k	Montage of views of SS Iris, her crew and training activities, during or shortly after World War I, while she was employed as a merchant marine training ship. Man marked by an arrow in the upper right view is named Nelson.US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 102996 Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005	Robert Hurst
	102k	Cropped view of SS Iris from the montage. *Iris* was active as a training ship from mid-1918 to early 1920 when she was replaced by a larger vessel, SS Hollywood. US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 102996, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst