USS Niagara is a name that has been borne by several ships of the United States Navy, primarily honoring the Niagara River or Niagara Falls. The name has been associated with vessels ranging from a brig famous for its role in a pivotal War of 1812 battle to modern support ships.
USS Niagara (1813 brig)
The first and most historically significant USS Niagara was a 20-gun brig launched in 1813 at Erie, Pennsylvania. Built for service on Lake Erie during the War of 1812, she was one of the two sister ships (the other being USS Lawrence) that formed the backbone of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet.
- Service History: The Niagara played a crucial role in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. After Perry's flagship, USS Lawrence, was heavily damaged, Perry transferred his command to the Niagara. From the Niagara, he launched the decisive attack that resulted in the complete defeat of the British squadron, uttering the famous words, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The Niagara continued to serve on Lake Erie until the end of the war.
- Fate: After the war, the Niagara was laid up in Misery Bay at Erie, Pennsylvania. She was deliberately sunk for preservation in 1820. In 1913, she was raised and partially reconstructed for the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie. She was again restored in the 1930s and a major reconstruction took place in the 1980s.
- Current Status: The USS Niagara (1813) is now a sailable reconstruction and a museum ship, serving as the official flagship of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She is preserved at the Erie Maritime Museum in Erie, Pennsylvania, and occasionally sails on the Great Lakes.
USS Niagara (1855 screw frigate)
The second USS Niagara was a large screw frigate, launched in 1855. She was one of the first ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered by both sail and steam.
- Service History: Her early career included service on anti-slavery patrols off the coast of Africa. In 1857-1858, she participated in the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, carrying one end of the cable from the eastern United States. During the American Civil War, the Niagara served in the Union blockade of the Confederate coast, notably participating in the capture of blockade runners and the bombardment of Fort Morgan.
- Fate: The USS Niagara was decommissioned in 1865 and sold in 1885.
USS Niagara (SP-263 / AT-39 / AVP-25 / PG-87)
The third USS Niagara had a long and varied career under multiple designations, beginning as a civilian steam yacht.
- Service History:
- WWI: Commissioned into the Navy in 1917 as a patrol boat (SP-263), she served in the coastal defense during World War I.
- Interwar Period: After the war, she was converted into a tug (AT-39) and later into a seaplane tender (AVP-25).
- WWII: During World War II, as AVP-25, she served extensively in the Pacific, supporting seaplane operations across various theaters, from the Aleutians to the South Pacific. She was later reclassified as a patrol gunboat (PG-87).
- Fate: She was decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap.
Other Ships Named Niagara
- USS Niagara (IX-205): A training ship, a former ferry boat, briefly used by the Navy in the 1940s.
The name "Niagara" has also been associated with other vessels or facilities throughout U.S. naval history, reflecting its significance in American geography and history.