USS Idaho (1864)

The USS Idaho (1864) was a large, single-turreted, wooden-hulled screw sloop of war that served in the United States Navy during and after the American Civil War. She is notable for being one of the fastest vessels in the Navy at the time, though her speed came at the expense of reliability and ultimately limited her operational service.

Ordered in 1863 and commissioned in 1866, the Idaho was designed by John Ericsson, the Swedish-American inventor best known for designing the USS Monitor. Ericsson envisioned her as a swift commerce raider capable of pursuing and engaging Confederate vessels. Her design emphasized speed, incorporating a long, narrow hull and powerful engines for the era.

Despite achieving impressive speeds during trials, exceeding 17 knots, the Idaho was plagued by mechanical problems. Her complex engines and propulsion system proved difficult to maintain and frequently broke down. This unreliability hampered her effectiveness and prevented her from being deployed on lengthy missions.

The Idaho's active service was relatively short. After commissioning, she was assigned to the Asiatic Squadron. Her primary duties consisted of protecting American interests and showing the flag in the Far East. However, her mechanical issues continued to dog her.

In 1867, the Idaho was involved in an incident in Japan when some of her crew were attacked by samurai. While the incident was resolved without major conflict, it highlighted the tensions between foreign powers and Japan during the early Meiji Restoration.

Due to her chronic mechanical problems and the high cost of maintaining her, the USS Idaho was decommissioned in 1873. She was subsequently sold for scrap, marking the end of a short but noteworthy career for a ship that promised much but ultimately delivered less due to technological limitations of the time.