USS Viking (1898)

The USS Viking (1898) was a United States Navy auxiliary cruiser authorized by Congress during the Spanish-American War. Originally the British merchant steamer * Yarmouth *, built in 1892, she was purchased by the U.S. Navy in April 1898.

The Viking was armed with rapid-fire guns and served primarily as a patrol vessel and transport ship during the war. She was deployed along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, helping to maintain the blockade of Cuba and transport personnel and supplies.

Following the end of the Spanish-American War, the USS Viking was decommissioned in 1898 and subsequently sold back into merchant service. Her brief naval service highlights the Navy's reliance on hastily acquired merchant ships to augment its fleet during times of conflict. Her career as USS Viking was relatively short but fulfilled a necessary function during the Spanish-American War.