Sacramento

U.S.S. Sacramento

(Saratoga Model Shipyards SMY-74a)

Notes: Commissioned as Gunboat No.19. Served in Mexican and Caribbean waters 1914-17. Sent to Gibraltar for escort duties in European waters after American entry into World War I. Assigned to U.S. Naval Forces, Northern Russia, arriving at Murmansk in May 1919 and helping evacuate Archangel in June. After returning to Hampton Roads in Feb 1920, she was designated PG-19 on 17 Jul 1920. Stationed in the Caribbean until reassignment to the Asiatic Squadron in 1922-28, visiting mostly Chinese and Japanese ports. Returned to Caribbean duties 1929-1932, and then back to China, arriving Shanghai in Apr 1932. She worked to protect American interests during the gradually worsening crisis with Japan, until returning to New York in Jan 1939. Served as a training ship on the Great Lakes from late 1939 into 1941. Sent back to the Pacific, she reached Pearl Harbor 14 Aug 1941 and was in the Navy Yard at the time of the Japanese attack on 7 Dec 1941, claiming assists in downing two enemy planes. Patrolled Hawaiian waters until Sep 1942 when she became a tender for PTs at Palmyra Island. Returned to the West Coast for training duties and on weather patrol and plane guard for the remainder of the war. After decommissioning, she was sold 23 Aug 1947 for mercantile service, initially operating under Italian registry as Fermina.