File:US Torpedo boat destroyers DAVIS and FOX serving in Washington State Naval Militia in Seattle, 1912 (TRANSPORT 874).jpg

PH Coll 794.30

"USS Fox, a 155-ton Davis class torpedo boat built at Portland, Oregon, was commissioned in July 1899. She spent her entire career on the West Coast, based initially at the Mare Island Navy Yard and later at San Diego, California. Like other torpedo boats of her day, Fox was often in reserve. Her periods of active service mainly involved training and experimental duties. After an assignment with the Washington State Naval Militia that began in 1913, USS Fox was stricken from the list of Navy vessels in August 1916. She was sold in October of that year.

USS Fox was named in honor of Gustavus V. Fox (1821-1883), who served as a U.S. Navy Officer from 1838 until 1856 and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1861-1866." (Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-f/tb13.htm)

The Davis (TB-12) was launched 4 June 1898 by Wolff and Zwicker, Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Miss H. Wolff; and commissioned 10 May 1899, Lieutenant Commander R. F. Nicholson in command.

After trials Davis was placed out of commission 5 June 1899 and laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard in reserve. She was recommissioned 23 March 1908 and assigned to Pacific Torpedo Fleet. She participated in the review for the Secretary of the Navy 8 May 1908, then cruised along the west coast as far north as the Columbia River and south as far as Magdalena Bay, Mexico, until placed in reserve at Mare Island 28 October 1909.

Davis was recommissioned 1 November 1910 for service in the San Diego area until 10 May 1911 when she again went into reserve at Mare Island. In May 1912 she was towed to Puget Sound for assignment to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was decommissioned there 28 March 1913 and sold for scrap 21 April 1920.(Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d2/davis-i.htm)

• Subjects (LCSH): Davis (Warship); Fox (Warship); Warships--United States--Washington (State)--Seattle