The USS Farragut (Torpedo Boat No. 11), later designated Coast Torpedo Boat No. 5, was an early 20th-century torpedo boat serving in the United States Navy. Launched on July 16, 1898, by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California, she was sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Ashe, the niece of Admiral David Farragut, after whom she was named. The vessel was commissioned on June 5, 1899, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Reginald F. Nicholson. Constructed as a small, fast, and maneuverable torpedo craft, Farragut's initial operations focused on coastal defense and training exercises within San Francisco Bay, with occasional voyages to San Diego. Her early service involved target and torpedo practice, reflecting her role as a tactical asset during a period of evolving naval technology. The ship was decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard on September 4, 1902, but was kept in reserve starting October 8, 1904. She was restored to full commission on March 28, 1908, resuming operations along the California coast, including a notable visit to Portland, Oregon, in June of that year. Farragut's service was intermittent, with periods in reserve and ordinary status, until she was recommissioned on May 10, 1911, for active duty in the San Francisco area. She also served as a training ship for the California Naval Militia from January 1915 to April 1917. During World War I, she was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone, where she patrolled both Atlantic and Pacific entrances to safeguard the crucial waterway. She also transported troops and supplies in the Balboa area. On August 1, 1918, she was renamed Coast Torpedo Boat No. 5. After her wartime service, she returned to Mare Island Navy Yard, was decommissioned on March 13, 1919, and subsequently sold on September 9, 1919. The USS Farragut’s career exemplifies the transitional era of naval warfare, from small, fast torpedo boats to more modern naval strategies.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.