The USS Helena (PG-9) was a Wilmington-class gunboat constructed by Newport News Shipbuilding Co., launched on January 30, 1896, and commissioned on July 8, 1897, at the New York Navy Yard. Designed to accommodate large landing parties and refugees, the vessel featured well-ventilated, spacious quarters, and carried sizable ships' boats, including a 33-foot steam cutter and a sailing launch, comparable in size to those on battleships. Initially assigned to the North Atlantic Fleet, Helena primarily operated in home waters. During the Spanish–American War, she saw active service in Cuban waters, engaging enemy batteries at Fort Tunas on July 2–3, 1898, and participating in the blockade of Manzanillo on July 18, where she contributed to sinking or destroying ten vessels during the Third Battle of Manzanillo. Following the war, Helena was dispatched to the Philippines, arriving in February 1899, to support American operations during the Philippine–American War. She was involved in the evacuation of Spanish forces from Jolo, the landing of American troops, and supported offensive actions in the Cavite Province, including an assault across the Zapote River. Throughout her service in the Far East, Helena primarily protected American interests and lives, operating in Chinese waters from 1900 to 1902, then returning to the Philippines. She was placed out of commission in April 1905 but was recommissioned in July 1906, resuming duties on the Asiatic Station. Her later service included patrolling the South China Sea and the Yangtze River, with intermittent overhauls. In her later years, Helena was reduced to a limited commission in 1929 but continued patrol duties until she was decommissioned in May 1932 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. The vessel was sold on July 7, 1934, marking the end of her long service.

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