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The late 19th
century saw a deterioration of relations between Spain and the
United States, culminating in the mysterious sinking of the American
battleship MAINE in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. The
situation resulted in an ultimatum from the United States to Spain
to surrender control of Cuba, followed closely by a declaration of
war first by Spain and, then, the United States. The
Spanish-American War (21 April – 13 August 1898) ensued. In the
months leading up to the War, the Norfolk Navy Yard had been about
the business of outfitting and arming the American fleet. USRC
HUDSON, a tug home-ported in New York and commanded by 1st
Lieutenant Frank Hamilton Newcomb, arrived at the shipyard in early
April and commenced her upgrade availability, including the
installation of armor plating, two six-pound rapid-fire gins, and a
Colt automatic machine gun. Shortly after the U.S. Revenue Cutter
Service was transferred to the Navy at the outbreak of the War,
HUDSON took up her assigned duty station off the coast of Cuba. This
Coast Guard Heritage spot will cover the storied action of HUDSON at
Cardenas Bay as well as the subsequent history surrounding her crew
and, especially, her commanding officer. The epilogue includes a
treatment of USS NEWCOMB (DD 586), the only Navy ship ever named for
a member of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, that served with
distinction at the Battle of Surigao Strait, the final defeat of the
Japanese Navy in World War II.
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