USS Nashville ( PG - 7 ) USS " Nashville " ( PG - 7 ) , a gunboat , was the only ship of its class . It was the first of three ships of the United States Navy to hold the name " Nashville " . " Nashville " ( PG - 7 ) was laid down on 9 August 1894 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company , Newport News , VA ; launched on 19 October 1895 ; sponsored by Miss Maria Guild , and commissioned on 19 August 1897 , Commander Washburn Maynard in command . Service history . Spanish - American War . Upon commissioning , " Nashville " joined the North Atlantic Fleet ; and , as war with Spain became imminent after the sinking of the armored cruiser , she was ordered to the Caribbean . She captured four Spanish vessels from 22 April - 26 July 1898 , and assisted in cutting the undersea telegraph cable just off the shore of Cienfuegos , where many of her sailors and Marines were honored with Medals of Honor . " Nashville " remained on duty off Cuba until the war ' s end . Pre - World War I . The gunboat departed the Caribbean for duty in the Philippines on 14 October 1899 , arriving at Manila on 31 December via the Suez Canal . " Nashville " provided gunfire support for American troops in campaigns against Filipino insurgents until June 1900 . When the Boxer Rebellion erupted in China , " Nashville " departed Cavite on 8 June for China with a Marine detachment embarked . She arrived at Taku on 18 June , disembarked the Marines assigned to the International Relief Expedition , and remained until the allied forces lifted the siege of Peking . After patrol duty off China , " Nashville " arrived at Cavite on 3 February 1901 , where she based until July . Transferred to the Mediterranean , the gunboat arrived at Genoa , Italy on 22 September . After a year ' s patrol duty , " Nashville " left Gibraltar on 1 November 1902 , arriving at Boston , MA on 16 January 1903 . On the Caribbean Station from 26 May 1903 – 4 March 1904 the Nashville was instrumental in preventing Columbian troops in Colon using the Panama railway thereby ensuring the success of the revolutionary Junta in Panama and securing a treaty with the United States in building the Panama canal . She returned to Boston on 18 June and decommissioned on 30 June . Recommissioned on 8 August 1905 at Boston Navy Yard , " Nashville " sailed on 8 September for Santo Domingo , operating off Cuba , Puerto Rico , and Santo Domingo until 26 June 1906 , when she returned to Boston to decommission on 23 July . After three years in reserve , " Nashville " was assigned to the Illinois Naval Militia on 29 April 1909 . From May 1909 - July 1911 , she trained militiamen on the Great Lakes , homeported at Chicago . USS Nashville caused an incident in 1909 when she was sent to the Great Lakes through the Canadian canal system unarmed , and was then later armed in contravention of the Rush - Bagot Treaty of 1817 After extensive overhaul and sea trials , she departed Boston on 7 January 1912 , arriving Santo Domingo on 31 January to begin five years of patrol operations in the West Indies and off Central America , protecting United States interests . The ship participated in the blockade of Mexico , proclaimed in April 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson , after the overthrow of the Mexican government by Victoriano Huerta . After a short period of reduced commission status from 10 May - 8 July 1916 in New Orleans , LA , the gunboat returned to Tampico , Mexico , where she remained until the U . S . entered World War I on 6 April 1917 . World War I . After temporary duty off Tampico , " Nashville " sailed from Norfolk on 2 August 1917 , arriving Gibraltar on 18 August to patrol off the Moroccan coast . After serving as convoy escort off North Africa and in the western Mediterranean until 15 July 1918 , " Nashville " departed Gibraltar , arriving on 1 August at Charleston , South Carolina . Fate . " Nashville " decommissioned on 21 October 1918 at Charleston , and was sold on 20 October 1921 to J . L . Bernard and Company , Washington , D . C .