USS Elcano ( PG - 38 ) USS " Elcano " ( PG - 38 ) was a gunboat captured by the United States Navy from the Spanish Navy during the Spanish - American War . She was officially commissioned in the U . S . Navy in 1902 . She served for many years in the Yangtze Patrol where she saw action against pirates and warlords . She served until decommissioning in 1928 , when she was sunk for target practice . Service history . Spanish Navy . The Carraca Arsenal at Cadiz , Spain , built " Elcano " in 1885 . The Spanish Navy stationed her at the Port of Manila , where she arrived on 26 September 1886 . During the Spanish - American War , she captured the American bark " Saranac " on 26 February 1898 . " Saranac " — under Captain Bartaby — was carrying of coal from Newcastle , New South Wales , to Iloilo , for Admiral Dewey ' s fleet . The Americans seized " Elcano " during the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898 . She was officially turned over to the US Navy on 9 November 1898 . U . S Navy . The U . S Navy had " Elcano " fitted at the Cavite Naval Yard , Philippines , for use as a gunboat . The U . S Navy commissioned her on 20 November 1902 as the USS " Elcano " , Gunboat No . 38 , under her first captain , Lieutenant Commander A . G . Winterhalter . " Elcano " left Manila on 26 December 1902 for service with what would become the U . S . Yangtze Patrol . She sailed with another ex - Spanish gunboat — — and the collier ; the little flotilla arrived in Shanghai in February 1903 . The gunboats ' task was primarily to protect American lives and property in China , especially American - flagged vessels operating on the Yangtze River . The U . S . had sent gunboats to China in the past , but this flotilla was the first that the U . S . Navy had created specifically to patrol the Yangtze . However , they were not well - suited to river patrol because of their deep ( ocean - going ) draft and their weak power . Still , " Elcano " remained based in Shanghai until 20 October 1907 . She then returned to Cavite where the U . S . Navy decommissioned her on 1 November . The U . S . Navy recommissioned " Elcano " on 5 December 1910 and she returned to China in March 1911 . There she was based at Amoy until the start of World War I . She returned to Manila in April 1917 , and then patrolled off Mariveles , Bataan , and Corregidor Island until the end of the war . " Elcano " returned to Shanghai on 3 February 1920 where she rejoined the Yangtze Patrol . On 17 July , the Navy reclassified her as PG - 38 ( Patrol Gunboat 38 ) . As a member of the Yangtze River Patrol " Elcano " was involved in numerous skirmishes with Chinese warlords and pirates . In July 1921 , she assisted in the landing of U . S . Marines at Ichang , where she remained until September 1922 . During the Chinese revolution of 1926 - 1927 , " Elcano " brought refugees back to the coast from deep inland . On 24 March 1927 , " Elcano " shelled the base of Socony Hill in Nanking to protect the American Consul General and others who were being besieged there . Eventually , American sailors rescued the American civilians . Fate . In November 1927 , the U . S . Navy became a receiving ship at Shanghai for American sailors arriving to man the new gunboats that the Navy was building for service with the Patrol . The U . S . Navy decommissioned " Elcano " on 30 June 1928 . She sank on 4 October as a result of having been used for target practice .