USS Porter ( TB - 6 ) USS " Porter " ( Torpedo Boat No . 6 / TB - 6 ) was a torpedo boat , the first of its class , launched in 1896 , served during the Spanish - American War , and struck in 1912 . She was the first Navy ship named for Commodore David Porter , and his son , Admiral David Dixon Porter . " Porter " was laid down in February 1896 by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co . , Bristol , Rhode Island : launched on 9 September 1896 , sponsored by Miss Agnes M . Herreshoff ; and commissioned on 20 February 1897 at Newport , R . I . , Lieutenant John Charles Fremont in command . Service history . On patrol , 1897 . " Porter " sailed to Washington , D . C . on 27 February 1897 for inspection and was further examined on 16 – 20 March at New York by the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation . She operated between New London and Newport ; then visited New York from 15 July to 3 October before getting underway for her winter port , Charleston , South Carolina . " Porter " cruised in southern waters until 8 December and then proceeded to Key West where she was stationed on 1 – 22 January 1898 . Spanish – American War , 1898 . " Porter " arrived on 26 January at Mobile for a visit but was ordered to return to Key West on 6 March because of the tense situation in Cuba . When the United States declared war upon Spain , she was already patrolling the waters off Key West and the Dry Tortugas . Porter returned to Key West on 22 March for replenishment . " Porter " departed Key West on 22 April with the North Atlantic Fleet for the blockade of the north coast of Cuba . She soon made contact with the enemy , capturing two Spanish schooners , " Sofia " and " Matilda " , on 23 and 24 April . After refueling at Key West 2 – 7 May , " Porter " resumed blockade duty off Cap - Haïtien , Haiti keeping a watchful eye out for Cervera ' s squadron . She participated in the three - hour bombardment of San Juan on 12 – 13 May with the nine ships of Rear Admiral W . T . Sampson ' s fleet . During the attack " Porter " maintained a close position under the batteries with but was not hit . " Porter " returned on 13 – 14 May to the blockade of the north coast of Hispaniola , cruising off Samana Bay , Santo Domingo and off Porto Plata , Haiti . After a brief interval at Key West and Mobile ( 18 – 25 May ) , she joined Commodore Schley ' s squadron ( 1 – 11 June ) off Santiago de Cuba where it had bottled up the elusive Spanish warships . " Porter " came under heavy fire on 7 June while silencing the shore batteries , but was undamaged . Later she supported ( 11 – 17 June ) the Marine beachhead at Guantanamo Bay . " Porter " took up her station off Santiago on 17 June and again 21 – 22 June when she bombarded the Socapa battery during the landings at Daiquirí . She continued patrolling off Guantanamo until 9 July when she left for New York via Key West . Upon her arrival at the New York Navy Yard on 19 July , " Porter " was placed in reduced commission and decommissioned 5 November 1898 . In reserve , 1899 – 1907 . She recommissioned on 10 October 1899 at New York and served as a training ship for firemen at Newport , Norfolk and Annapolis . " Porter " decommissioned 21 December 1900 at New York . She was put in reserve commission in late 1901 at Norfolk with the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla and continued this duty through 1907 . Torpedo Flotilla , 1908 – 1912 . " Porter " recommissioned on 31 January 1908 at Norfolk , and was ordered to Pensacola on 21 February . As flagship of the 3rd Torpedo Flotilla , she engaged in torpedo runs in St . Joseph Bay , Florida ( 4 March – 22 April ) . " Porter " acted as naval escort to the remains of Governor De Witt Clinton in New York harbor on 29 May 1908 before returning on 1 July to the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla at Norfolk . " Porter " recommissioned on 14 May 1909 at Charleston , South Carolina , Lt . Harold R . Stark in command , and was assigned to the 3rd Division , Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla . She proceeded to Provincetown , Massachusetts , on 10 June for fleet exercises that lasted until 5 August . " Porter " departed on 28 August for Hampton Roads and the Southern Drill Grounds , later joining the fleet at New York for the Hudson - Fulton Celebration on 1 – 10 October . She was reassigned on 14 November to the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla at Charleston where she remained until October 1911 . " Porter " sailed on 30 October 1911 for New York where she took part in the fleet naval review on 2 November for President Theodore Roosevelt . The President had ordered the mobilization " to test the preparedness of the fleet and the efficiency of our organization on the ships in the yards . " Afterwards " Porter " returned to the Reserve Torpedo Flotilla at Philadelphia . She was mobilized in October 1912 for another review at New York which was inspected by the President on 15 October . Decommissioning and sale , 1912 . " Porter " was struck from the Navy List on 6 November 1912 and was sold to Andrew Olsen on 30 December 1912 at New York .