Named after an island in the southwest Philippines, Paragua was a 243-ton iron-hulled, schooner-rigged, twin-screw gunboat that was built by the Manila Ship Company at Cavite, the Philippines. She was laid down in March 1887 and was launched for the Spanish Navy in January 1888. After America won the Spanish-American War, the US Navy confiscated several warships from the Spanish Navy. Paragua was one of these ships. Officially obtained by the US Navy in the Philippines on 29 May 1889, she was commissioned into the Navy as USS Paragua on that same day. The gunboat was approximately 115 feet long and 17 feet wide, had a top speed of 10 knots, and had a crew of 30 officers and men. Paragua was armed with one 6-pounder, three 3-pounders, and two 1-pounder guns. Since she had a shallow draft, Paragua supported US Army units that fought numerous coastal battles against Filipino rebels during the insurrection which occurred after the Spanish-American War. She patrolled the waters around the many islands in the Philippines and assisted in preventing arms shipments from reaching Filipino insurgents. Paragua also helped safeguard trade between the islands and protected merchant ships from pirates, a significant problem at that time. Enforcing a strict naval blockade against Filipino rebels would have been impossible without the assistance of small gunboats like Paragua. USS Paragua was decommissioned on 19 April 1911 at Cavite and was struck from the Navy List on 17 June. She was sold on 18 November 1912 and her final fate is unknown. Above is a rare photograph of USS Paragua that was taken from a postcard, date and place unknown. Photograph courtesy of Brian Buckberry.
Source: http://navalwarfare.blogspot.com


Paragua
(PG: dp. 243,1. 115'3"; b. 17'10", dr. 6'6", s. 10 k., cpl. 30 a. 1 6-pdr., 3 3-pdr., 21 pdr.)
Paragua, an iron-hulled, schooner-rigged, twin screw gunboat, was laid down by Manila Ship Co., Cavite, P.I. in March 1887 and launched for the Spanish Navy in January 1888. Taken over by the U.S. Navy, she commissioned 29 May 1899 and assumed duties as a patrol vessel. Paragua and other units worked closely with the American Army, patrolling Philippine waters in an effort to prevent arms shipments to the Philippine insurgents. Inter-island trade was policed and piracy suppressed. The Navy provided active coastal support in the Philippine archipelago throughout thc accomplishment of Pacification and beyond. The Secretary of the Navy commented favorably upon the valuable services rendered by small gunboats such as Paragua and praised her as an example of inter-service cooperation. Paragua decommissioned 19 April 1911 at Cavite, P.I., was struck from the Navy List 17 June, and sold.


Arayat Class Gunboat:

Laid down in March 1887 for the Spanish Navy by the Manila Ship Co., Cavite, Philippines
Launched in January 1888
Acquired by the Navy 29 May 1889 and commissioned USS Paragua the same day
Decommissioned 19 April 1911 at Cavite
Struck from the Navy list 17 June 1911
Sold 18 November 1912
Fate unknown.


Specifications:

Displacement 243 t.
Length 115' 3"
Beam 17' 10"
Draft 6' 6"
Speed 10 kts.
Complement 30
Armament: One 6-pounder, three 3-pounders and two 1-pounders
Propulsion one single ended boiler, one 250ihp vertical compound engine, one shaft.