Intrepid (CVS 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Second I j The second INTREPID was launched by the Boston Navy yard March 5, 1874, and com- missioned July 31st. Comman- der Augustus P. Cook, USN, was commanding officer. INTREPID was 170 feet, 3 inches long, and was armed with four 24 pounder howit- zers. The experimental steam torpedo ram departed Boston August 3, and finally arrived at the New York Navy Yard September 1st. The following two months were torpedo trials along Altantic Coast. Sh commissioned Oct recommissioned fo time, and d August of 1882. lecommissic repid votda to e North ivas(| de- er 30th, i| short d again )1

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The First Intrepid USS INTREPID (CVS-11) is the fourth ship of the fleet to bear the name. The first INTREPID was built in France in 1798 for Napoleon ' s Egyptian expedition. She was subsequently sold to Tripoli, where she served as MASTICO. The ketch of 64 tons had a complement of 70 officers and men. ENTERPRISE, commanded by LT. Stephen Decatur, captured MASTICO in Dec. 1803, as she was sailing from Tripoli. He took her into the U. S. Navy and renamed her INTREPID. LT. Decatur and INTREPID were ordered to accompany SIREN to Tripoli where they would attempt to destroy the captured U. S. frigate PHILADELPHIA. INTREPID and SIREN sailed Feb- ruary 2, and arrived off Tripoli five days later. Weather delayed the operation until the 16th. On the night of the 16th, INTREPID slipped quietly into Tripoli ' s harbor and pulled alongside PHILADELPHIA. Decatur led 60 of his men to the deck of the frigate and after a brief struggle, set it afire. She then made her escape. INTREPID next served as a hospital ship. Later she rejoined the squadron off Tripoli where she was fitted out as a floating volcano. She was to be sent into the harbor and blown up in the midst of the corsair fleet close under the walls of Tripoli. Lt. Somers assumed command with a crew of 11 volunteers. INTREPID entered the harbor; and shortly after- wards the concussion of a violent explosion rocked the American squadron. Commodore Preble later concluded that Tripoline defenders must have boarded the ship prompting her valiant men to blow her up, giving their lives, to prevent the ship ' s cargo from being taken.

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And The Third The third INTREPID was launched by Mare Island Navy Yard October 8, 1904 under the sponsorship of Miss Helen de Young. Commissioned August 16, 1907, Commander Capehart took command. The overall length was 211 feet, 7 inches, and she had a complement of 16 officers and 120 men. She served as the receiving ship for the Yerba Buena Training Station, San Francisco, and served as receiving ship at Mare Island Navy Yard. She was decommissioned October 15. She was recommissioned in 1915 for use as a barracks for the men of submarines F-l through F-4 of the Pacific Fleet. In 1920 she again became a receiving ship for Mare Island Navy Yard. She was again decommissioned August 30, 1921 and sold. She was struck from the Navy List May 8, 1946.