From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

A gay occasion.

(PY: dp. 607; l. 165'; b. 25'; dr. 10'4"; s. 11 k.; a. 2 3-pdr.)

The third Frolic, a yacht, was built in 1892 by Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, Ohio, as Comanche; purchased by the Navy 28 May 1898; and commissioned 6 July 1898, Commander E. H. Gheen in command.

Frolic sailed from Portsmouth, N.H., 23 July 1898 with mail for ships of the North Atlantic Station on duty off Cuba and Puerto Rico. She returned to Norfolk Navy Yard 17 September, and there was out of commission between 27 September 1898 and 25 October 1900. Assigned to the Asiatic Station, she cleared Hampton Roads 30 December for the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and Cavite, P.I., where she arrived 24 April 1901. Cooperating with the Army in the suppression of the Philippine Insurrection, Frolic patrolled the southern Philippines, serving primarily off Samar. Several times during the next year, she aided ships in distress, and from October 1902 made surveys. From February 1904 patrols and target practice in Chinese waters were added to her operating schedule at intervals. She performed a variety of duties in establishing American control in the Philippines, including investigation of possible telegraph sites and transport duty. Frolic was decommissioned 31 March 1906, and after repairs, was placed in reduced commission 19 December 1906 for service as a yard craft at Cavite. There she was decommissioned 31 July 1907, and on 21 May 1909 was transferred to the War Department for service in the Philippines.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)