An island in the Philippines. The first Samar retained her former name.
(Gbt.: dp. 243 (n.); l. 121'; b. 17'10"; dr. 7'6"; s. 10.5 k.; cpl. 28; a. 1 6-pdr., 1 3-pdr., 2 1-pdrs.; cl. Arayat)
The first Samar, launched in November 1887 by the Manila Ship Co., Canacao, P.I., for the Spanish Navy, was captured during the Spanish-American War; acquired by the United States Navy from United States Army authorities on 9 November 1899; and commissioned on 26 May 1899, Ens. H. Y. Mayerland in command.
Remaining in the Philippines after commissioning, Samar continued her previous Army duties supporting troops fighting insurgent bands. She operated on the Vigan, northwestern Luzon, and Zamboanga, southwestern Mindanao, stations into 1901, then proceeded to Cavite, Luzon, where she was decommissioned on 23 September 1901. Recommissioned on 19 June 1902, she resumed her patrol duties; and, during the last months of 1903 and the first months of 1904, conducted surveys in the Illana Bay, Mindanao area.
On completion of her survey mission, Samar returned to Cavite; decommissioned on 22 August 1904; and remained inactive until recommissioned on 11 March 1908. Assignment to the Yangtze River patrol force followed; and, in April, the gunboat commenced operations in Chinese waters. She remained on the China Station throughout World War I; then, in July 1919, was placed on the disposal list. A year later, she was designated PG-41, but was ordered inspected and appraised for sale the same day, 17 July 1920. The following month, she returned to Cavite, where she was decommissioned on 6 September 1920 and sold on 11 January 1921.