Ten torpedo boats served in the Spanish-American War. They were of six basic designs. Cushing (Torpedo Boat # 1) was the oldest, having been completed in 1890. The others had been commissioned in 1896-98. They included Ericsson(Torpedo Boat # 2); Foote, Rodgers and Winslow (Torpedo Boat #s 3 through 5); Porter and Du Pont (Torpedo Boat #s 6 and 7); plus the very small Talbot, Gwin (Torpedo Boat #s 15 and 16) and McKee (Torpedo Boat # 18).

All these little ships served in the Atlantic area, most of them operating off Cuba at some point during the war. Winslow received battle damage and casualties in an engagement at Cardenas, Cuba, on 11 May. Ericsson took part in the 3 July battle off Santiago. Three of the torpedo boats saw active service as late as World War I, but the others were reduced to auxiliary roles or disposed of prior to that time.