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The Yangtze Patrol was part of the US Navy's Asiatic Squadron. Under the unequal treaties the United States, Japan, and various European powers were allowed to cruise China's rivers and coastal waters, protecting their citizens, their propperty, and their religious missions.
The Yangtze is China's longest river, and probably its most important. Ocean-going vessels were able to proceed as far upstream as the cities of Wuhan. Destroyers and Cruisers sometimes served in the YangPat. But the upper Yangtze, and the Yangtze's tributaries were patrolled by specially built river gunboats, like the USS Panay, [[USS Wake]], and the fictional [[USS San Pueblo'']].
The USS San Pueblo was the vessel in Richard McKenna's well-known novel The Sand Pebbles. McKenna had served aboard one of the river gunboats. As did William J. Lederer, the author of The Ugly American.
Kemp Tolley, another officer who served in the Yangtze Patrol, wrote a well-received book on the Patrol.
The USS Panay was the first American vessel to be sunk by Japanese forces.
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