 A stern view of Dauntless as a private motorboat in a boat house – possibly that of her builder, W. Frank Harrison of Essex, Connecticut – ca. 1917, prior to her United States Navy service. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Dauntless |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Builder | W. Frank Harrison, Essex, Connecticut |
| Completed | ca. 1917 |
| Acquired | 11 September 1917 |
| Commissioned | 1 October 1917 |
| Fate | Returned to owner 17 May 1919 |
| Notes | Operated as private motorboat Dauntless 1917 and from 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Length | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Speed | 30 knots |
The first USS Dauntless (SP-1002) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.
Dauntless was built as a private motorboat of the same name around 1917 by W. Frank Harrison at Essex, Connecticut. On 11 September 1917, the U.S. Navy – whose inspectors had described Dauntless as a "new well built vessel ... suitable for gov't use as scout patrol in conn. with aeroplane work" [1] – leased her from her owner, R. T. H. Barnes of Roxidge Avon, Connecticut, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Dauntless (SP-1002) on 1 October 1917.
Assigned to the 2nd Naval District in southern New England, Dauntless served on patrol duties for the rest of World War I and into the early months of 1919.
The Navy returned Dauntless to Barnes on 17 May 1919.
