USS Galatea (SP-714)

Last updated

USS Galatea SP-714.jpg
Galatea (American Steam Yacht, 1914) probably photographed upon completion by her builder, Pusey and Jones of Wilmington, Delaware.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Galatea
NamesakeA Greek mythological sea nymph
OwnerE. L. Ford, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
BuilderPusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
Laid downdate unknown
Completed1914
Acquiredby the Navy 14 July 1917
Commissioned25 August 1917 as USS Galatea (SP 714)
Decommissioned26 September 1917
In service16 November 1917
Out of service15 July 1919 at Boston, Massachusetts
ReclassifiedDistrict Patrol Craft, USS Galatea (YP-714)
FateSold 20 December 1921; fate unknown
Notesas YP-714, she served as a receiving ship for submarine crews
General characteristics
Type Yacht
Displacement367 tons
Length192'
Beam24'
Draft9'
Propulsion steam engine
Speed14 knots
Complement57 officers and enlisted
ArmamentThree 3-inch guns

USS Galatea (SP-714/YP-714) was a yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as an armed patrol craft and served in the North Atlantic Ocean. At war's end she was used as a receiving ship in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for submariners before being sold in 1921.

Contents

A yacht built in Wilmington, Delaware

The second ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Galatea was a fresh water yacht built in 1914 by Pusey and Jones of Wilmington, Delaware; purchased by the Navy 14 July 1917 at Detroit, Michigan, from E. L. Ford, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and commissioned at Detroit 25 August 1917.

World War I service

Galatea departed Detroit 25 August 1917 for the Boston Navy Yard where she decommissioned 26 September for conversion to an armed patrol craft. She recommissioned 16 November 1917. Next proceeding to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she sailed from there for the Azores 15 December 1917 with French Submarine Chaser 314 in tow.

Proceeding by way of Bermuda, Galatea arrived Ponta Delgada, Azores, 22 January 1918, racked and strained by the towing of the submarine chaser. Damage required repairs until May 1919 when she began service as an interisland transport in the Azores.

She carried the American Consul from Ponta Delgada for official calls on the governors of Horta, Fayal and Angra, Terceira, returning to her base in time to honor Navy Seaplane NC-3 on 19 May, and Navy Seaplane NC-4 on 20 May, as they arrived in Ponta Delgada on the historic first transoceanic flight.

Decommissioning and disposal

Galatea departed Ponta Delgada 7 June 1919 for Boston, Massachusetts, where she decommissioned 15 July. The following year she was towed to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, to serve as receiving ship for submarine crews. She was sold at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 20 December 1921 to Captain A. A. Tanos of New York City.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Robinson</i> (DD-88) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Robinson (DD-88) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy, later transferred to the Royal Navy, as HMS Newmarket (G47). She was the first ship named for Isaiah Robinson.

USS <i>Stribling</i> (DD-96) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Stribling (DD-96) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and the years following. She was the first ship named in honor of Cornelius Stribling.

USS <i>Salem</i> (CL-3) Chester-class cruiser

USS Salem (CS-3/CL-3), Scout Cruiser No. 3, was a Chester-class scout cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the first Navy ship named for the city of Salem, Massachusetts.

USS <i>K-5</i> (SS-36) K-class submarine of the United States

USS K-5 (SS-36) was a K-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 17 March 1914 sponsored by Mrs. Warren G. Child, and commissioned on 22 August.

USS <i>Wilkes</i> (DD-67) Sampson-class destroyer

USS Wilkes (DD-67) was a Sampson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was the second Navy ship named for Commodore Charles Wilkes (1798–1877). She served with the United States Coast Guard as (CG-25).

USS <i>Leonidas</i> (AD-7) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Leonidas (AD-7) was a destroyer tender, the lone ship in her class, named for Leonidas I, and the second United States naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Yacona</i> (SP-617) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The auxiliary patrol vessel USS Yacona (SP-617) was built in 1898 in Scotland as a civilian steam yacht of the same name. Later, she was renamed Amélia as a survey yacht of the King of Portugal, before reverting to Yacona in 1901. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy in September 1917 and served until 1919 as a patrol vessel in the western Atlantic. In 1921 she was transferred to the Philippines as the governmental yacht Apo, serving until 1932.

USS <i>Wadena</i> (SP-158) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Wadena (SP-158) was a converted yacht patrol vessel of the United States Navy during World War I. She was built in 1891 in Cleveland, Ohio, as a steam yacht for Jeptha Homer Wade II of Cleveland and New York City. During her Navy career, Wadena made several trips escorting submarine chasers across the Atlantic Ocean, and, later, patrolling in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. on 26 February 1918 Wadena came to the aid of sinking tug Mariner and rescued all of her crew.

USS SC-255, sometimes styled as either Submarine Chaser No. 255 or S.C.-255, was an SC-1-class submarine chaser built for the United States Navy during World War I. Like most members of her class, she was not named and known only by her designation.

USS SC-142, sometimes styled as either Submarine Chaser No. 142 or S.C.-142, was an SC-1-class submarine chaser built for the United States Navy during World War I. Upon completion, she was transferred to the French Navy

USS SC-277, sometimes styled as either Submarine Chaser No. 277 or S.C.-277, was an SC-1-class submarine chaser built for the United States Navy during World War I. Like most members of her class, she was not named and known only by her designation.

The first USS Barnegat (SP-1232) was a commercial tugboat acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was armed with a 3-inch gun and sent to Brest, France, to perform towing services for Allied ships. Post-war, she returned to the United States, was decommissioned, and was subsequently used on the Delaware River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

USS <i>Artemis</i> (SP-593)

USS Artemis (SP-593), launched as the steam yacht Cristina then upon sale the yacht was renamed Artemis. The yacht was purchased by the United States Navy during World War I and the name was retained. Artemis was armed with guns and depth charges and sent to Europe as a patrol craft to protect Allied ships from German submarines and other dangers. The patrol yacht was renamed Arcturus in 1918. Post-war she was returned to the United States and turned over to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Later, again Artemis, the vessel was in civilian operation until burning and sinking in 1927.

USS <i>Utowana</i> (SP-951)

USS Utowana (SP-951) – also known as USS Victorine (SP-951) -- was a fishing trawler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. The Navy had planned to use her as a minesweeper based out of Kittery, Maine; however, Utowana spent most of her service time operating as an armed patrol craft, responsible for escorting Allied ships across the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean. She served through the war and the armistice before returning to the United States for decommissioning.

USS <i>Niagara</i> (SP-136) Steam yacht utilized by the US Navy from 1917–1931

The sixth USS Niagara (SP-136), later PY-9, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1918 to 1931 and which served during World War I.

USS <i>Wanderer</i> (SP-132) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The third USS Wanderer (SP-132), was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919.

USS Wilbert A. Edwards (SP-315), sometimes called USS W. A. Edwards, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

USS <i>Dreadnaught</i> (YT-34) Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Dreadnaught (ID-1951), later YT-534 and YNG-21, was a United States Navy tug that was in service from 1918 to 1944.

USS <i>Arctic</i> (SP-1158)

USS Arctic (SP-1158) was a wooden-hulled steam tug acquired by the US Navy during World War I. Arctic was briefly employed as a convoy escort during the war and later used to tow targets and transport ammunition. She was returned to commercial service in 1919.

USS <i>Venetia</i> Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Venetia (SP-431) was a large 589 gross ton steam yacht leased by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was heavily armed with four 3-inch (76 mm) guns and depth charges, and was assigned duties of a patrol craft, escorting ships in convoy on the North Atlantic Ocean, and protecting those ships from German submarine attack. Venetia was awarded a "star of reward" for her antisubmarine work, and mounted the star on her stack. Post-war she was restored to her original civilian configuration, and was returned to her owner.

References