 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Elf |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Builder | Stanley Vansant |
| Completed | 1917 |
| Acquired | May 1917 |
| Commissioned | 3 May 1917 |
| Decommissioned | 9 January 1919 |
| Fate | Returned to owner 10 January 1919 |
| Notes | Operated as private motorboat Elf 1917 and from 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Length | 53 ft (16 m) |
| Beam | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Draft | 3 ft (0.91 m) mean |
| Speed | 22 knots |
| Complement | 8 |
| Armament | 1 × 1-pounder gun |
USS Elf (SP-81) was an armed motorboat that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.
Elf was a civilian motorboat completed in early 1917 by Stanley Vansant. In early May 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a free lease from her owner, Louis H. Eisenlohr of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for World War I service as a patrol boat. She was commissioned as USS Elf (SP-81) on 3 May 1917.
Elf performed patrol duty in the 4th Naval District until July 1918, when she was transferred to the 7th Naval District.
Elf was decommissioned on 9 January 1919 and returned to her owner on 10 January 1919.
