USS Surf (SP-518)

Last updated

Surf (Steam Yacht, 1898) 1217051801.jpg
Surf, circa 1903
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Surf (proposed)
NamesakePrevious name retained (proposed)
OwnerJohn Alton Harriss
OperatorAmerican Red Cross
BuilderRamage & Ferguson, Leith, Scotland, United Kingdom
Completed1898
AcquiredMade available to U.S. Navy 1917
CommissionedNever
FateReturned to owner 29 September 1917
NotesOperated as civilian yacht Surf
General characteristics
Type Patrol vessel (proposed)
Tonnage398 gross register tons
Length198 ft (60 m)
Beam24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Draft11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
Propulsion Steam engine
Speed11.5 knots
Crew18

USS Surf (SP-518) was a steam yacht that was offered to the United States Navy in 1917 but was never accepted.

History

Surf was built as a civilian steam yacht in 1898 by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith, Scotland, for E. D. Lambert of Berkshire, England.

Her later American owner, John H. Hanan, a millionaire shoe manufacturer, who had bought and used her for cruising in 1916, sold her to John Alton Harriss a New York businessman and former Physician of Manhattan, New York City in 1917. [1] Harriss offered her to the U.S. Navy for use as a patrol vessel during World War I. [2]

Dr. Harriss loaned the Surf to the Navy and the American Red Cross for use as an Ambulance ship in May 1917, he assumed all the costs for painting her in Red Cross livery, her maintenance and the salaries of the doctors and nurses detailed to her, as well as offering his own services. [3] [4] The loan was made on the basis that he be allowed to serve as the Medical Director on the yacht. She could accommodate 25 patients. [2]

The Navy assigned her the section patrol number SP-518 but never commissioned her, and returned her to Harris on 29 September 1917. The threat of submarines had put paid to the idea. [5]

Irish American tenor singer John McCormack (1884-1945) singing on the "Surf", Harriss sitting with folded arms by the piano McCormack on "Surf" LOC 29086339465.jpg
Irish American tenor singer John McCormack (1884–1945) singing on the "Surf", Harriss sitting with folded arms by the piano

From 30 July 1918 she started taking 120 Army patients a time from the United States General Hospital No. 1 on day trips, three times a week, along the Hudson River as a recreation boat, musical entertainment being provided. [5]

USS Surf, Society's floating palace now an ambulance ship Navy - Medicine - Hospital Ships - USS Red Cross, USS Relief, USS Solace, USS Surf - Society's floating palace now an ambulance ship - NARA - 45511205 (cropped).jpg
USS Surf, Society's floating palace now an ambulance ship

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Ranger</i> (SP-237) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The fifth USS Ranger (SP-237) was United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Noma (SP-131) was the private steam yacht Noma, built in 1902 on Staten Island and loaned to the U.S. Navy during World War I as a patrol craft assigned to protect shipping from German submarines. At war’s end she served the American Relief Commission in Constantinople and the Black Sea before being returned to her owner after decommissioning. In the 1930s she was converted to a salvage tug, owned in Italy as Salvatore Primo, and torpedoed during World War II.

USS <i>Felicia</i> (SP-642)

USS Felicia (SP-642) was a yacht acquired by the United States Navy during World War I. She was outfitted and armed by the Navy as a patrol craft, and was assigned to patrol the New England waters. Her task of protecting ships from German submarines was interrupted by her collision with a submarine. Post-war she was reconfigured to her civilian condition, and was sold in 1919.

USS <i>Lyndonia</i> (SP-734) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Lyndonia (SP-734), later known as USS Vega (SP-734) was a yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was assigned as an armed patrol craft, but, at times, performed other duties along the U.S. East Coast, such as dispatch boat and training ship for the U.S. Naval Academy. Post-war, she was disposed of through sale to the public.

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

USS Druid (SP-321) was a private yacht launched 10 February 1902 as Rheclair that was built for Daniel G. Reid. Reid sold the yacht to Senator Nelson W. Aldrich who renamed the yacht Nirvana only just over a year before his death. Aldrich's estate chartered Nirvana to John Wanamaker until it was bought by his son Rodman Wanamaker who used the yacht for cruising until a fire on 14 December 1916, just before a cruise south, severely damaged the vessel. He chartered an alternate vessel for his trip south and, after full repairs, the yacht was sold to Walter W. Dwyer who gave it the name Druid with intentions to sell the yacht to the government in order to finance a shipyard venture in Pensacola, Florida.

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

USS Joyance (SP-72) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Riette (SP-107) was an armed motorboat that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Coco (SP-110) was an armed motorboat that served in the United States Navy as a Section patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

USS <i>Mohican</i> (SP-117) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The third USS Mohican (SP-117), later USS SP-117, was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Hopestill (SP-191) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Reposo II (SP-198) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

USS <i>Whirlwind</i> (SP-221) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The first USS Whirlwind (SP-221) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission in 1917 and again in 1918.

USS <i>Josephine</i> (SP-913) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

The first USS Josephine (SP-913), later USS SP-913, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

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

USS Cigarette (SP-1234) was a patrol vessel that served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Mary Alice (SP-397) was a United States Navy patrol vessel commissioned in 1917 and sunk in 1918.

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

USS Legonia II (SP-399) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1921.

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

USS Vergana (SP-519), later OYP-519, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

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

USS Vivace (SP-583) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

USS <i>Sapphire</i> (SP-710) Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

USS Sapphire (SP-710) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

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

USS Linta (SP-721) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

References

  1. ↑ "Dr. John Harriss rites tomorrow (obit)". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York). 13 October 1938. p. 15. Retrieved 5 September 2018. Dr. John Harriss died age 63, former Deputy Police Commissioner
  2. 1 2 "Yacht given to U.S. as Ambulance Boat". The Sun (New York, New York). 28 May 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "New York Physician gives yacht to U.S. for Hospital Ship". Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, Indiana) 01 Jun 1917. 1 June 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Surf (SP 518)". navsource.org. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 "120 Convalescent Soldiers taken up Hudson on yacht". New-York Tribune (New York, New York). 31 July 1918. p. 4.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.