USS Satellite (SP-1012)

Summary

USS Satellite (SP-1012) was a yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy for use as a training ship during World War I. She operated out of Key West, Florida, and was scrapped at war’s end.

USS Satellite (yacht)
History
United States
Laid downdate unknown
Launched1887 at Brooklyn, New York
Acquired9 July 1917
Commissioned7 September 1917
Out of service6 April 1918
Stricken30 March 1920
HomeportKey West, Florida
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Displacement27 long tons (27 metric tons)
Length87'
Beam12' 3"
Draft5' 7½ " (mean)
Propulsionsteam engine
Speed14 knots
Complementcrew of 9
Armamenttwo one-pounder guns

World War I service edit

Soon after the United States entered World War I, Satellite, a wooden yacht, built during 1887 by John F. Mumm at Brooklyn, New York, was enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve for Navy service. She was delivered to the Navy on 9 July 1917 by her owner, E. L. Sanborn of New York City, and commissioned on 7 September 1917.

Assigned to local duty within the 7th Naval District, Satellite was based at Key West, Florida, during her World War I service. She trained crews of new submarine chasers about to be commissioned, by a vigorous schedule of seamanship drills and gunnery exercises, until inactivated about 6 April 1918 for overhaul.

Post-war deactivation edit

The Satellite was not returned to full service because of boiler trouble, and was struck from the Navy list on 30 March 1920. She was subsequently sold for scrapping.

References edit

  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • "USS Satellite (SP-1012)". Online Image Library. Naval Historical Center. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-30.