USS Snark

Summary

USS Snark (SP-1291) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Snark in private use sometime after her 1919 return to her owner. She has been fitted with an enlarged pilothouse and her U.S. Navy section patrol number (SP-1291) is painted on her bow to commemorate her World War I naval service.
History
United States
NameUSS Snark
NamesakePrevious name retained
BuilderHerreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island
Completed1917
Acquired1917
Commissioned30 August 1917
Stricken29 March 1919
FateReturned to owner 29 March 1919
General characteristics
TypePatrol vessel
Length62 ft 4 in (19.00 m)
Beam11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Draft1 ft 6 in (0.46 m)
Speed20 knots
Complement9
Armament1 × 1-pounder gun
Snark as a private motorboat at the time of her completion in 1917.

Snark was built in 1917 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island, as a private motorboat for Carl Tucker of New York City, one of nine 62-foot 4-inch (19-meter) motorboats the company built for private owners specifically for use as patrol boats in time of war. Accordingly, the U.S. Navy acquired Snark under a free lease from Tucker in 1917 for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Snark (SP-1291) on 30 August 1917.

Assigned to the 5th Naval District, Snark carried out patrol duties for the rest of World War I and until March 1919.

Snark was stricken from the Navy List on 29 March 1919 and was returned to Tucker the same day.

References edit

  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Snark (Motor Boat, 1917). Served as USS Snark (SP-1291) in 1917-1919
  • NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Snark (SP 1291)
 
Snark in private use sometime after her 1919 return to her owner. She has been fitted with an enlarged pilothouse and her U.S. Navy section patrol number (SP-1291) is painted on her bow to commemorate her World War I naval service.