Summary
The second USS Sovereign (SP-170) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1918 to 1919.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Sovereign |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Builder | Charles L. Seabury and Company, Morris Heights, the Bronx, New York |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Acquired | 14 June 1918 |
| Commissioned | 1918 |
| Stricken | 23 April 1919 |
| Fate | Returned to owner 1919 |
| Notes | Operated as civilian yacht Sovereign 1911-1918 and from 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Tonnage | 173 Gross register tons |
| Length | 166 ft (51 m) |
| Beam | 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m) |
| Draft | 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) aft |
| Depth | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbine, one shaft |
| Speed | 29 miles per hour[1] |
| Armament | 2 × 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) guns |
Sovereign was built as a civilian yacht of the same name in 1911 by Charles L. Seabury and Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, for private use as a pleasure and commuting vessel. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, Sovereign was registered with the U.S. Navy for potential service in time of war, and the Navy acquired her from the estate of M. C. D. Borden on 14 June 1918 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Sovereign (SP-170).
Sovereign served the 3rd Naval District as a patrol craft in the New York City area for ten months.
On 23 April 1919, Sovereign was stricken from the Navy List, and soon thereafter she was returned to her owner's estate.
Notes edit
- ^ Sources (see the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s15/sovereign-ii.htm, the Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-s/sovergn.htm, and NavSource Online at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170170.htm) cite a speed of 29 "miles per hour", implying a speed in statute miles per hour, which is very unusual for a watercraft. It is possible that her speed was 29 knots; if her speed actually was 29 statute miles per hour, the equivalent in knots is 25.
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 Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: Sovereign (American Steam Yacht, 1911). Served in 1918-1919 as USS Sovereign (SP-170)
- NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive USS Sovereign (SP-170)