USS Natalia (SP-1251)


USS Natalia (SP-1251) during World War I.
Career (United States)
Name: USS Natalia
Namesake: Previous name retained
Completed: 1909
Acquired: 8 May 1917
Commissioned: 8 May 1917
Fate: Returned to owner 5 July 1918
Notes: Operated as private motorboat Natalia 1909-1917 and from 1918
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Length: 55 ft (17 m)
Beam: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Draft: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Speed: 12 knots
Armament: 1 x .30-caliber (7.62-mm) machine gun

USS Natalia (SP-1229) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918

Natalia was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1909 at either Stamford, Connecticut,[1] or Gloucester, Massachusetts,[2] to a design by Whittelsey & Whitaker. On 8 May 1917 the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, John Hayes Hammond, Jr., of either Gloucester[3] or Stamford,[4] for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned the same day as USS Natalia (SP-1251).[5]

Assigned to the 1st Naval District in northern New England, Natalia entered service as a section patrol boat. However, she proved unsuitable for naval use and was returned to Hammond on 5 July 1918.

Notes

  1. ^ Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Natalia (SP-1251), 1917-1918. Originally the civilian motor boat Natalia.
  2. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n2/natalia.htm and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Natalia (SP 1251).
  3. ^ Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Natalia (SP-1251), 1917-1918. Originally the civilian motor boat Natalia.
  4. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n2/natalia.htm and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Natalia (SP 1251).
  5. ^ Sources differ on the location of Natalia's construction and on the residence of her owner. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n2/natalia.htm claims that she was built at Gloucester and her owner resided at Stamford and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Natalia (SP 1251) repeats this, while Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Natalia (SP-1251), 1917-1918. Originally the civilian motor boat Natalia. claims the opposite. The latter is probably an update and correction of the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships information.

References