USS Mystery (SP-16)

History
Mystery in 1916 or 1917.
United States
Name:	USS Mystery (proposed)
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Gas Engine and Power Company, Morris Heights, New York
Completed:	1916
Acquired:	Never
Commissioned:	Never
Notes:	Registered as SP-16 for potential U.S. Navy service
General characteristics
Type:	Patrol vessel (proposed)
Length:	58 ft 1.5 in (17.717 m)
Propulsion:	Twin engines
Speed:	27 knots^[1]

Note: This ship should not be confused with two other World War I-era ships named USS Mystery.

USS Mystery (SP-16) was the proposed designation for an armed motorboat that never actually served in the United States Navy.

Mystery was a private motorboat built in 1916 by the Gas Engine and Power Company at Morris Heights, New York. The U.S. Navy inspected her in early 1917 for possible World War I service as a patrol boat in the 3rd Naval District and she was registered accordingly with the naval section patrol designation SP-16. However, the Navy never took possession of or commissioned Mystery, and she remained in civilian hands throughout the war.

Notes

↑ NavSource Online (at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170016.htm) describes her speed as "27 mph", implying statute miles per hour as used for ground vehicles, but presumably her speed in nautical miles per hour (knots) was intended. If the speed really is being provided in statute miles per hour, the speed in knots would be about 23.5.

References

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: Civilian Ships: Mystery (Motor Boat, 1916)
NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Mystery (SP 16)

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