USS Emeline (SP-175)
Encyclopedia
USS Emeline (SP-175) was a yacht
acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I
. She was outfitted with military equipment, including 3-inch guns, and was commissioned as a patrol craft, assigned to protect shipping in the North Atlantic Ocean
. She saved the lives of survivors of shipwreck
s, and provided escort protection from German submarine
s for commercial ships. Post-war she was sold to the highest bidder, who had the yacht sail to San Diego, California
, for delivery.
, Greenock
, Scotland
; purchased by the U.S. Navy 10 June 1917; and commissioned 14 July 1917, Lieutenant J. P. Miller in command.
, 30 August 1917, for patrol off Ushant
and to escort convoy
s between English and French ports. She gave invaluable aid to ships in distress, rescuing survivors of:
, after the war, was decommissioned at New York City
19 May 1919, and sold 9 October 1920 to her new owner, R.J. Robinson of San Diego, California
.
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She was outfitted with military equipment, including 3-inch guns, and was commissioned as a patrol craft, assigned to protect shipping in the North Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. She saved the lives of survivors of shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
s, and provided escort protection from German submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s for commercial ships. Post-war she was sold to the highest bidder, who had the yacht sail to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, for delivery.
Built in Scotland
Emeline (No. 175), a yacht, was built as Katoomba in 1898 by Ailsa Shipbuilding CompanyAilsa Shipbuilding Company
-History:The company was founded in 1885 by the 3rd Marquess of Ailsa.In 1902 the Ailsa yard fitted out the polar exploration ship Scotia for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04...
, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; purchased by the U.S. Navy 10 June 1917; and commissioned 14 July 1917, Lieutenant J. P. Miller in command.
Assigned to the North Atlantic Ocean
Emeline arrived at Brest, FranceBrest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, 30 August 1917, for patrol off Ushant
Ushant
Ushant is an island at the south-western end of the English Channel which marks the north-westernmost point of metropolitan France. It belongs to Brittany and is in the traditional region of Bro-Leon. Administratively, Ushant is a commune in the Finistère department...
and to escort convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s between English and French ports. She gave invaluable aid to ships in distress, rescuing survivors of:
- SS Spro, torpedoed on 21 December;
- SS Saracen, wrecked on the rocks off Les Platresses on 26 December;
- and survivors of the torpedoed SS John G. McCullough on 17 May 1918.
Post-war decommissioning and sale
She returned to New London, ConnecticutNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, after the war, was decommissioned at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
19 May 1919, and sold 9 October 1920 to her new owner, R.J. Robinson of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.