USS Helena I (SP-24)
Encyclopedia
USS Helena I (SP-24) was an armed yacht
that served in the United States Navy
as a patrol vessel from 1917-1919.
Helena I was built as a private motor yacht of the same name in 1906 by Van Sant Brothers at Port Republic
, New Jersey
. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Dr. W. G. Hall of Trenton
, New Jersey in May 1917 for World War I
service. Assigned to the 7th Naval District, she was taken to Key West
, Florida
, and commissioned
there as USS Helena I (SP-24) on 7 September 1917 with Quartermaster
2nd Class Otis Curry in command.
Helena I operated as a harbor
and coastal patrol boat
in the vicinity of Key West until being decommissioned
and sold on 27 August 1919. Before she could be delivered to her new owner, however, she was among eight former SP boats wrecked on 11 September by the 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
while anchored in North Beach Basin at Key West. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on 4 October.
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...
that served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a patrol vessel from 1917-1919.
Helena I was built as a private motor yacht of the same name in 1906 by Van Sant Brothers at Port Republic
Port Republic, New Jersey
Port Republic is a city located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 1,115....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Dr. W. G. Hall of Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, New Jersey in May 1917 for 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...
service. Assigned to the 7th Naval District, she was taken to Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
there as USS Helena I (SP-24) on 7 September 1917 with Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
2nd Class Otis Curry in command.
Helena I operated as a harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
and coastal patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
in the vicinity of Key West until being decommissioned
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
and sold on 27 August 1919. Before she could be delivered to her new owner, however, she was among eight former SP boats wrecked on 11 September by the 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
The Florida Keys Hurricane or Atlantic Gulf Hurricane of 1919 was an intense Atlantic hurricane, killing 772 people as it moved through the Florida Keys and Texas. The second tropical cyclone of the 1919 hurricane season, it moved in the proximity of the eastern Greater Antilles and Bahamas...
while anchored in North Beach Basin at Key West. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 4 October.