USS Wachusetts (SP-548)
Encyclopedia
USS Wachusetts (SP-548) was an armed motorboat
that served in the United States Navy
as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919. She was renamed USS SP-548 during her period of service.
Wachusetts was built as the private motorboat W.C.T.U. in 1916 by W. A. and S. D. Moss of Friendship
, Maine
. She had been renamed Wachusetts by the time she was acquired by the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1917 from the Howard Lumber Company of Boston, Massachusetts
, for World War I
service. The Navy took possession of her on 26 April 1917 and designated her SP-548.
Little is known of her activities because her deck logs have been lost. As of 1 February 1918, Wachusetts was operating out of the section base at Boothbay
, Maine, probably on local patrol duties, under the aegis of Commandant
, 1st Naval District. Her commanding officer as of that time was Ensign
J. B. Eckroll, USNRF.
The name Wachusetts apparently was dropped somewhat later to avoid confusion with USS Wachusett (ID-1840)
-- a cargo ship
that commissioned
in January 1918 and served until October 1919—and the boat became simply USS SP-548.
Confusion exists as to her ultimate fate. She was struck from the Navy List
on 25 October 1919 and reportedly transferred to the Bureau of Fisheries simultaneously. However, subsequent lists of vessels operated by the Bureau of Fisheries fail to account for her.
Motorboat
A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...
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 to 1919. She was renamed USS SP-548 during her period of service.
Wachusetts was built as the private motorboat W.C.T.U. in 1916 by W. A. and S. D. Moss of Friendship
Friendship, Maine
Friendship is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. She had been renamed Wachusetts by the time she was acquired by the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1917 from the Howard Lumber Company of Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, 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. The Navy took possession of her on 26 April 1917 and designated her SP-548.
Little is known of her activities because her deck logs have been lost. As of 1 February 1918, Wachusetts was operating out of the section base at Boothbay
Boothbay, Maine
Boothbay is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of East Boothbay and Trevett. The Boothbay region is a center of summer tourist activity, and a significant part of its population does not live there year...
, Maine, probably on local patrol duties, under the aegis of Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
, 1st Naval District. Her commanding officer as of that time was Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
J. B. Eckroll, USNRF.
The name Wachusetts apparently was dropped somewhat later to avoid confusion with USS Wachusett (ID-1840)
USS Wachusett (ID-1840)
The second USS Wachusett was a cargo ship that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919.Wachusett was built as the freighter SS Ceres in 1896 by Blohm & Voss at Hamburg, Germany. She was renamed Suevia in 1898...
-- a cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
that 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...
in January 1918 and served until October 1919—and the boat became simply USS SP-548.
Confusion exists as to her ultimate fate. She was struck from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on 25 October 1919 and reportedly transferred to the Bureau of Fisheries simultaneously. However, subsequent lists of vessels operated by the Bureau of Fisheries fail to account for her.