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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --
Blanche (Harbor Tug, 1878);
Later USS Blanche (1918-1918)
Blanche, a 94 gross ton steam harbor tug, was built
at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1878. In June 1918, while owned
at Wilmington, North Carolina, she was inspected by the Fifth
Naval District and reported to be "unsuitable" for Naval
employment. She was chartered anyway and placed in commission
as USS Blanche (with no ID # assigned) in late August 1918.
In early December 1918, just under a month after the World War
I Armistice, the tug was decommissioned and returned to her owners.
This page features our only views of the tug Blanche,
which was briefly USS Blanche in 1918.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 95902
Blanche (American Harbor Tug, 1878)
In port, circa 1918 or earlier.
Though Fifth Naval District inspectors evaluated her in June
1918 as unsuitable, this tug was taken over by the Navy's Bureau
of Supplies and Accounts and placed in commission as USS Blanche
(with no ID #) on 26 August 1918. She was decommissioned and
returned to her owners, W.A. Sanders and R.R. Stone, of Wilmington,
North Carolina, on 5 December 1918.
The original photograph is in Record Group 19-LCM in the National
Archives.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 100898
Blanche (American Harbor Tug, 1878)
In port, possibly when inspected by the Fifth Naval District
on 18 June 1918.
The Navy inspectors evaluated this tug as "unsuitable. Does
not meet requirements of any class of merchant auxiliary"
. However, she was taken over by the Navy's Bureau of Supplies
and Accounts and commissioned as USS Blanche (with no
ID #) on 26 August 1918. She was returned to her owners on 5
December 1918.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 330 pixels |
 |
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Page made 16 June 2004