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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 --
Chingachgook (American Motor Boat, 1916).
Served as USS Chingachgook (SP-35) in 1917
Chingachgook, a 60-foot fast (22 miles per hour) motor
boat, was built in 1916 by the Greenport Basin and Construction
Company of Greenport, Long Island, New York. Her owner, T.W. Brigham
of Greenport, had her armed as a patrol craft as part of the preparedness
movement then active in the United States. She was acquired by
the Navy for World War I service in May 1917 and, in early June,
she was placed in commission as USS Chingachgook (SP-35).
The boat briefly performed patrol service in the New York City
area, but a gasoline explosion on 31 July 1917 left her damaged
beyond repair. Decommissioned at the beginning of October, her
remains were disposed of by burning in February 1918.
This page features the only views we have concerning the
motor boat Chingachgook, which served as USS Chingachgook
(SP-35) in 1917.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 101040
Chingachgook (American Motor Boat, 1916)
Underway at high speed, October 1916. Photographed by Edwin Levick,
of New York City. Though flying yachting flags, she is armed
with a Colt machine gun forward and a small cannon aft, probably
for service with the pre-World War I Coast Defense Reserve.
This civilian craft was acquired by the Navy on 25 May 1917 and
placed in commission on 6 June 1917 as USS Chingachgook
(SP-35). Essentially destroyed by a gasoline explosion on 31
July 1917, she was decommissioned on 10 January 1918 and disposed
of by burning on 19 February 1918.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 78973
Chingachgook (American Motor Boat, 1916)
Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa 1916. The craft
is flying the Yachting Ensign but has guns installed, presumably
for service with the Coast Defense Reserve.
Placed in commission as USS Chingachgook (SP-35) on 6
June 1917, this boat was wrecked by a gasoline explosion on 31
July 1917.
Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN (Medical Service
Corps), 1974.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 465 pixels |
 |
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Page made 20 March 2005