Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 45400:  U.S. Navy converted yachts and other small ships en route from Bermuda to the Azores, November 1917

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Margaret (SP-527), 1917-1921 --
Voyage from the U.S. to the Azores, November-December 1917

On 4 November 1917 USS Margaret and several other Navy ships set out from Newport, Rhode Island, on the first leg of what would prove an eventful voyage across the Atlantic. On this stage of the trip Margaret's companions included the tender Hannibal and five other yachts converted to patrol vessels: Helenita (SP-210), May (SP-164), Rambler (SP-211), Utowana (SP-951) and Wenonah (SP-165). Each of the six former yachts towed an American-built French submarine chaser, 110-foot craft with insufficient range for long trips. Though Helenita, Margaret, May and Utowana broke down along the way, the little flotilla reached Hamilton, Bermuda, on 9 November.

Following rest and repairs, the group set out again on 18 November, bound for the Azores. Helenita and Utowana remained at Bermuda, but their absence was made up by the addition of three more ex-yachts: Artemis (SP-593), Cythera (SP-575) and Lydonia (SP-700). The submarine chasers were also present. When leaving, Wenonah was being towed by May and, soon afterwards, Margaret had to be taken in tow by Cythera. She was pulled along for most of what was at times a stormy passage. Despite their troubles, the ships and their subchaser charges arrived at Horta, on the Azores island of Fayal, on 5 December. Most, if not all, soon proceeded to nearby Ponta Delgada and some of them, Margaret not included, left for Gibraltar later in December. The entire trip was one of numerous World War I experiences with the unreliability of many former yachts when subjected to the rigorous demands of wartime Naval service.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Margaret's November-December 1917 trip from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda and the Azores.

For more photographs related to USS Margaret, among them other views directly involving the voyage presented on this page, see:

  • USS Margaret (SP-527), 1917-1921.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 46592

    USS Margaret
    (SP-527)

    Scene on board as a tow line is passed to a submarine chaser, in Long Island Sound, October 1917.
    Margaret was under tow for most of her passage from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda.
    Photographed by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53164

    USS Margaret
    (SP-527)

    Crewman throwing a heaving line to a French submarine chaser, preparatory to taking her in tow en route from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda in November 1917.
    Officer second from left is Margaret's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Frank Jack Fletcher.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 46KB; 445 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46586

    USS Utowana
    (SP-951)

    Standing by USS Margaret (SP-527), while she was disabled at sea in passage from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda in November 1917.
    Photographed by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: NH 46437

    USS May (SP-164)


    At Bermuda in November 1917.
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527).

    Courtesy of Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46400

    U.S. Navy converted yachts and other small ships


    En route from Bermuda to the Azores, November 1917.
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527) by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 435 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 55550

    USS Cythera
    (SP-575)

    Preparing to take USS Margaret (SP-527) in tow, during their passage from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917. She towed Margaret for thirteen of the nineteen days of this voyage.
    Another converted yacht is visible in the center distance.
    Photographed from on board Margaret by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 55551

    USS Cythera
    (SP-575)

    Just after her tow line to USS Margaret (SP-527) had parted, during their passage from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917. She towed Margaret for thirteen of the nineteen days of this voyage.
    Photographed from on board Margaret by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 445 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 48479

    USS Wenonah
    (SP-165)

    Steams through heavy seas while en route from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917.
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527) by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 410 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 48482

    USS Wenonah
    (SP-165)

    Seen from USS Margaret (SP-527) while steaming through heavy seas en route from Bermuda to the Azores, November 1917.
    Photographed by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 48481

    USS Wenonah
    (SP-165)

    In heavy seas while en route from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917.
    Two other converted yachts are visible in the background.
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527) by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 48480

    USS Wenonah
    (SP-165)

    Almost completely hidden by heavy seas, while en route from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917.
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527) by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46599

    U.S. Navy converted yachts and other small ships


    En route from Bermuda to the Azores in November 1917.
    The converted yacht in the center appears to be USS Wenonah (SP-165).
    Photographed from USS Margaret (SP-527) by Raymond D. Borden.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     

    For more photographs related to USS Margaret, among them other views directly involving the voyage presented on this page, see:

  • USS Margaret (SP-527), 1917-1921.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 31 October 2004
    Caption updated and links added 6 November 2004