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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo #  NH 101040:  Motor boat Chingachgook underway at high speed, October 1916


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.


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 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

 


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


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Page made 20 March 2005