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

Photo #  NH 94460:  Motor boat Dawn, prior to her World War I Naval service


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Dawn (American Motor Boat, 1914).
Served as USS Dawn (SP-26) in 1917-1918

Dawn, a 51-foot pleasure boat, was built in 1914 by Hehre & Aker of The Bronx, New York. Her electric-drive machinery, with a 60 horsepower gasoline engine turning a generator to provide electric power to a 20 horsepower motor, propelled her at a maximum of nine knots speed and also made her suitable for supplying power for use ashore. The craft was taken over by the Navy in June 1917 and placed in commission as USS Dawn (SP-26). Apparently she did not prove satisfactory in service. A January 1918 note commented that she was to be returned to her owner, which was done early in the following April.

Note: Dawn's official data card provides the following remarks concerning her power plant:
"Available for repair boat, can furnish electric power for lighting, shop, or for repairs"
"Main propelling plant consists of 60 HP gas engine driving direct a 40 KW.DC. compound, interpole generator. A 4 KW.DC. generator driven thro gearing 1-1/2 times main generator speed acts as exciter and also to charge 16 Iron Clad (cell) storage battery. Battery and main generator used as a self-starter for engine. Maine generator supplies current up to 220 volts to 20 H.P.D.C. motor directly connected to propeller shaft. The propeller shaft carries an iron friction gear for direct drive from main engine thro 2 idler friction gears (paper)."

This page features the only view we have concerning the motor boat Dawn, which was USS Dawn (SP-26) in 1917-1918.


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 94460

Dawn
(American Motor Boat, 1914)

Photographed prior to her World War I Navy service.
Built by Hehre & Aker of Clason Point, The Bronx, New York, this pleasure craft had electric drive machinery, with a gasoline engine powered generator, and was described on her official data card as "Available for repair boat, can furnish electric power for lighting, shop, or for repairs". She was enrolled by the Navy on 19 June 1917 and taken into service as USS Dawn (SP-26). She was returned to her owner, W.T. Donnelley of Brooklyn, New York, on 4 April 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 475 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 April 2005