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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:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Arabia (ID # 3434), 1918-1919.
Originally the Civilian Fishing Schooner Arabia
USS Arabia, a 113-foot auxiliary schooner, was built
in 1903 at Essex, Massachusetts, as a commercial fishing vessel.
In response to German submarine activity off the U.S. East Coast,
she was acquired by the Navy in August 1918 and placed in commission
for use as a decoy ship. Operating with the submarine N-1
(SS-53) for the rest of the conflict, Arabia acted as a
normal fisherman in the hopes of drawing a U-Boat within range
of her submerged consort's torpedoes. However, the bait was not
taken, and she ended the war without encountering the enemy. Decommissioned
soon after the Armistice, Arabia was sold in November 1919.
This page features our only views of USS Arabia (ID
# 3434).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 57628
USS Arabia (ID # 3434)
Under sail, circa mid-1918.
This Gloucester fishing schooner was employed as a Q-ship during
World War I.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
![](../../images/h57000/h57628t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 100658
USS Arabia (ID # 3434)
Hauled out of the water, probably while undergoing a formal material
inspection at Boston, Massachusetts, circa 23 September 1918.
This fishing schooner was acquired by the Navy on 13 August 1918
and commissioned the next day to serve as a decoy vessel in the
World War I anti-submarine effort. She was stricken on 27 March
1919 and sold on 11 November 1919.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 440 pixels |
![](../../images/i00000/i00658t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 102437
USS Arabia (ID # 3434)
Hauled out of the water, probably while undergoing a formal material
inspection at Boston, Massachusetts, circa 23 September 1918.
This fishing schooner was acquired to serve as a decoy vessel
in the World War I anti-submarine effort.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 400 pixels |
![](../../images/i02000/i02437t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 100659
USS Arabia (ID # 3434)
Hauled out of the water, probably while undergoing a formal material
inspection at Boston, Massachusetts, circa 23 September 1918.
Acquired by the Navy on 13 August 1918 and commissioned the next
day, this fishing schooner served as a decoy vessel as part of
the World War I anti-submarine effort. She was stricken on 27
March 1919 and sold on 11 November 1919.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 84KB; 425 x 765 pixels |
![](../../images/i00000/i00659t.jpg) |
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Page made 16 March 2003