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

Photo # NH 57039:  USS Arawan II, photographed during World War I

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

USS Arawan II (SP-1), 1917-1918.
Originally the Civilian Motor Boat Arawan II

USS Arawan II, a 71-foot patrol boat, was built in 1912 at Essington, Pennsylvania, as a pleasure craft with the same name. In 1916, as the Navy began to survey and register privately-owned vessels for possible use as section patrol craft, she received the registry number SP-1, the first in a numerical series that would ultimately include more than four-thousand boats and ships. Her owner, Charles Longstreth of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had her painted grey and used her in exercises that were part of the Preparedness Movement that preceded direct U.S. involvement in the First World War.

The Navy formally took over Arawan II in March 1917, a short time before the U.S. declared war on Germany, and placed her in commission in April, with her owner, now on active duty with U.S. Naval Reserve Force, as Commanding Officer. She had patrol duty in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay area for the next year and a half. In late November 1918, a few weeks after the Armistice ended the fighting, USS Arawan II was decommissioned and returned to Mr. Longstreth.

This page features the only views we have of USS Arawan II (SP-1) and the civilian motor boat Arawan II


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 95860

Arawan II
(American Motor Boat, 1912)

This was the first vessel surveyed and given a number in the Section Patrol ("SP") series. This photograph, dated 27 September 1916, shows her flying the civilian Yachting Ensign and wearing her SP number.
She was acquired by the Navy on 27 March 1917 and commissioned in April as USS Arawan II (SP-1). She was returned to her owner on 29 November 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 535 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99220

Arawan I1
(American Motor Boat, 1912)

In port, circa September 1916, probably after being registered for the Naval coast defense reserve. She was the first of thousands of civilian boats and ships that were surveyed for possible Navy use prior to and during World War I.
This craft was acquired by the Navy on 27 March 1917 and subsequently served as USS Arawan II (SP-1). She was returned to her owner on 29 November 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 57039

USS Arawan II (SP-1)


Photographed during World War I.
This motor boat was built in 1912 as a pleasure craft. She was acquired by the Navy on 27 March 1917 and commissioned a few weeks later. She was returned to her owner on 29 November 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 


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 24 June 2003
New image added 28 March 2004