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

Photo # NH 100873:  USS Commander in an icy harbor, 31 December 1917.

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

USS Commander (SP-1247), 1918-1919.
Originally the Civilian Motor Boat Commander (1917)

USS Commander, a 61.2-foot motor boat, was built in 1917 by the Beele Wallace Company at Morehead City, North Carolina, apparently as a sightseeing craft. In September 1917 she was leased by the Navy and placed in commission in early January 1918. During the next thirteen months, she was employed as a harbor utility vessel by the New York Navy Yard and the Naval Air Station at Rockaway, New York. Decommissioned in early February 1919, Commander was soon returned to her owner, P. Howard Reid of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.

This page features the only views we have concerning USS Commander (SP-1247) and the civilian motor boat Commander of 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 100872

Commmander
(American Motor Boat, 1917)

Photographed prior to her World War I era Naval service. She appears to be fitted for use as a sightseeing boat.
This craft was acquired by the Navy on 17 September 1917 and placed in commission on 3 January 1918 as USS Commander (SP-1247). She was decommissioned on 5 February 1919 and returned to her owner, P. Howard Reid of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, on 6 February.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 100873

USS Commmander
(SP-1247)

In an icy harbor, probably in the New York City area, on 31 December 1917, after being modified for Naval use. She was placed in commission on 3 January 1918.
USS SC-337 is tied up alongside and a Pittsburgh class armored cruiser is partially visible in the immediate background.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 420 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 24 March 2005