Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

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

Photo # NH 54504:  USS Despatch in harbor, possibly during 1920-1921

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

USS Despatch (SP-68, later PY-8), 1917-1928.
Briefly named Vixen in August 1917.
Originally the civilian steam yacht Vixen (1913)

USS Despatch, a 287 gross ton patrol vessel, was built in 1913 at Morris Heights, New York, as the civilian steam yacht Vixen. She was purchased by the Navy in early August 1917 and placed in commission as USS Vixen (SP-68), but was soon renamed Despatch. During the rest of World War I, and for some months thereafter, she was employed as a tender for the Atlantic Fleet. Among her duties was the transportation of senior officers and Government officials, a role for which her yacht origins made her especially suitable. In March-June 1919 Despatch was used as a battleship division flagship at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

After being inactive from July 1919 to April 1920, Despatch was put back into commission and, in June 1920, sent to Santo Domingo to serve as flagship and tender for the Military Governor there. In July of that year she was redesignated PY-8. Her work in the Caribbean lasted about a year. She returned to U.S. waters in August 1921 and was again used as a tender for the Atlantic Fleet. USS Despatch was decommissioned in December 1921 and was laid up for more than six years. She was transferred to the State of Florida in May 1928.

This page features the only views we have concerning USS Despatch (SP-68, later PY-8) and the civilian steam yacht Vixen.


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 94463

Vixen
(American Steam Yacht, 1913)

In port, probably in the New York City area in early August 1917, when she was taken over by the Navy for World War I service.
Commissioned as USS Vixen (SP-68) on 10 August 1917, her name was changed to Despatch eleven days later. She was designated PY-8 on 17 July 1920.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 54504

USS Despatch
(PY-8)

In harbor, possibly during 1920-1921.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 535 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 5 June 2004