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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 Gem (SP-41), 1917-1919
Originally, and later, the Civilian Steam Yacht Gem (1913)
USS Gem, a patrol vessel, was built in 1913 by George
Lawley & Sons of Neponset, Massachusetts, as the 201 gross ton
steam yacht of the same name. She was chartered by the Navy in
late March 1917 and placed in commission at the beginning of June.
Until mid-December 1917 she was used at New Haven, Connecticut,
for harbor entrance patrol service. Gem was then assigned
to the Submarine Defense Association for experimental duty in
southern New England waters. During the next year she was employed
in testing camouflage schemes, submarine detection devices, other
types of equipment and specially processed coal fuel. USS Gem
was decommissioned in January 1919 and returned to her owner,
William Ziegler, Jr., of Noroton, Connecticut.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS
Gem (SP-41) and the steam yacht Gem.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 79362
Gem (American Steam Yacht, 1913)
Relatively fine-screen halftone reproduction of a photograph
taken prior to World War I.
This yacht had served as USS Gem (SP-41) during World
War I, primarily as a camouflage test ship assigned to the Submarine
Defense Association.
Figure 29 of "The Science of Low Visibility and Deception
as an Aid to the Defense of Vessels Against Attack by Submarines",
by Lindell T. Bates, 1918. In 1974 the original volume was in
Record Group 45 at the U.S. National Archives.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
![](../../images/h79000/h79362t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 79363
USS Gem (SP-41)
Relatively fine-screen halftone reproduction of a photograph
taken during World War I, while she was painted in a camouflage
scheme devised by the Submarine Defense Association.
Figure 30 of "The Science of Low Visibility and Deception
as an Aid to the Defense of Vessels Against Attack by Submarines",
by Lindell T. Bates, 1918. In 1974 the original volume was in
Record Group 45 at the U.S. National Archives.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
![](../../images/h79000/h79363t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 75655
Gem (American Steam Yacht, 1913)
Relatively coarse-screen halftone reproduction of a photograph
taken in the spring of 1919, while she was being refitted at
a New York City area shipyard.
This yacht had served as USS Gem (SP-41) during World
War I.
Copied from "The Rudder" magazine, June 1919, page
263.
Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall, 1972.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 415 pixels |
![](../../images/h75000/h75655t.jpg) |
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Page made 18 March 2005