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Photo # NH 75516:  USS Warren J. Courtney off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 18 August 1917

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

USS Warren J. Courtney (SP-375), 1917-1919.
Also called Courtney.
Originally the civilian fishing vessel Warren J. Courtney (1912)

Warren J. Courtney, a 276 gross ton "Menhaden Fisherman" type fishing vessel, was built in 1912 at Wilmington, Delaware. Acquired by the Navy in late May 1917, she was placed in commission in August of that year as USS Warren J. Courtney (SP-375). Her name had already been officially shortened to Courtney by Navy General Order # 314, but the longer original name also continued to be used.

Warren J. Courtney soon crossed the Atlantic to Brest, France, where she was initially as a patrol and escort vessel and as a minesweeper. For the remainder of World War I, and into 1919, she operated along the Brittany coast. USS Warren J. Courtney foundered there on 27 April 1919.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Warren J. Courtney (SP-375) and the fishing vessel Warren J. Courtney.


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 89761-A

Warren J. Courtney
(American Menhaden Fishing Vessel, 1912)

Photograph originally captioned as having been taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia on 19 August 1917. It was actually taken prior to World War I. The Navy acquired her on 28 May 1917 and placed her in commission on 10 August 1917 as USS Warren J. Courtney (SP-375). Her name was shortened to Courtney by a July 1917 General Order, but the longer name also continued to be used.

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

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 73 KB; 900 x 650 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75516

USS Warren J. Courtney
(SP-375)

Off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia on 18 August 1917.
She is painted in pattern camouflage, which appears to be nearly identical to that painted on USS Wilbert A. Edwards (SP-315) -- see Photo # NH 75514.
By a July 1917 Navy General Order, this former civilian fishing vessel's name was ordered shortened to Courtney. However, her longer name often continued in use.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 99 KB; 900 x 660 pixels

 

High-Resolution JPG
Photo #: NH 107333

USS Warren J. Courtney
(SP-375)

Off Lorient, France, circa 1918.
She has the numeral "7" painted on her bow.
At the time this photograph was taken, this ship's name had been formally shortened to Courtney.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2011.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 85 KB; 900 x 670 pixels

 

High-Resolution JPG
Photo #: NH 45084

Lorient, France


View taken on 4 July 1918, showing U.S. Navy minesweepers in the right center, alongside the dock at Base 19. The French Navy machinist school is at left.
The inboard ship is a hulk, presumably an old French warship employed as a harbor support vessel. Minesweepers tied up outboard of it include (from left to right):
USS Cahill (SP-493),
USS Douglas (SP-313),
USS Hinton (SP-485),
USS Courtney (SP-375), and
USS McNeal (SP-333).
These former fishing vessels were originally known by their civilian names, respectively: Winfield S. Cahill, Otis W. Douglas, John B. Hinton, Warren J. Courtney and Kenneth L. McNeal. Though ordered shortened to surnames by a July 1917 Navy General Order, the longer names were often used afterwards.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 72 KB; 900 x 535 pixels

 

High-Resolution JPG


The following photograph of another vessel shows USS Warren J. Courtney in its right background:

Photo #: NH 52018

USS John B. Hinton
(SP-485)

At the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia on 18 August 1917.
The camouflaged ship partially visible in the right background is USS Warren J. Courtney (SP-375).
By a July 1917 Navy General Order, these former civilian fishing vessels' names were ordered shortened to surnames only. However, their longer names often continued to be used.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 102 KB; 900 x 725 pixels

 

High-Resolution JPG


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 31 January 2011