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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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): 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 |
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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 |
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NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 31 January 2011