USS Idylease (SP-119)

USS Idylease (SP-119) was a motor yacht leased by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as a patrol craft and was assigned to the Hampton Roads and Norfolk, Virginia, waterways. Post-war, she was restored to her civilian configuration and returned to her owner.

Idylease (American Motor Boat, 1916) probably in New York harbor, c. 1916-1917.
History
United States
Name:	USS Idylease
Namesake:	A former name retained
Owner:	Richard Goldsmith of New York City
Builder:	Kyle and Purdy, City Island, New York
Christened:	as the pleasure motor boat Idylease
Completed:	1916
Acquired:	leased by the Navy, June 1917
Commissioned:	9 July 1917
Decommissioned:	c. April 1919
Stricken:	c. April 1919
Homeport:	Hampton Roads, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia
Fate:	returned to her owner at Norfolk 30 April 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Yacht
Tonnage:	29 tons
Length:	65'
Beam:	13' 6"
Draft:	2' 6"
Propulsion:	motor
Speed:	10 knots
Complement:	not known
Armament:	One 1-pounder gun

Constructed in New York

Idylease (SP-119), a 65-foot motor yacht, was built in 1916 by Kyle and Purdy, City Island, New York as the civilian pleasure motor boat of the same name; acquired by the Navy from Richard Goldsmith of New York City in June 1917, and commissioned 9 July 1917, Chief Boatswain C. E. Geohegan, USNRF, in command.

World War I service

Assigned to the 5th Naval District for the rest of World War I and during the initial post-war months, Idylease performed patrol and radio inspection duties in Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, and on the Elizabeth River during the war.

Post-war disposition

She was returned to her owner at Norfolk 30 April 1919.

See also

• U.S. Navy
• World War I

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• USS Idylease (SP-119), 1917-1919. Previously Civilian Motor Boat Idylease (1916)