USS Shrimp (SP-645)

USS Shrimp (SP-645) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

History
United States
Name:	USS Shrimp
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Gas Engine and Power Company, Morris Heights, the Bronx, New York
Completed:	1912
Acquired:	14 May 1917
Commissioned:	21 August 1917
Decommissioned:	30 November 1918
Fate:	Returned to owner 25 February 1919
Notes:	Operated as private motorboat Shrimp 1912–1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Patrol vessel
Length:	35 ft (11 m)
Beam:	9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Complement:	15
Armament:	1 × machine gun

Shrimp was built as a private motorboat of the same name by the Gas Engine and Power Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, in 1912. On 14 May 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, H. W. D. Rudd of Boston, Massachusetts, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Shrimp (SP-645) on 21 August 1917.

Shrimp was assigned to harbor patrol duty in Boston Harbor and local escort duty in the Boston area. Although twice reported lost at sea and once nearly destroyed by fire, Shrimp survived her misadventures and remained in service. She eventually was reassigned to night patrol duty at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, but soon was recalled for further harbor patrol duty in Boston Harbor.

Shrimp was decommissioned on 30 November 1918 and returned to Rudd on 25 February 1919.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships -- Listed by Hull Number: SP-645 Shrimp at "SP" #s and "ID" #s -- World War I Era Patrol Vessels and other Acquired Ships and Craft numbered from SP-600 through SP-699
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Shrimp (SP 645)