USS Sovereign (SP-170)

The second USS Sovereign (SP-170) was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1918 to 1919.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Sovereign.
Sovereign as a civilian yacht sometime between 1911 and 1918, prior to her U.S. Navy service.
History
United States
Name: USS Sovereign
Namesake: Previous name retained
Builder: Charles L. Seabury and Company, Morris Heights, the Bronx, New York
Completed: 1911
Acquired: 14 June 1918
Commissioned: 1918
Stricken: 23 April 1919
Fate: Returned to owner 1919
Notes: Operated as civilian yacht Sovereign 1911-1918 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Tonnage: 173 Gross register tons
Length: 166 ft (51 m)
Beam: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Draft: 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) aft
Depth: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Propulsion: Steam turbine, one shaft
Speed: 29 miles per hour[1]
Armament: 2 × 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) guns

Sovereign was built as a civilian yacht of the same name in 1911 by Charles L. Seabury and Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, for private use as a pleasure and commuting vessel. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, Sovereign was registered with the U.S. Navy for potential service in time of war, and the Navy acquired her from the estate of M. C. D. Borden on 14 June 1918 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Sovereign (SP-170).

Commanded by Lieutenant C. F. Wure, Sovereign served the 3rd Naval District as a patrol craft in the New York City area for ten months.

On 23 April 1919, Sovereign was stricken from the Navy List, and soon thereafter she was returned to her owner's estate.

Notes
  1. Sources (see the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s15/sovereign-ii.htm, the Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-s/sovergn.htm, and NavSource Online at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170170.htm) cite a speed of 29 "miles per hour", implying a speed in statute miles per hour, which is very unusual for a watercraft. It is possible that her speed was 29 knots; if her speed actually was 29 statute miles per hour, the equivalent in knots is 25.

References
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