USS Ardent (SP-680)

	USS Ardent (SP-680) in an icy port in southern New England sometime between 1917 and 1919. Behind her is the patrol vessel and minesweeper USS Eugene F. Price (SP-839).
History
United States
Name	USS Ardent
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Greenport Basin and Construction Company, Greenport, New York
Completed	1902
Acquired	11 June 1917
Commissioned	15 August 1917
Decommissioned	early 1921
Fate	Sold 16 May 1921[1] or June 1921[2]
Notes	Operated as commercial fishing vessel Ardent 1902-1917
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Tonnage	106 gross register tons
Displacement	293 tons
Length	106 ft 2 in (32.36 m)
Beam	22 ft (6.7 m)
Draft	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine
Speed	10 knots
Complement	20
Armament	2 × 1-pounder guns

The first USS Ardent (SP-680) was a United States Navy patrol vessel and minesweeper in commission from 1917 to 1921. Acquired upon the entry of the United States into World War I, the ship served in New England during the war, and was sold back into private ownership in 1921.

The submarine tender USS Fulton (Submarine Tender No. 1) is the large ship in this photograph taken at Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, during World War I. A motor launch is in the center foreground and USS Ardent (SP-680) is at right.

Service history

Ardent was built as a commercial fishing steamer by the Greenport Basin and Construction Company at Greenport on Long Island, New York, in 1902.[1] On 11 June 1917, the U.S. Navy purchased her from Raymond J. Anderson of Newport, Rhode Island,[1] for use as a section patrol boat and minesweeper during World War I.[2] She was commissioned on 15 August 1917 as USS Ardentand was given the hull number SP-680.[1]

Following the purchase of the vessel, Ardent was fitted out as a minesweeper for coastal service. Following her conversion, Ardent was assigned to the Mining Force of the 2nd Naval District in southern New England. Ardent conducted patrol and minesweeping duties, and also was used for tending submarine nets in the Newport and Block Island sections for the duration of her World War I service.[1]

In 1919, following the end of the war, Ardent was reassigned to Submarine Base New London at Groton, Connecticut.[2] There the ship was used in work on the development of torpedoes for submarine usage, operating in this capacity until 1921.[1]

Early in 1921, Ardent was decommissioned, and put up for sale. Later that year, she was sold to Wigo Rasmussen of Brooklyn, New York, on 16 May 1921[1] or in June 1921.[2]

References

Notes

Dictionary of American naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a11/ardent-i.htm and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Ardent (SP 680).
Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Ardent (SP-680), 1917-1921.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Ardent (SP 680)

USS Ardent (SP-680) off Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, ca. 1918.

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[DANFS-1] Dictionary of American naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a11/ardent-i.htm and NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Ardent (SP 680).

[Images-2] Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Ardent (SP-680), 1917-1921.