USS Dauntless (SP-1002)

The first USS Dauntless (SP-1002) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

A stern view of Dauntless as a private motorboat in a boat house – possibly that of her builder, W. Frank Harrison of Essex, Connecticut – ca. 1917, prior to her United States Navy service.
History
United States
Name	USS Dauntless
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	W. Frank Harrison, Essex, Connecticut
Completed	ca. 1917
Acquired	11 September 1917
Commissioned	1 October 1917
Fate	Returned to owner 17 May 1919
Notes	Operated as private motorboat Dauntless 1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	45 ft (14 m)
Speed	30 knots

Dauntless was built as a private motorboat of the same name around 1917 by W. Frank Harrison at Essex, Connecticut. On 11 September 1917, the U.S. Navy – whose inspectors had described Dauntless as a "new well built vessel ... suitable for gov't use as scout patrol in conn. with aeroplane work"[1] – leased her from her owner, R. T. H. Barnes of Roxidge Avon, Connecticut, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Dauntless (SP-1002) on 1 October 1917.

Assigned to the 2nd Naval District in southern New England, Dauntless served on patrol duties for the rest of World War I and into the early months of 1919.

The Navy returned Dauntless to Barnes on 17 May 1919.