USS Harvard (SP-209)
USS Harvard (SP-209) was a yacht leased by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as a patrol craft and assigned to patrol duty in the North Atlantic Ocean, protecting civilian ships from German submarines. In addition, she saved the lives of a number of survivors from ships that had been torpedoed. Post-war she was decommissioned and returned to her owner in her original civilian shipboard configuration.
 USS Harvard (SP-209) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} United States | |
| Name | USS Harvard |
| Namesake | Harvard, a college founded at Cambridge, Massachusetts. |
| Owner | G. F. Baker, New York City |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 1904 |
| Christened | as the yacht Eleanor; later renamed the yacht Wacouta |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Acquired | Leased by the Navy on 23 April 1917 |
| Commissioned | 10 May 1917 at New York City as USS Harvard |
| Decommissioned | 26 July 1919 at New York City |
| Stricken | 26 July 1919 |
| Homeport | Brest, France |
| Fate | Returned to owner, 26 July 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Yacht |
| Displacement | 804 tons |
| Length | 243' |
| Beam | 32' |
| Draft | 12' 6" |
| Propulsion | Steam engine |
| Sail plan | Three masts |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Complement | not known |
| Armament | Four 3-pounder guns |
| Armor | Steel hulled |
Construction
The second ship to be named Harvard by the U.S. Navy, the vessel was a steel yacht, was built as Eleanor by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, for William A. Slater in 1894. She was sold to G F Baker and renamed the Wacouta then leased by the Navy from G. F. Baker, New York, New York, 23 April 1917. Waoouta was renamed Harvard and commissioned 10 May 1917 at New York City.
World War I service
Assigned to the North Atlantic
After being fitted out for overseas service, Harvard departed New York City 9 June 1917 with a convoy, and arrived at Brest, France, 4 July.
She then engaged in patrol duties out of Brest, and on 16 July picked up 59 survivors from the ill-fated British steamship Trelissick. Trelissiok had been torpedoed and sunk 15 July, after having rescued some 30 men from another torpedoed British ship, Exford, the day before. Harvard returned the survivors from both ships safely to Brest.
Continuing her duties around Brest, Harvard performed as a harbor patrol and coastal convoy ship. She assisted the torpedoed merchantman Texas 29 November 1917 and searched for survivors of the sinking of Hundaago, a Norwegian steamship, 4 August 1918.
Post-war return to owner
Harvard departed for England 21 November 1918 and remained there until June 1919, when she returned to New York City via Bermuda. The yacht was decommissioned and turned over to her owner 26 July 1919.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- USS Harvard (SP-209), 1917-1919