USS Nokomis (SP-609)

This was the second yacht of the name and the second designed by Gielow for Dodge.[3] The first Nokomis (1914), frequently confused with the second, was 303 GRT, 180 ft (54.9 m) length overall, 154 ft 5 in (47.1 m) length between perpendiculars, with official number 212143 and signal letters LDKQ and built by Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company, Brooklyn, New York.[12][13] The first Nokomis was purchased by the Navy for $140,000 from Dodge and delivered to the Navy on 9 May 1917. This vessel was USS Kwasind (S. P. 1233).[12]

It is not unusual to see the 1914 build date associated with the specific characteristics of the 1916 Nokomis II.[note 3] This is compounded by the fact that the unique official number, 214877 in the case of Nokomis II, usually for the entire lifetime of a vessel, through name and ownership changes, "died" with naval service. Confusion may be aided by the fact the Navy, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships for example, refers to the yacht Nokomis II as the Navy's Nokomis I.[2] The first Nokomis was still in the register as Dupont, owned by the state or Maryland, as late as 1961.[14]

Nokomis II was fitted out with special interior design for each space in luxurious style and accepted by Dodge in June 1917.[4] Dodge had specified that the new yacht be fully sea going and incorporate the latest naval architecture and design as well as that all the interior decor and furnishings be specially designed to artistically harmonize without being ornate.[3][4] The yacht was acquired by the Navy before completion and the only chance Dodge had to sail Nokomis was to deliver the vessel to the Navy.[15][note 4]

The as built specifications closely match the Navy's in the 1918 document that is the basis for many listed in "General Characteristics" with the additions of a waterline length of 203 ft (61.9 m) and depth of hold of 19 ft 6 in (5.9 m).

The yacht was flush decked with a steel hull. A steel deck house, 141 ft (43.0 m) in length and 7 ft 4 in (2.2 m) headroom, was covered by a shade deck above extending the width of the ship that provided a promenade. The forward portion of the deck house contained a pantry on the starboard side with staterooms for the stewards on the port side. Aft was an 18 ft (5.5 m) long, 20 ft (6.1 m) wide dining room extending to the machinery casing amidships. Flanking that casing to starboard was a vestibule to the main deck, toilet, and barber shop. Flanking to port were staterooms for engineers and a laundry. Aft of the boiler casing were the owner's stateroom and a 24 ft (7.3 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) living room, with a vestibule from which stairs led below to guest's quarters, with a sheltered 42 ft (12.8 m) quarter deck to the stern.[3][4]

On the upper deck were two structures. The forward house, 28 ft (8.5 m) by 12 ft (3.7 m), contained the captain's quarters forward with a radio room and operator's quarters aft. Aft of the funnel was a 32 ft (9.8 m) by 12 ft (3.7 m) house with the forward 21 ft (6.4 m) containing a gymnasium and the remaining part aft a sitting room with sofa. From photographs the open bridge was atop the forward house.[3][4]

On the berthing deck below the crew's quarters lay forward with crew's bath aft of the collision bulkhead and folding bunks in a 25 ft (7.6 m) space aft of the bathroom. Aft of the bunkroom were eleven staterooms and a wardroom for ship's officers occupying 26 ft (7.9 m) of length and full width of the vessel. Aft of the officers space were separate galleys, one for the crew and one for the owner.[3][4][note 5]

Babcock & Wilcox water tube type boilers provided steam with two triple expansion, three cylinder engines driving the twin screws. Steam also drove electrical generating sets. The equipment was designed so that either boiler could provide steam to either engine independently so that 80% of full speed could be maintained on either. Fuel capacity was 350 tons of coal carried in bunkers athwartship and alongside the boiler room. Ship's auxiliaries were electrical powered and forced air heating and cooling was available when natural ventilation was not desirable. A feature of the yacht was its seven boats. Those included a 35 ft (10.7 m) express launch, a 30 ft (9.1 m) service launch, two 21 ft (6.4 m) power launches, a power lifeboat and two regular lifeboats.[3][4]

Dodge did not give up after losing his second and unused yacht to the Navy. A third, apparently initially adding to the Nokomis line of yachts, larger one designed by Gielow was being built in 1920 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Detroit; however, that vessel ended up being named Delphine (1921) instead of carrying on the tradition.[15][16]

After fitting out at Philadelphia Nokomis sailed for Bermuda 19 December with a French submarine chaser in tow. She departed Bermuda for Brest, France, 8 January 1918, stopping en route at the Azores and Leixões, Portugal.[2] The expansion of U.S. Naval forces in France and increase in the escort duty in French waters resulted in Nokomis being among the smaller and slower vessels of less military value transferred to serve convoys using the Gironde River with a base in Rochefort, a French naval base north of the Gironde. Nokomis reported at Rochefort 11 March 1918. The five other former yachts withstood the constant escort duty well, but Nokomis is noted as an exception.[18] Nokomis spent the rest of the conflict on patrol and escort duty off western France, and remained in European waters for several months after the November 1918 Armistice brought an end to the fighting and end of wartime duty in 1919.[2] Aboard were some six African Americans, one cook and the others mess attendants, relegated to the role of servants in the segregated Navy.[19]

Nokomis returned to the United States in August, was reclassified PY–6 in 1920, and decommissioned at New York City 25 February 1921. The yacht was outfitted as a ship's tender for the Naval Governor of Santo Domingo in July 1921 but did not assume this duty.[2]