USS Politesse (SP-662)

Politesse as a civilian motorboat at the Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1917, just prior to her United States Navy service as the patrol boat USS Politesse (SP-662).
History
United States
Name: USS Politesse
Namesake: Previous name retained
Builder: J. R. Robertson, Waltham, Massachusetts
Completed: 1911
Acquired: 17 April 1917[1]
Commissioned: 15 April 1917[2]
Fate: Returned to owner 29 May 1919[3][4] or 5 July 1919[5]
Notes: Operated as private motorboat Politesse 1911-1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Length: 29 ft (8.8 m)[6] or 30 ft (9.1 m)[7]
Beam: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Draft: 2 ft 3 in (0.69 m)

USS Politesse (SP-662) was a motorboat that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

Politesse was built as a civilian motorboat in 1911 by J. R. Robertson at Waltham, Massachusetts, for Frederick G. Hood. In 1917, the U.S. Navy chartered her for use as a patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned on 15 April 1917 as USS Politesse (SP-662). Apparently, her charter officially went into effect two days later, on 17 April 1917.[8]

Politesse performed patrol duty at Boston, Massachusetts, for the remainder of World War I.

After World War I, the Navy returned Politesse to her owner. Sources differ on the date of the return, giving it as both 29 May 1919 [9] and 5 July 1919.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Per NavSource Online (at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170662.htm) and the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/politesse.htm).
  2. ↑ Per the Naval History and Heritage Command's Online Library of Selected Images (at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-p/politese.htm).
  3. ↑ Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Politesse (American Motor Boat, 1911). Served as USS Politesse (SP-662) in 1917-1919.
  4. ↑ NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Politesse (SP 662).
  5. ↑ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Politesse.
  6. ↑ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/politesse.htm).
  7. ↑ Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images(at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-p/politese.htm).
  8. ↑ The boat's Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships entry (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/politesse.htm) states that Politesse was acquired on 17 April 1917, which likely is the date of her charter. The Naval History and Heritage Command's Online Library of Selected Images (at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-p/politese.htm), states she was commissioned on 15 April 1917. One date may be inaccurate, although it also is possible that the boat was commissioned before her charter became official, which occurred in some cases during the rapid 1917-1918 build-up of the section patrol force.
  9. ↑ Per the Naval History and Heritage Command's Online Library of Selected Images (at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-p/politese.htm) and NavSource Online (at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170662.htm).
  10. ↑ Per the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/politesse.htm).

References

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