USS Ensign

USS Ensign (SP-1051) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

History
United States
Name	USS Ensign
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Britt Brothers, Lynn, MA
Completed	1914
Acquired	1917
Commissioned	17 September 1917
Fate	Returned to owner 30 January 1919
Notes	Operated as private motorboat Ensign 1914-1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	68 ft (21 m)
Beam	11 ft 5 in (3.48 m)
Draft	4 ft 9 in (1.45 m)
Speed	9 knots
Complement	9

Background

Ensign was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1914. In 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a free lease from her owner for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned on 17 September 1917, as USS Ensign (SP-1051).

Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, Ensign performed submarine net patrol duties in New York Harbor until May 1918, when was transferred to the 9th Naval District for service on the Great Lakes. Arriving at Detroit, Michigan, on 14 June 1918, she patrolled until late in 1918, when the annual freezing over of the lakes brought the 1918 Great Lakes shipping season to an end.

The Navy returned Ensign to her owner on 30 January 1919.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• SP-1051 Ensign at Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships -- Listed by Hull Number "SP" #s and "ID" #s -- World War I Era Patrol Vessels and other Acquired Ships and Craft numbered from SP-1000 through SP-1099
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Ensign (SP 1051)
• Naval History and Heritage Command: NH 101600 USS ENSIGN (SP-1051)