USS Gypsum Queen

USS Gypsum Queen (SP-430) was a tugboat acquired by the United States Navy during World War I. She was assigned to the French coast as a minesweeper, as well as a tugboat to provide assistance to disabled Allied ships. Performing this dangerous work, Gypsum Queen struck a rock near Brest, France, and sunk, sending 15 crew members to their deaths.

History
United States
Name	USS Gypsum Queen
Namesake	A former name retained
Owner	J. B. King Transportation Co. of New York City
Builder	Dialogue & Company, Camden, New Jersey
Laid down	date unknown
Completed	1890
Acquired	by the Navy, September 1917
Commissioned	4 December 1917 at New York City
Decommissioned	sunk on 28 April 1919
Stricken	1919 (est.)
Fate	Sunk after striking a rock near Armen Light House off Brest, France, 28 April 1919
General characteristics
Type	Tugboat
Displacement	361 long tons (367 t)
Length	135 ft (41 m)
Beam	27 ft (8.2 m)
Draft	14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
Speed	14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun, 2 × .30 in (7.6 mm) machine guns

Constructed in Camden, New Jersey

Gypsum Queen — a sea-going tug — was built by Dialogue & Company, Camden, New Jersey in 1890, acquired from her owners, J. B. King Transportation Co. of New York City in September 1917; and commissioned on 4 December 1917 at New York City.

World War I service

Turned over to the 3d Naval District, Gypsum Queen was fitted out for overseas service at New York Navy Yard and subsequently served in French ports as a towing vessel and a minesweeper.

Sinking

While returning from rendering assistance to minesweepers foundering off the coast of France, Gypsum Queen struck a rock near Armen Light House off Brest on 28 April 1919 and sank with a loss of two officers and 13 men.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• John H. Dialogue - Dialogue Shipyard