USS Joseph F. Bellows

History
United States
Name	USS Joseph F. Bellows
Namesake	A former name retained
Owner	Bellows and Squires, Inc., Ocran, Virginia
Builder	E. James Tull, Pocomoke City, Maryland
Laid down	date unknown
Completed	1912
Acquired	by the Navy in May 1917
Commissioned	18 May 1917
Decommissioned	unknown date
Stricken	unknown date
Homeport	Norfolk, Virginia
Fate	Sold 2 July 1919; fate unknown
General characteristics
Type	fishing steamer
Displacement	315 tons
Length	162 ft (49 m)
Beam	24 ft (7.3 m)
Draft	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion	steam engine
Speed	13 knots
Complement	not known
Armament	One 6-pounder gun

USS Joseph F. Bellows (SP-323) was a fishing boat purchased by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as an armed minesweeper and was assigned to the Virginia coast. Post-war she served as a tender and supply ship until sold in 1919.

Built in Maryland

Joseph F. Bellows (SP-323), a fishing steamer built in 1912 by E. J. Tull, Pocomoke City, Maryland, was acquired by the Navy from Bellows and Squires, Inc., Ocran, Virginia, in May 1917. She commissioned 18 May 1917.

World War I service

Assigned to the 5th Naval District at Norfolk, Virginia, Joseph F. Bellows operated as a minesweeper off Cape Henry and in the convoy channel to Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Post-war service

After the armistice ending World War I was signed, she acted as a lightship tender and a supply ship until July 1919.

Decommissioning and sale

Joseph F. Bellows was sold 2 July 1919 to NcNeal Dodson Co., Inc., Reedville, Virginia.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

photo gallery at navsource.org