USS Paloma

USS Paloma (SP-533) was an 85-foot (26 m) yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as an armed patrol boat and assigned to patrol the waterways near Boston, Massachusetts. She spent two years of the war patrolling for German submarines, and performing other duties, such as escorting larger ships. After the war, her services were no longer needed, and she was sold.

Halftone reproduction of a photograph of Paloma taken prior to her World War I Navy service.
History
United States
Name	USS Paloma
Namesake	A former name retained. A Spanish word for dove.
Builder	Murray & Tregurthe, South Boston, Massachusetts
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	date unknown
Christened	as the yacht Paloma
Completed	in 1914 at South Boston, Massachusetts
Acquired	17 May 1917
Commissioned	4 May 1917 as USS Paloma (SP-533)
Decommissioned	circa 19 July 1919
Stricken	19 July 1919
Homeport	Boston, Massachusetts
Fate	Sold in July 1919
General characteristics
Type	Yacht
Displacement	52 tons
Length	85 ft (26 m)
Beam	14 ft (4.3 m)
Draft	5 ft (1.5 m)
Propulsion	internal combustion engine
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement	13 crew members
Armament	One 1-pounder one AA machine gun

Early history

Paloma was built by Murray & Tregurthe, South Boston, Massachusetts. The Navy took her over soon after the U.S. entered World War I and placed her in commission on 4 May 1917. She was purchased by the government 17 May 1917.

World War I service

Throughout the "Great War" and for several months after the November 1918 Armistice, she was employed on section patrol duties in the Boston area.

Post-war decommissioning

Paloma was struck from the Naval Register and sold 19 July 1919.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• USS Paloma (SP-533), 1917-1919. It used to be the civilian motor boat Paloma (built 1914)