The second USS Viking (SP-3314) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in service from 1918 to 1919.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Viking |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Builder | United States Navy |
| Completed | 1915 |
| Acquired | 24 September 1918 |
| Stricken | 19 February 1919 |
| Fate | Sold as junk 20 February 1919 |
| Notes | Operated as civilian motorboat Caesar and Viking 1915-1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol vessel |
| Tonnage | 10 Gross register tons |
| Length | 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m) |
| Beam | 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
| Draft | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Speed | 5.1 knots |
| Armament | None |
Viking was built in 1915 as the motorboat Caesar by the U.S. Navy and sold to civilian owner soon afterwards without seeing any naval service. Caesar later was renamed Viking while under private ownership. She operated at Norfolk, Virginia, while in private use.
On 5 September 1918, the U.S. Navy inspected Viking for possible naval service, and on 24 September 1918 acquired her from her owner, Mrs. E. S. Wood, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She served as USS Viking (SP-3314), probably in a non-commissioned status.
Assigned to the 5th Naval District, Viking operated in the vicinity of Norfolk, presumably on patrol duties, at least through the end of World War I.
On 2 February 1919, the United States Secretary of the Navy authorized the Commandant of the 5th Naval District to dispose of Viking as junk. She was stricken from the Navy List on 19 February 1919 and sold on 20 February 1919.
References
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This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.- Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Viking (American Motor Boat, 1915). Formerly named Caesar. Served in the Navy in 1918-1919 as Viking (ID # 3314)
- NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Viking (SP 3314)
