USS Wacondah

USS Wacondah (SP-238) was an advanced-design yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as an armed patrol craft assigned to guard the New York City harbor against German submarines and to provide escort protection to commercial ships. Post-war she was sold and continued her maritime career as the yacht Intercolonial.

Wacondah (American Steam Yacht, 1901) underway, prior to World War I.
History
United States
Name	USS Wacondah
Namesake	Name retained by the Navy
Owner	mining engineer F. Augustus Heinze; later acquired by Boston banker Charles Hayden in 1907
Builder	Charles L. Seabury Company and the Gas Engine and Power Company at Morris Heights, New York
Laid down	9/36/70
Launched	date unknown
Christened	as the civilian "express" yacht Revolution; renamed Wacondah by a new owner in 1907
Completed	in 1901 at Morris Heights, New York
Acquired	24 May 1917
Commissioned	USS Wacondah (SP-238) on 14 September 1917
Decommissioned	21 August 1919 at New York City
Stricken	21 August 1919
Homeport	New York City
Fate	Sold on 4 June 1920 to the Gas Engine and Power Company
Notes	Her name was changed to Intercolonial after service with the Navy.
General characteristics
Type	yacht
Tonnage	190 gross tons
Length	177 ft (54 m)
Beam	17 ft (5.2 m)
Draft	7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) (mean)
Propulsion	1400 I.H.P. triple-expansion engine, one steam turbine, one shaft
Speed	18 knots
Complement	28 officers and enlisted
Armament	Two 6-pounder guns Two AA machine guns
Armor	steel-hulled

A turbine-powered steam yacht

Revolution—a steel-hulled, screw steam yacht designed by Charles L. Seabury—was completed in 1901, at Morris Heights, New York, by the Charles L. Seabury Co. and the Gas Engine and Power Co., for mining engineer F. Augustus Heinze. One of the first American turbine-powered steam "express" yachts, Revolution was later acquired by Boston, Massachusetts, banker Charles Hayden in 1907 and renamed Wacondah.

World War I service

When the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917, the Navy soon began collecting ships and small craft from civilian owners to serve as auxiliaries and patrol craft. Inspected at the 3d Naval District, Wacondah was acquired by the Navy on 24 May 1917. Fitted out for wartime service, Wacondah was commissioned on 14 September 1917.

Assigned to protect New York Harbor

By virtue of her light construction—built for speed rather than sea-keeping -- Wacondah was restricted to "sheltered waters." Assigned to the 3d Naval District, she operated on local patrol duties out of New York Harbor for the duration of the war.

Post-war decommissioning

Decommissioned and struck from the Navy list on 21 August 1919, Wacondah was sold on 4 June 1920 to the International Steamship and Trading Company and renamed Intercolonial.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• USS Wacondah (SP-238), 1917-1920. Originally the civilian yacht Revolution (1901), which was later renamed Wacondah and Intercolonial
• NavSource Online: Wacondah (SP 238)