USS Katie (SP-660) is a civilian motor vessel which was commissioned into the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1918.

USS Katie (SP-660) hauled out of the water during World War I
History
United States
NameUSS Katie
NamesakePrevious name retained
BuilderC. E. Bush, Crittenden, Virginia
Completed1915[1] or 1916[2]
Acquired18 May 1917 (delivery)
Commissioned24 April 1917
Decommissioned22 October 1918
FateReturned to owner 22 October 1918
StatusExtant, in private use
NotesOperated as civilian motorboat Katie 1916-1917 and since 1918
General characteristics
TypePatrol vessel
Tonnage15 gross register tons
Length48 ft (15 m)
Beam11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Draft3 ft 8 in (1.12 m)
Speed10 knots
Complement4
ArmamentNone

Construction and acquisition

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Katie was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name by C. E. Bush at Crittenden, Virginia, in 1915[3] or 1916.[4] In 1917, the U.S. Navy chartered her from her owner, the Virginia Fish and Oyster Commission, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Katie (SP-660) on 24 April 1917, although the Navy did not take delivery of her until 18 May 1917, at Norfolk, Virginia.

U.S. Navy service

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Assigned to the 5th Naval District and based at Crittenden, Katie operated as a shore and section patrol boat until less than three weeks before the end of World War I. Her patrols extended from Norfolk and the James River to the lower reaches of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Katie, now under command of Boatswain O. W. Hudson,[5] was decommissioned on 22 October 1918 and was returned to the Virginia Fish and Oyster Commission the same day.

Later career

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Katie served the Virginia Fish and Oyster Commission until she was sold to the Redmond Lumber Corporation in 1956. She had two more owners before 1963, when William C. Poole purchased her. Poole used her both as a private yacht and as a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary operational facility.

In 2000, Katie was sold to William Stratton, then on 18 September 2001 to Leslie Porter. He performed restoration work on her and moved her to Belhaven, North Carolina.

In October 2003, William Patterson purchased Katie. He moved her to Richmond, Virginia, and made plans to take her to wooden boat shows on the Chesapeake Bay. She remains extant.

After years left docked in Richmond, VA the “Katie” sustained many damages, including a fire and multiple sinking s. Despite that she has persevered and was acquired by a small collective of friends. Katy Best, Caitlin Shiflett, Nathan Conway and Joshua Dziegiel are in the process of restoring “Katie” to her former glory. She is still water worthy and takes many pleasure trips up and down the James River even participating in the 2021 Christmas Parade. She has an Instagram account as well, This Old Boat.

Notes

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References

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