James McCaulley (tug)

James McCaulley was a commercial tug based in Philadelphia that served under charter in the United States Navy from 5 November 1918 to 31 January 1919 as Arabian.

Not to be confused with USS Arabia (ID-3434).

Arabian with United States Navy personnel on board sometime between November 1918 and January 1919, probably in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area.
History
United States
Name:
  • James McCaulley (1896-1918)
  • Arabian (1918-1919)
Namesake: Previous name retained
Builder: John H. Dialogue & Sons, Camden, New Jersey
Yard number: 278
Completed: 1896
Acquired: 29 October 1918
In service: 5 November 1918
Out of service: 31 January 1919
Identification: U.S. Official Number: 76664
Fate: Returned to owner 31 January 1919
Notes: Operated as commercial tugboat James McCaulley 1896-1918 and in 1919. (O/N 76664, Arabian shows in the 1919 Merchant Vessels register. Neither the number nor name appear to be in the registry after 1919.)
General characteristics [1][2]
Type: Harbor tug
Tonnage: 92 GRT, 46 U.S. Registered tons
Length:
  • 87 ft (27 m) (overall)
  • 82 ft 8 in (25.2 m) (registered)
Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m)
Draft: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) aft
Depth: 9 ft 5 in (2.9 m)
Installed power: 1 boiler
Propulsion: 1 vertical, compound Steam engine, 500 indicated H.P., one shaft
Speed: 10 knots
Complement: 7
Armament: None

James McCaulley was built in 1896 as an iron hulled commercial steam tug, yard hull number 278, U.S. Official Number 76664, in 1896 by John H. Dialogue & Sons at Camden, New Jersey.[1][3] The tug was registered with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as home port.[4] On 30 October 1903 the tug and tow, the schooner Marie Palmer, were passing down Delaware Bay. The schooner Blanche Hopkins was headed up bay and just after 3 o’clock in the morning the schooners collided. The tug was found to be at fault for not giving way to a vessel under sail.[5]

On 29 October 1918, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a bareboat charter, signed 3 November, from her owner, Mr. P. F. Martin of Philadelphia, for use during World War I. She never received a naval registry identification number, but was placed in service in the 4th Naval District as Arabian on 5 November 1918. Never being commissioned the tug was never authorized the prefix "United States Ship" (U.S.S.).[1][2]

World War I ended on 11 November 1918, six days after Arabian was placed in service. No longer needed, she never received an assignment and apparently never saw active naval service. The Navy returned her to Martin on 31 January 1919.[2]

References
  1. Construction & Repair Bureau (Navy) (1 November 1918). Ships' Data U.S. Naval Vessels. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 564–569. Retrieved 26 October 2020.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. Naval History And Heritage Command (18 June 2015). "Arabian". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. Colton, Tim (18 May 2016). "John H. Dialogue & Son, Camden NJ". ShipbuildingHistory. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. Thirteenth Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States, Year ended June 30, 1898. Washington, D.C.: U.S. House of Representatives. 1898. p. 251. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. The James McCaudley, 181 F. 932 (1910), United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 28 September 1910, retrieved 26 October 2020
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