USS Natoma (SP-666)
USS Natoma (SP-666) was a patrol vessel in commission in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919, seeing service in World War I. After her U.S. Navy service, she was in commission in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey as the survey ship USC&GS Natoma from 1919 to 1935.
.jpg.webp) Natoma in private use prior to her U.S. Navy service. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} United States | |
| Name: | USS Natoma |
| Namesake: | Previous name retained |
| Builder: | Charles Seabury and Sons, Morris Heights, New York |
| Cost: | $45,000 USD |
| Completed: | 1913 |
| Acquired: | 4 July 1917 |
| Commissioned: | 23 August 1917 |
| Fate: | Transferred to United States Coast and Geodetic Survey 4 April 1919 |
| Notes: | In use as private motorboat Natoma 1913-1917 |
 United States | |
| Name: | USC&GS Natoma |
| Namesake: | Previous name retained |
| Acquired: | 4 April 1919 |
| Commissioned: | 1919 |
| Decommissioned: | 1935 |
| General characteristics (as U.S. Navy vessel) | |
| Type: | Patrol vessel |
| Displacement: | 112 tons |
| Length: | 120 ft (37 m) |
| Beam: | 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) |
| Draft: | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Speed: | 10 knots |
| Complement: | 49 |
| Armament: |
|
| General characteristics (as U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel) | |
| Type: | Survey ship |
| Displacement: | 112 tons |
| Length: | 120 ft (37 m) |
| Beam: | 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) |
| Draft: | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Speed: | 10 knots |
Construction
Natoma was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1913 at Morris Heights, New York, by Charles Seabury and Sons.
United States Navy service, 1917-1919
The U.S. Navy acquired Natoma from her owner, Richard Howe of New York City, on 4 July 1917 for World War I service and commissioned her on 23 August 1917 as USS Natoma (SP-666).
Natoma was assigned to section patrol duty in the 3rd Naval District during World War I. After the Armistice with Germany, she was decommissioned
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey service, 1919-1935
The U.S. Navy transferred Natoma to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey on 4 April 1919. She served as a survey ship along both the United States East Coast and the United States West Coast during her years with the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The Survey decommissioned her in 1935.
References
- 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 Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Natoma (SP-666), 1917-1919. Originally the Civilian Motor Boat Natoma
- NavSource Online: Patrol Yacht Photo Archive: USC&GS Natoma ex-USS Natoma (SP 666)
- NOAA History, A Science Odyssey: Tools of the Trade: Ships: Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships: Natoma