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NavSource Online:
Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

SP-117
ex-Mohican (SP 117)

Yacht:

  • Built in 1890 as Lady Godiva by Laird Brothers, Scotland
  • Renamed Norsman
  • Acquired by the Navy 19 April 1917
  • Commissioned USS Mohican (SP 117), 7 June 1917
  • Renamed SP-117 in April 1918
  • Decommissioned 15 February 1919 at Brooklyn, NY
  • Returned to her owner 17 February 1919
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 231 t.
  • Length 144'
  • Beam 23'
  • Draft 12' 3"
  • Speed 8.6 kts.
  • Complement 48
  • Armament: One 3"/50 mount, two 6-pounders and two machine guns
  • Propulsion: Two Laird boilers, one 374hp vertical triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Yacht Mohican
    SP-117 115k At anchor, prior to World War I
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 99679    		 Robert Hurst
    SP-117 61k Photographed prior to her World War I Naval service
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102038    		 Naval Historical Center
    USS SP-117
    Mohican 132k Looking down on the bridge from the ship's mast
    Photo by George B. Hanford, Mohican crew member    		 Bill Graham
    Yacht Mohican
    SP-117 111k Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken while she was refitting at Tebo's Yacht Works, New York City, in the spring of 1919. Copied from "The Rudder" magazine, June 1919, page 258. Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall, 1972
    U.S. Navy photos NH 75652 and NH 75653    		 Naval Historical Center
    SP-117 135k
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Peter P. Netland, USNRF7 June 1917
    02LT Charles Schoenborg, USN1918 - 1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: The third Mohican (SP-117), a converted yacht, was built as Lady Godiva by Laird Brothers, Scotland, in 1890; renamed Norseman; acquired from Robert Perkins of New York City on free lease 19 April 1917; and commissioned at New York 7 June 1917, Lt. Peter P. Netland, USNRF, in command.

    Assigned to the 3d Naval District as guard boat 1 July 1917. She was renamed SP-117 in April 1918 to avoid confusion with another Navy ship named Mohican. SP-117 engaged in patrol and escort duty in New York Harbor and off New York City until 21 August 1918, at times directing the heavy maritime traffic in the lower bay and at others aiding vessels in distress due to fire or collision. On 28 August 1918, SP-117 took on board an air observation balloon and aviators and began observation kite balloon duty at the entrance to New York Harbor and Ambrose Channel. She remained on this duty through 25 November and then, following repairs, departed 14 December to assume guard boat and kite balloon duty at Gravesend Bay, Long Island. The patrol craft ceased operations 17 January 1919 and on 15 February was decommissioned at Tebos Yacht Basin, Brooklyn. She was returned to her former owner 17 February.
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