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NavSource Online:
Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

SP-546
ex-Thrasher
ex-Petrel (SP 546)

Motorboat:

  • The first Thrasher was built as Petrel by Murray and Tregurtha, South Boston, MA
  • Acquired by the Navy 14 May 1917
  • Commissioned USS Petrel (SP 546), 22 May 1917 at Boston, MA
  • Renamed Thrasher 2 August 1918
  • Renamed SP-546
  • Struck from the Navy list 11 June 1919
  • Sold 2 September 1919
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Length 45'
  • Beam 9' 5"
  • Draft 4' 6"
  • Speed 8 kts.
  • Complement: Seven
  • Armament: One Lewis machine gun
  • Propulsion: One 35hp 4-cylinder Murray and Tregurtha gasoline engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    No image of SP-546 is available at this time
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships:

    Petrel

    A small long-winged sea bird which flies far from land.

    Thrasher

    Any of a number of thrushlike birds which are known as singers and mimics.

    Petrel (SP-546)—a motorboat built by Murray & Tregurtha at South Boston, Mass.—was acquired from Mr. Edgar Pierce on 14 May 1917; and placed in commission at Boston on 22 May 1917.

    Petrel served on section patrol in the 1st Naval District through her entire naval career, operating from the Boston section base. On 2 August 1918, she was renamed Thrasher, to avoid confusion with Navy gunboat PG-2 which also carried the name Petrel. Eventually, however, she lost that name also and went only by her number, SP-546, Unfortunately, no date for that change is available in the records, though the Ships Data U.S. Naval Vessels, issued on 1 November 1918, lists her simply as SP-546 and shows both former names, Thrasher and Petrel. She served the Navy until 11 June 1919 when her name was struck from the Navy list. On 2 September 1919, she was sold to Mr. Henry X. Kelley of Boston, Mass.

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