USS California (SP-647)

California (American Motor Boat, 1910) in port, probably at San Francisco, California, prior to her World War I era Naval service.
History
United States
Name	USS California
Namesake	California, which was admitted to the Union 8 September 1850 as the 31st State
Owner	the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association
Laid down	date unknown
Completed	in 1910 at San Francisco, California
Acquired	leased by the Navy in the spring of 1917
Commissioned	28 April 1917
Decommissioned	23 November 1918
Renamed	USS SP-647
Stricken	23 November 1918 (est.)
Homeport	San Francisco, California
Fate	returned to the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association in November 1918
General characteristics
Type	Motorboat
Displacement	not known
Length	58' 2"
Beam	not known
Draft	not known
Propulsion	not known
Complement	not known
Armament	not known

USS California (SP-647) – later known as USS SP-647 – was originally a motorboat used by the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association as a pilot boat. She was leased by the Navy, and outfitted as an armed section patrol craft, assigned to patrol and protect San Francisco harbor. At war's end, she was returned to the pilot's association.

A California pilot boat[]

California, a 58' 2" motorboat, was built in 1910 at San Francisco, California, for local employment as a pilot boat. She was leased from the San Francisco Bar Pilot's Association and commissioned in the Navy as USS California (SP-647) on 28 April 1917.

World War I service[]

The fourth ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, California (No. 647), served Section Patrol duties during the war. Later renamed USS SP-647, the motor boat performed harbor patrol duties and acted as guard boat for Pier 29 at San Francisco until 23 November 1918

Decommissioning[]

California (No. 647) was returned to the San Francisco Bar Pilot's Association on 23 November 1918.

Additional photos[]

The San Francisco Maritime Museum, located in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, holds additional photographs of the pilot boat California in its Livingston Collection.

See also[]

• California (schooner) (San Francisco Bar Pilots Association pilot boat 1931–1972)
• U.S. Navy
• World War I

References[]

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• California (Motor Boat, 1910). Served as USS California (SP-647) and USS SP-647 in 1917–1918
• NavSource Online: SP-647 – ex-California

External links[]

• San Francisco Bar Pilots Association Official Website