USS Helena I (SP-24)

History
United States
Name	USS Helena I
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	, Port Republic, New Jersey
Completed	1906
Acquired	May 1917
Commissioned	7 September 1917
Decommissioned	27 August 1919
Stricken	4 October 1919
Fate	Sold, 27 August 1919 Wrecked prior to delivery to new owner, 11 September 1919
Notes	Operated as private motor yacht Helena I 1906-1917
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Displacement	9 long tons (9.1 t)
Length	43 ft (13 m)
Beam	10 ft (3.0 m)
Draft	3 ft (0.91 m) (mean)
Speed	10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Armament	1 × machine gun

USS Helena I (SP-24) was an armed yacht that served the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

Helena I was built in 1906 by the , Port Republic, New Jersey, as a private motor yacht. The U.S. Navy acquired her from Dr. W. G. Hall of Trenton, New Jersey, in May 1917 for World War I service. Assigned to the 7th Naval District, she was taken to Key West, Florida, and commissioned as the USS Helena I (SP-24) on 7 September 1917. Quartermaster 2nd Class Otis Curry was placed in command.

Helena I operated as a harbor and coastal patrol boat in the vicinity of Key West, until decommissioned and sold on 27 August 1919. Before she could be delivered to her new owner, however, Helena I was among eight former SP boats wrecked on 11 September by the 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane, while anchored in the , Key West. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 4 October 1919

References[]

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Helena I (SP 24)