USS ''Dorothy'' (SP-1289) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

patrol vessel A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they ...

in commission from 1917 to 1918. ''Dorothy'' was built as a

civilian Civilians under international humanitarian law are "persons who are not members of the armed forces" and they are not "combatants if they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war". It is slightly different from a non-combatant, b ...

motorboat A motorboat, speedboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gea ...

of the same name in 1911. On 17 August 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, the Conservation Commission of Maryland, for use as a

section patrol A Section Patrol Craft was a civilian vessel registered by the United States Navy for potential wartime service before, during, and shortly after World War I. Historical overview The SP/ID registration system In 1916, with World War I raging a ...

boat during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. She was commissioned as USS ''Dorothy'' (SP-1289) and was reported as being "already in service" on 13 September 1917. Assigned to the

5th Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

, ''Dorothy'' served on patrol duties in the

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

and

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

area. The Navy returned ''Dorothy'' to the Conservation Commission on either 24 September or 27 NovemberDepartment of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: ''Dorothy'' (American Motor Boat, 1911). Served as USS ''Dorothy'' (SP-1289) in 1917-1918
1918.

Notes

References

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* ttp://www.navsource.org/archives/12/171289.htm NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Dorothy (SP 1289) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dorothy (SP-1289) Maritime history of Maryland Chesapeake Bay boats Patrol vessels of the United States Navy World War I patrol vessels of the United States 1911 ships