The third USS ''Ellen'' (SP-1209) 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 in commission from 1917 to 1919. ''Ellen'' 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 of the same name in 1917 by the

Herreshoff Manufacturing Company Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (March 18, 1848 – June 2, 1938) was an American naval architect, mechanical engineer, and yacht design innovator. He produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893 and 1920. Biography Her ...

Bristol, Rhode Island Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, US as well as the historic county seat. The town is built on the traditional territories of the Pokanoket Wampanoag. It is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England. The population of B ...

, one of nine motorboats built to a common design for private owners in anticipation that their owners would make them available for naval service. The U.S. Navy acquired ''Ellen'' from her owner on 21 July 1917 for

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 ...

service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned on 2 August 1917 as USS ''Ellen'' (SP-1209). ''Ellen'' operated on section patrol duty for the rest of World War I. She was returned to her owner in April 1919. ''Ellen'' should not be confused with USS ''Ellen'' (SP-284), another patrol vessel in commission at the same time.

References

Department of the Navy: Navy History and Heritage Command: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Motor Boat ''Ellen'' (1917); Later USS ''Ellen'' (SP-1209), 1917–1919
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellen (SP-1209) Patrol vessels of the United States Navy World War I patrol vessels of the United States Ships built in Bristol, Rhode Island 1917 ships