USS ''Kanawha II'' (SP-130)/USS ''Piqua'' (SP-130) was a

yacht A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

acquired by the

U.S. 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 o ...

during World War II. She was placed into service as an escort for Allied

convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

s traveling across the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean. German

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

s were active in sinking Allied ships, and ''Kanawha II'' (later renamed ''Piqua'') provided a valuable service as a lookout and in one instance attacked one and drove it off. Post-war she was returned to her pre-war owner in July 1919.

Commissioning into the Navy

USS ''Kanawha II'' was built as the yacht ''Kanawha'' by Gas Engine and Power Co. and Charles L. Seabury Co.,

Morris Heights, New York Morris Heights is a residential neighborhood located in the West Bronx. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the south, and ...

, in 1898. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy from her owner, John Borden, April 28, 1917, and commissioned the same day as USS ''Kanawha II'' (SP–130) under the command of lieutenant commander

Henry D. Cooke Henry David Cooke (November 23, 1825 – February 24, 1881) was an American financier, journalist, railroad executive, and politician. He was the younger brother of Philadelphia financier Jay Cooke. A member of the Republican political machine ...

. The

Roman numeral Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, eac ...

II was used to avoid confusion with the Navy's

replenishment oiler A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. The ...

USS ''Kanawha'' (AO-1).

World War I service

During her first three weeks of naval service ''Kanawha II'' performed various duties in the New York City area. Upon being outfitted for distant service she got underway for

Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port city in the Finistère department, Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French mi ...

June 19, 1917. She arrived there July 4, 1917, in the vanguard of a flotilla of warships sent to aid that country following the United States' entry into World War II. USS Piqua 42427

Two weeks later she began patrol off Brest. On September 3, 1917, she sighted her first enemy

periscope A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position. In its simplest form, it consists of an outer case with ...

off the French coast, but was unable to press an attack. On November 28 she sighted another closing on a convoy. She issued a

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

warning and the

was later tracked and sunk by two other patrol vessels equipped with depth bombs. The convoy continued undamaged. On March 1, 1918, she was renamed USS ''Piqua'', the first Navy ship of that name, probably to avoid message confusion with the oiler ''Kanawha''.

Attacking a German U-boat

While steaming in convoy on July 16, 1918 the ''Piqua'' sighted the

conning tower A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer in charge can conn the vessel, controlling movements of the ship by giving orders to those responsible for the ship's engine, rudder, lines, and gro ...

of a third U-boat-on an almost parallel heading. She closed and commenced firing at 11,000 yards (10,058 meters). Unable to see their target, the gun crew aimed according to estimated ranges and bearings called down to them from the bridge. Although she scored no hits her shells forced the U-boat to abandon her prey. ''Piqua'' continued to operate off the French coast through the end of the War in November 1918 and into 1919.

Post-war decommissioning and disposal

''Piqua'' sailed for New York on May 20, 1919, and after stops in the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

and

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

, anchored off

Tompkinsville, Staten Island Tompkinsville is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island in New York City. Named for Daniel D. Tompkins, sixth Vice President of the United States (1817-1825), the neighborhood sits on the island's eastern shore, along the waterfront facing U ...

, in New York Harbor a month later. Later shifted to

, she was decommissioned and returned to her owner on July 1, 1919.

References

* (archive)
NavSource Online: Kanawha II / Piqua (SP 130)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanawha II (SP-130) Ships built in Morris Heights, Bronx World War I patrol vessels of the United States Patrol vessels of the United States Navy Steam yachts 1898 ships

Commissioning into the Navy

World War I service

Attacking a German U-boat

Post-war decommissioning and disposal

See also

References