USS Helena I (SP-24)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Helena.

Career (United States)
Name:	USS Helena I
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Van Sant Brothers, Port Republic, New Jersey
Completed:	1906
Acquired:	May 1917
Commissioned:	7 September 1917
Decommissioned:	27 August 1919
Struck:	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 in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917-1919.

Helena I was built as a private motor yacht of the same name in 1906 by Van Sant Brothers at Port Republic, New Jersey. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, 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 there as USS Helena I (SP-24) on 7 September 1917 with Quartermaster 2nd Class Otis Curry in command.

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

References

• This article includes 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)