USS Caspian (ID-1380)

SS Caspian sometime between 1912 and 1917.
Career (United States)
Name:	USS Caspian (proposed)
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	John Dialogue and Son, Camden, New Jersey
Completed:	1912
Acquired:	Never
Commissioned:	Never
Notes:	Registered with Id. No. 1380 for potential U.S. Navy service
General characteristics
Type:	Tug
Displacement:	125 tons
Length:	80 ft 6 in (24.54 m)
Beam:	21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Draft:	10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
Installed power:	500 indicated horsepower
Propulsion:	One steam engine, one shaft
Crew:	8
Armament:	None

USS Caspian (ID-1380) was the proposed designation for a tug that never actually served in the United States Navy.

SS Caspian was a steel-hulled commercial tug built in 1912 by John Dialogue and Son at Camden, New Jersey. In early March 1918, the Commandant of the U.S. Navy's 4th Naval District ordered that she be taken over for World War I service. The Navy assigned her the naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.) 1380 in anticipation of commissioning her as USS Caspian. However, the Navy never took possession of her, and she remained in civilian service with her owner, P. F. Martin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images Civilian Ships Caspian (American Harbor Tug, 1912)
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Caspian (ID 1380)