USS Gypsum Queen (SP-430)

Career (USA)
Name:	USS Gypsum Queen
Namesake:	A former name retained
Owner:	J. B. King Transportation Co. of New York City
Builder:	Dialogue & Company, Camden, New Jersey
Laid down:	date unknown
Completed:	1890
Acquired:	by the Navy, September 1917
Commissioned:	4 December 1917 at New York City
Decommissioned:	sunk on 28 April 1919
Struck:	1919 (est.)
Fate:	sunk after striking a rock near Armen Light House off Brest, France, 28 April 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Tugboat
Displacement:	361 long tons (367 t)
Length:	135 ft (41 m)
Beam:	27 ft (8.2 m)
Draft:	14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
Speed:	14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Armament:	1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun, 2 × .30 in (7.6 mm) machine guns

USS Gypsum Queen (SP-430) was a tugboat acquired by the United States Navy during World War I. She was assigned to the French coast as a minesweeper, as well as a tugboat to provide assistance to disabled Allied ships. Performing this dangerous work, Gypsum Queen struck a rock near Brest, France, and sunk, with 15 of her crew lost.

Constructed in New Jersey

Gypsum Queen — a sea-going tug — was built by Dialogue & Company, Camden, New Jersey in 1890, acquired from her owners, J. B. King Transportation Co. of New York City in September 1917; and commissioned on 4 December 1917 at New York City.

World War I service

Turned over to the 3d Naval District, Gypsum Queen was fitted out for overseas service at New York Navy Yard and subsequently served in French ports as a towing vessel and a minesweeper.

Gypsum Queen sunk at sea

While returning from rendering assistance to minesweepers foundering off the coast of France, Gypsum Queen struck a rock near Armen Light House off Brest on 28 April 1919 and sank with a loss of 2 officers and 13 men.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• John H. Dialogue - Dialogue Shipyard