USS Mohican (SP-117)

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USS SP-117, formerly USS Mohican (SP-117), refitting at Tebo's Yacht Works in Brooklyn, New York in the spring of 1919 after decommissioning there in February 1919.
Career (United States) 100x35px
Name: USS Mohican
Namesake: Named for the Mohican Native American tribe (previous name retained)
Builder: Laird Brothers, Scotland
Completed: 1890
Acquired: 19 April 1917
Commissioned: 7 June 1917
Decommissioned: 15 February 1919
Renamed: USS SP-117 April 1918
Fate: Returned to owner 17 February 1919
Notes: Operated as private yacht Lady Godiva. Norseman, and Mohican 1890-1917 and as Mohican from 1919
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Tonnage: 231 tons
Length: 144 ft (44 m)
Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m)
Draft: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion: Steam engine
Speed: 8.6 knots
Complement: 48
Armament: 1 x 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) guns
2 x 6-pounder guns
2 x machine guns
Aircraft carried: 1 x observation balloon (kite balloon) from August 1918

The third USS Mohican (SP-117), later USS SP-117, was an armed yacht that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

File:SS Mohican (1890).jpg
SS Mohican as a private yacht prior to her U.S. Navy service.

Mohican was built as the civilian steam yacht SS Lady Godiva in 1890 by Laird Brothers in Scotland. While in private use she was renamed SS Norseman and SS Mohican. The U.S. Navy acquired Mohican on a free lease from her owner, Robert Perkins of New York City, on 19 April 1917 for use as a patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned at New York City on 7 June 1917 as USS Mohican (SP-117) with Lieutenant Peter P. Netland, USNRF, in command.

Mohican was assigned to the 3rd Naval District as guard boat on 1 July 1917. She engaged in patrol and escort duty in New York Harbor and off New York City until 21 August 1918, at times directing the heavy maritime traffic in Lower New York Bay and at others aiding vessels in distress due to fire or collision. She was renamed USS SP-117 in April 1918 to avoid confusion with another Navy ship of the same name, the sloop USS Mohican.

On 23 August 1918, SP-117 took on board an air observation balloon and aviators and began observation kite balloon duty at the entrance to New York Harbor and Ambrose Channel. She remained on this duty through 25 November 1918 and then, following repairs, departed on 14 December 1918 to assume guard boat and kite balloon duty at Gravesend Bay, Long Island, New York.

SP-117 ceased operations on 17 January 1919 and on 15 February 1919 was decommissioned at Tebo's Yacht Basin at Brooklyn, New York. The Navy returned her to her owner on 17 February 1919.

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