James McCaulley (tug)
.jpg) USS Arabian with United States Navy personnel on board sometime between November 1918 and January 1919, probably in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Arabian |
| Namesake | Previous name retained |
| Builder | John H. Dialogue & Sons, Camden, New Jersey |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Acquired | 29 October 1918 |
| In service | 5 November 1918 |
| Out of service | 31 January 1919 |
| Fate | Returned to owner 31 January 1919 |
| Notes | Operated as commercial tugboat Arabian 1896-1918 and from 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Harbor tug |
| Tonnage | 92 gross tons |
| Length | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) aft |
| Propulsion | Steam engine, one shaft |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Complement | 7 |
| Armament | None |
USS Arabian was a harbor tug that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919.
Arabian was built as a commercial steam tug of the same name in 1896 by John H. Dialogue & Sons at Camden, New Jersey. She was active in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. On 29 October 1918, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a bareboat charter from her owner, Mr. P. F. Martin of Philadelphia, for use during World War I. She never received a naval registry identification number, but was placed in service as USS Arabian on 5 November 1918.
World War I ended on 11 November 1918, six days after Arabian was placed in service. No longer needed, she never received an assignment and apparently never saw active naval service. The Navy returned her to Martin on 31 January 1919.
References
This article incorporates 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: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Arabian (1918-1919). Originally the Civilian Harbor Tug Arabian
- NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Arabian
