USS Barracuda (SP-845)

	Barracuda flying signal flags and the National Ensign in New York Harbor on 11 November 1918 to celebrate that day's Armistice with Germany ending World War I
History
United States
Name	USS Barracuda
Namesake	The barracuda, any of several large, voracious fishes of warm oceans related to the gray mullets (previous name retained)
Builder	James E. Graves, Marblehead, Massachusetts
Completed	1912
Acquired	18 June 1917
Commissioned	31 October 1917
Decommissioned	13 February 1919
Fate	Returned to owner 1919
Notes	Operated as private motorboat Barracuda 1912-1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Tonnage	30 tons
Length	60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)
Beam	11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Draft	3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) mean
Speed	15 knots
Complement	8
Armament	1 × 1-pounder gun; 1 × machine gun;

Note: This ship should not be confused with the motorboat Barracuda, considered for service as patrol boat USS Barracuda (SP-23) during the same era.

USS Barracuda (SP-845) was an armed motorboat that served in the United States Navy as a patrol vessel from 1917 to 1919.

Barracuda was built in 1912 by James E. Graves at Marblehead, Massachusetts, as a private motorboat of the same name. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Mr. R. W. McEwan on a free lease on 18 June 1917 for World War I service. She was commissioned as USS Barracuda (SP-845) on 31 October 1917 with Boatswain Seward Scharff, USNRF, in command.

Assigned to the section patrol in the 3rd Naval District, Barracuda spent her entire naval career patrolling the waters in and around New York Harbor.

Decommissioned on 13 February 1919, Barracuda was returned to her owner.

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: Civilian Ships: USS Barracuda (SP-845), 1917-1919.
NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Barracuda (SP 845)