USS Halcyon (SP-518)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Halcyon.

History
United States
Name	USS Halcyon
Namesake	A bird, identified with the kingfisher, fabled by the ancients to nest at sea about the time of the winter solstice, and to calm the waves during incubation; hence, calm and peaceful
Owner	U.S. Bureau of Fisheries
Builder	Marine Construction Company, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	date unknown
Completed	1916
Acquired	14 May 1917
Commissioned	14 May 1917
Decommissioned	24 June 1919
Stricken	31 July 1919
Homeport	Boston, Massachusetts
Fate	returned to the Bureau of Fisheries
General characteristics
Type	Motor launch
Tonnage	275 tons
Length	61'
Beam	12' 4"
Draft	not known
Propulsion	not known
Speed	11 knots
Complement	not known
Armament	not known

USS Halcyon (SP-518) was a motor launch borrowed by the U.S. Navy from the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries during World War I. She was outfitted as a patrol craft and assigned to the 1st Naval District, headquartered at Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. Post-war she was returned to the Bureau of Fisheries.

Borrowed from Bureau of Fisheries

The first ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Halcyon was a 61-foot-long launch built for the Bureau of Fisheries in 1916 by Marine Construction Company, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. She was transferred to the Navy and commissioned 14 May 1917 at Boston, Massachusetts.

World War I service

Assigned to section patrol in the 1st Naval District, Halcyon performed harbor patrol duties until decommissioning 24 June 1919.

Post-war disposition

She was subsequently struck from the Navy List 31 July 1919 and returned to the Bureau of Fisheries.

Note

USS Surf (SP-518) was never commissioned. Her hull number (SP-518) was assigned to Halcyon.

See also

• U.S. Navy
• World War I

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.