USS Stinger (SP-1252)

USS Stinger (SP-1252) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

USS Stinger (SP-1252) backing away from dock ca. 1917.
History
United States
Name:	USS Stinger
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island
Completed:	1917
Acquired:	1917
Commissioned:	11 December 1917
Stricken:	14 May 1919
Fate:	Transferred to U.S. Department of War 20 November 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Patrol vessel
Tonnage:	47 gross tons
Length:	80 ft 6 in (24.54 m)
Beam:	12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
Draft:	3 ft 5 in (1.04 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine
Speed:	15 knots
Complement:	17
Armament:	1 × 1-pounder gun 1 × machine gun

Stinger was built in 1917 with the builder's name Herreshoff No. 312 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island, as a private steam yacht for R. S. Russell of Boston, Massachusetts. Russell, who renamed her Stinger, had her built to a naval patrol boat design with the intention of making her available to the U.S. Navy in the event of war. Accordingly, the U.S. Navy purchased Stinger from Russell upon her completion in 1917 for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Stinger (SP-1252) on 11 December 1917.

Assigned to the 1st Naval District in northern New England, Stinger carried out patrol duties for the rest of World War I and until May 1919.

Stinger was stricken from the Navy List on 14 May 1919 and was transferred to the United States Department of War on 20 November 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 History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Stinger (SP-1252), 1917-1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Stinger (SP 1252)

USS Stinger (SP-1252) ca. 1917, prior to the installation of her armament.