USS Sylvia (SP-471)

The second USS Sylvia (SP-471), later USS SP-471, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Sylvia as a private motorboat prior to her U.S. Navy service.
For other ships with the same name, see USS Sylvia.
USS Sylvia (SP-471) during World War I.
History
United States
Name:
  • USS Sylvia (1917-1918)
  • USS SP-471 (1918-1919)
Namesake:
  • Sylvia was her previous name retained
  • SP-471 was her section patrol number
Builder: Sam Williams, Marco, Florida
Acquired: 6 June 1917
Commissioned: 4 September 1917
Renamed: SP-471 11 April 1918
Stricken: 24 April 1919[1] or 4 October 1919[2][3]
Fate: Wrecked 9 September 1919
Notes: Operated as private motorboat Sylvia until June 1917
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Tonnage: 17 gross register tons
Length: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draft: 3 ft 1 in (0.94 m)
Speed: 6.9 knots
Complement: 8
Armament:

Sylvia was built as a private motorboat of the same name by Sam Williams at Marco, Florida. On 6 June 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, J. Alwood of Winter Haven, Florida, for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Sylvia (SP-471) on 4 September 1917.

Assigned to the 7th Naval District, Sylvia operated on patrol duty in Florida waters for the rest of World War I and into early 1919. On 11 April 1918 her name was changed to USS SP-471 to avoid confusion with the first USS Sylvia, a patrol yacht which also was in commission at the time.

SP-471 was out of commission and awaiting sale when she became one of eight section patrol boats destroyed at North Beach Basin at Key West, Florida, on 9 September 1919 by the 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane. Anchored in the basin when the hurricane struck, she was beaten to pieces against the basin's wall and completely wrecked.

Sources vary as to when SP-471 was stricken from the Navy List. It may have occurred on 24 April 1919[1] in advance of her being put up for sale or on 4 October 1919[2][3] after her destruction.

Notes
  1. "Online Library of Selected Images". Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  2. "Sylvia I". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  3. "Sylvia SP-471". NavSource Online.
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References
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