USS Volador was the name given to a United States Navy patrol vessel that served during World War I. The ship was originally built as a private motor yacht and was acquired by the Navy for use in coastal patrol duties.
Design and construction
- Original use: Constructed as a private motor yacht; the builder and exact year of construction have not been definitively recorded in publicly available naval histories.
- Acquisition: The vessel was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1917 for wartime service.
Service history
- Commissioning: The yacht was commissioned as USS Volador (SP‑86) on 23 August 1917. The hull classification symbol “SP” denotes “Section Patrol,” a designation used for small craft employed in coastal and harbor patrols during the war.
- Operational role: Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, Volador performed section‑patrol duties along the eastern seaboard of the United States, monitoring for enemy submarines and safeguarding merchant shipping. Specific patrol routes and engagements are not detailed in surviving records.
- Transfer: After the armistice, the vessel was transferred to the United States Army in 1919 for use as a transport and supply craft.
Decommissioning and disposal
- Decommissioning date: The Navy decommissioned USS Volador in 1919 following her transfer to the Army. Subsequent fate of the vessel after Army service is not documented in readily accessible naval archives.
Historical significance
USS Volador exemplifies the U.S. Navy’s practice during World War I of converting private yachts and other small craft into patrol vessels to augment the fleet’s coastal defense capabilities.
References
- Naval History and Heritage Command, “Ships’ Histories: USS Volador (SP‑86).”
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), entry for Volador.
Note: Certain technical specifications (e.g., displacement, dimensions, propulsion) and post‑war service details are not available in the consulted sources and therefore are omitted.