USS Agawam (SP-570)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Agawam and USS Natick.

USS Agawam (SP-570) — later renamed as the USS Natick (SP-570) — was a yacht acquired during World War I by the United States Navy. She was employed by the Navy as a patrol boat in the Great Lakes and was returned to her owner when the war was over.

USS Natick underway during World War I.
History
United States
Name	USS Agawam
Namesake	Agawam is an Indian word meaning lowland, marsh, or meadow. Natick is a town in Massachusetts.
Owner	Richard T. Crane Jr. of Chicago, Illinois
Builder	in England
Acquired	April 1917
Commissioned	October 1917
Decommissioned	1919 (est.)
Renamed	USS Natick in August 1918
Stricken	1919 (est.)
Homeport	Great Lakes area
Fate	Returned to her owner in August 1919
Status	Unknown
General characteristics
Type	motor patrol boat
Displacement	40 long tons (41 t)
Length	40 ft (12 m)
Beam	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Draft	2 ft 6 in (0.76 m)
Speed	17 kn (20 mph; 31 km/h)
Complement	4 enlisted personnel
Armament	Unknown

Construction

USS Agawam was built in England. She was 40 feet (12 m) long, had a draft of 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 m), and displaced 50 tonnes (49 long tons; 55 short tons). She had a top speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), and a complement of four.^[1]

Service history

Natick was acquired by the Navy on free lease from Richard T. Crane Jr. of Chicago, Illinois on 12 April 1917, then renamed Natick and commissioned on 20 October 1917. She was assigned as a patrol craft in the 9th Naval District during World War I. After wartime patrol duties, she was returned to her owner 15 August 1919.^[1]