USS Eclipse

USS Eclipse (SP-417) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Eclipse in civilian use sometime between 1906 and 1917.
History
United States
Name	USS Eclipse
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Bishops, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Completed	1906
Acquired	31 August 1917
Commissioned	31 August 1917
Fate	Returned to owner 6 January 1919
Notes	Operated as private schooner Eclipse 1906-1917 and from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	84 ft (26 m)
Beam	19 ft 11 in (6.07 m)
Draft	12 ft (3.7 m) aft
Propulsion	Sails plus auxiliary gasoline engine, one shaft
Sail plan	Schooner-rigged
Speed	7 knots
Complement	14
Armament	1 × 3-pounder gun

Eclipse was built as a private motor schooner of the same name in 1906 by Bishops at Gloucester, Massachusetts. On 31 August 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a free lease from her owner, Frank W. Spencer of Savannah, Georgia, for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned the same day as USS Eclipse (SP-417).

Assigned to the 6th Naval District, Eclipse was based at Savannah, where she served as a pilot boat and guard ship for the remainder of World War I.

Eclipse was returned to her owner on 6 January 1919 after the close of the First World War.

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: Civilian Ships: Eclipse (American Auxiliary Schooner, 1906). Was USS Eclipse (SP-417) in 1917-1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Eclipse (SP 417)