USS G. H. McNeal

Not to be confused with USS George M. Neal (DDG-131), an Arleigh Burke-class, guided missile destroyer.

USS G. H. McNeal (SP-312), also called George H. McNeal, was a United States Navy minesweeper in commission from 1917 to 1919.

G. H. McNeal as a commercial fishing vessel sometime between 1911 and 1917, prior to her U.S. Navy service.
History
United States
Name	USS G. H. McNeal
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	W. C. Abbott, Milford, Delaware
Completed	1911
Acquired	26 May 1917
Commissioned	26 May 1917
Decommissioned	17 May 1919
Fate	Sold 17 July 1919
Notes	Served as civilian fishing trawler G. H. McNeal or George H. McNeal 1911–1917
General characteristics
Type	minesweeper
Tonnage	244 Gross register tons
Length	140 ft (43 m)
Beam	21 ft (6.4 m)
Draft	5 ft (1.5 m)
Sail plan	Steam engine
Speed	10 knotss
Complement	5
Armament	2 × 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) guns

G. H. McNeal was built as a wooden-hulled civilian steam tug in 1911 by W. C. Abbott at Milford, Delaware, and was employed as a "menhaden fisherman"-type commercial fishing vessel. The U.S. Navy purchased her from the McNeal-Edwards Company of Reedville, Virginia, on 26 May 1917 for World War I use and commissioned her the same day as USS G. H. McNeal (SP-312).

G. H. McNeal was fitted with minesweeping apparatus and enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve of the 5th Naval District. Based at Norfolk, Virginia, she served on patrol in the Virginia Capes area as a unit of Mine Sweeping Squadron 3 throughout her Navy career.

G. H. McNeal was decommissioned on 17 May 1919 and was sold to the McNeal Dodson Company of Norfolk on 17 July 1919.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Navy History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: G.H. McNeal (U.S. Menhaden Fishing Boat, 1911). Served in 1917–19 as USS G.H. McNeal (SP-312)
• Photo gallery of USS G. H. McNeal at NavSource Naval History