USS Legonia II

USS Legonia II (SP-399) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1921.

The private yacht Lydonia before being renamed Legonia II, prior to World War I.

Legonia II as a private yacht prior to World War I.
History
United States
Name	USS Legonia II
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
Completed	1909
Acquired	6 June 1917
Commissioned	14 June 1917
Decommissioned	1 August 1921
Fate	Sold 30 September 1921
Notes	Operated as private yacht Walucia, Lydonia, and Legonia II 1909-1917
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Tonnage	119 gross register tons
Length	168 ft (51 m)
Beam	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Draft	11 ft (3.4 m) aft
Propulsion	Steam engine
Speed	13 knots
Complement	36
Armament	4 × 6-pounder guns 2 × .30-caliber (7.62-mm) machine guns

Legonia II was built as the private steam yacht Walucia in 1909 by Pusey & Jones at Wilmington, Delaware. She later was renamed Lydonia, then Legonia II.

On 6 June 1917, the U.S. Navy purchased her from William B. Hurst of Baltimore, Maryland, for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. The Navy took delivery of her from Hurst on 9 June 1917, and she was enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve on 12 June 1917. She was commissioned at Baltimore as USS Legonia II (SP-399) on 14 June 1917.

Assigned to the 5th Naval District, Legonia II was based at Norfolk, Virginia, for the rest of World War I. She served as a messenger and dispatch vessel and as flagship of the Commandant, 5th Naval District, and as flagship made visits to Norfolk; Washington, D.C.; Annapolis, Maryland; and Baltimore. In addition, she served as a harbor and coastal guard ship off Cape Henry, Virginia, patrolled submarine nets, and escorted arriving and departing merchant ships through the defensive sea area of Hampton Roads. After the war ended on 11 November 1918, she remained in service as flagship of the naval district.

Legonia II was decommissioned on 1 August 1921. She was sold to Dr. John M. Masury of Norfolk on 30 September 1921.

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: Legonia II (American Steam Yacht, 1909). Also named Walucia and Lydonia. Served as USS Legonia II (SP-399) in 1917-1921
• Photo gallery of USS Legonia II at NavSource Naval History