-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Piqua (SP-130), 1917-1919.
Named Kanawha II (SP-130) until March 1918.
Originally civilian steam yacht Kanawha II (1899)

Kanawha II, a 575-ton steam yacht, was built at Morris Heights, New York, in 1899. After nearly two decades as a pleasure craft, she was acquired by the Navy in late April 1917 and commissioned at that time as USS Kanawha II (SP-130. Following brief service in the vicinity of New York City, in June she became one of the early ships sent across the Atlantic to operate in European waters. For the rest of the First World War, and for some months after the November 1918 Armistice, the ex-yacht performed patrol and convoy escort missions off western France, making occasional contact with German submarines. Kanawha II was renamed Piqua in March 1918, probably to avoid message confusion with the Navy oiler Kanawha. Her European service ended in May 1919, when Piqua began a month-long voyage back to the United States. She was decommissioned and returned to her owner at the beginning of July 1919.

This page features the only views we have concerning USS Piqua (SP-130) and the civilian yacht Kanawha II.

Photo #: NH 102128 Kanawha II (Steam Yacht, 1899) Underway, prior to her World War I Navy service. She was acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 28 April 1917 as USS Kanawha II (SP-130). Renamed Piqua on 14 March 1918, she was returned to her owner on 1 July 1919. The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 470 pixels
Photo #: NH 42427 USS Piqua (SP-130) Dressed with flags on 4 July 1918, as flagship of the U.S. District Commander at Lorient, France. Note her pattern camouflage. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 440 pixels
Photo #: NH 42426 USS Piqua (SP-130) Photographed on 4 July 1918, as flagship of the U.S. District Commander at Lorient, France. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 445 pixels
Photo #: NH 107329 USS Piqua (SP-130) Off Lorient, France, circa 1918. She is painted in distinctive pattern camouflage. The French Navy machinist school is in the extreme right distance. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2011. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph Online Image: 107 KB; 900 x 690 pixels

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.