Gaivota (S. P. 436)
1917-1918
The Navy retained the name carried by this vessel at the time of her acquisition.
(S. P. 436: tonnage 74; length 91'8"; beam 15'9"; depth of hold 8'6"; speed 14 knots; complement 7; armament 1 3-pounder, 1 1-pounder, 1 machine gun)
Gaivota--a wooden steam yacht built in 1897 at Tottenville, Long Island, N.Y., by A. C. Brown--was chartered by the Navy from Alfred C. Maron on 8 June 1917. Fitted out as a scout patrol vessel in the Philadelphia [Pa.] Navy Yard and assigned the identification number S. P. 436, Gaivota was commissioned on 13 September 1917, Lt. (j.g.) E. D. Newell, USNRF, in command.
After conducting target practice in the waters of Delaware Bay, Gaivota underwent repairs and alterations at Philadelphia. Assigned to duty to the Fourth Naval District, she reached Cold Springs Harbor, N.J., on 9 November 1917 to serve as a unit of the harbor entrance patrol off not only that port but Lewes, Del., and Breakwater Harbor, N.J., as well.
Gaivota returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 April 1918 and was decommissioned on 11 May 1918 for return to her owner.
