George P. Squires (S. P. 303)
1917-1919
The Navy retained the name carried by this vessel at the time of her acquisition.
(S. P. 303: tonnage 218; length 142'6"; beam 22'; draft 12'; speed 10 knots; complement 27; armament none)
George P. Squires -- a fishing steamer built by Henry Brusster, Baltimore, Md., in 1900 -- was purchased by the Navy from her owner, Bellows & Squires, Inc., Ocran, Va., on 12 May 1917. Assigned the identification number S. P. 303, she was taken over at Norfolk, Va., on 21 May 1917; and commissioned the same day, Ens. James B. McKenny, USNRF, in command.
Assigned to the Fifth Naval District, George P. Squires served as a harbor patrol boat, operating out of Norfolk. In addition, she swept for mines in the defensive sea area of Chesapeake Bay and patrolled the Virginia coast off Cape Henry.
Decommissioned at Norfolk on 27 July 1918, George P. Squires was sold to James Dietrich of New York City 23 October 1918.
7 August 2016
