Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations to Naval Districts Section

NAVY DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON

<October 31, 1917.>

MEMORANDUM

For: Naval Districts Section.

Subject:  Vessels needed for mine planters, to be requisitioned.

     1.   Take immediate steps to requisition the Steamers MASSACHUSETTS and BUNKER HILL to be taken over for conversion and commission as mine planters as soon as enough material is ready to proceed with conversion expeditiously.

     2.   The Steamers HARVARD and YALE now on the Pacific coast, oil burners, are to be inspected immediately to determine whether their fuel capacity may be increased sufficiently to give them a 3300 mile radius at 12 to 15 knots. If inspection shows this can be done without extensive alterations, requisition them at once and bring them to an Atlantic port off Hatteras for conversion into mine planters and commission.

     3.   Requisition four out of the following vessels for immediate conversion and commission as mine planters:

     4.   Other things equal, Nos. 5 to 8 above are preferred, since preliminary plans for their conversion have already been made, provided their machinery and boilers are to be depended on, and provided Lexington’S fuel supply can be easily brought up to 3300 miles without decrease of mine carrying capacity. It is important that the vessels taken be in good condition, not merely passable, as there will be constant activity and few repair facilities at their operating base.

     5.   All these vessels should be in full commission by February 1, 1918.

     6.   This is essential to the execution of the plan recommended by the General Board and approved by the Secretary of the Navy 29 October, 1917.1

/s/ W. V. Pratt.