USS Montauk (SP-392)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Montauk.

USS Montauk (SP-392) was a trawler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as a coastal minesweeper and was assigned to the 6th Naval District based at Charleston, South Carolina. During a gale off the southeast coast of the United States, she ran aground on Cumberland Island and was destroyed, with a loss of life of seven of her crew.

History
United States
Name	USS Montauk
Namesake	A village and fishing resort on Long Island, New York, near Montauk Point, the eastern extremity of New York
Owner	Fisheries Products Co., Wilmington, North Carolina
Laid down	date unknown
Completed	in 1880 at Kennebunk, Maine; rebuilt at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1905
Acquired	by the Navy on 17 August 1917
In service	circa August 1917
Out of service	21 August 1918 (foundered)
Homeport	Charleston, South Carolina
Fate	Ran ashore and broke up on Cumberland Island, in the Sea Islands, on the coast of Georgia
General characteristics
Type	Trawler
Tonnage	161 tons
Length	121 ft (37 m)
Beam	19 ft (5.8 m)
Draft	10 ft (3.0 m) (mean)
Propulsion	not known
Speed	8 knots
Complement	24 officers and enlisted
Armament	not known

Built in Delaware

The second ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Montauk (SP 392), built originally at Kennebunk, Maine, in 1880, was rebuilt at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1905; and acquired by the Navy through purchase from the Fisheries Products Company, Wilmington, North Carolina, 17 August 1917.

World War I service

Placed in service as a coastal minesweeper soon thereafter, Montauk patrolled the coastline of the 6th Naval District until 21 August 1918.

Run aground and lost

Cruising at that time off the Georgia and Florida coast, Montauk was lost, with seven of her crew, when she ran aground and foundered at Cumberland Island, one of the barrier islands off the Georgia coast—known as the Sea Islands—in a northeasterly gale. Montauk was approximately 20 miles (32 km) from Fernandina, Florida, at the time.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Montauk (SP 392)