USS Babette II

Not to be confused with USS Babbitt.

USS Babette II (SP-484), sometimes cited as USS Babbitt II, was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919.

Babette II as a private motorboat in 1917, probably while running trials near Morris Heights, the Bronx, New York. She already bears the section patrol number "SP-484" on her bow.
History
United States
Name	USS Babette II
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Gas Engine and Power Company and Charles L. Seabury Company, Morris Heights, the Bronx, New York
Completed	1917
Acquired	Summer 1917
Commissioned	25 July 1917
Decommissioned	17 January 1919
Stricken	17 January 1919
Fate	Returned to owner 17 January 1919
Notes	Operated as private motorboat Babette II from 1919
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Displacement	11 tons
Length	52 ft (16 m)
Beam	11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Draft	3 ft (0.91 m)
Speed	21 miles per hour[1]
Complement	6
Armament	1 × 1-pounder gun 1 × machine gun

Babette II was built as a private motorboat of the same name by the Gas Engine and Power Company and the Charles L. Seabury Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, for Mr. Henry Goldman of New York City, who apparently had her built with the intention of offering her to the U.S. Navy for service. Upon her completion during the summer of 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from Goldman under a free lease for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Babette II (SP-484) on 25 July 1917.

Assigned to the 5th Naval District, Babette II served as a transportation and inspection boat, carrying inspectors to and from ships anchored in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and conducting radio and ordnance inspection work. On occasion, she was also used by the special aide to the Commandant, 5th Naval District, and by the Commander, District Forces Afloat. Babette II continued on duty until about a month after the end of hostilities in World War I.

On 15 December 1918, Babette II departed Hampton Roads bound for New York City, where she simultaneously was decommissioned, returned to her owner, and presumably stricken from the Navy List on 17 January 1919.

Notes

1. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b1/babbitt-ii.htm gives Babette II's speed as 21 miles per hour, implying statute miles per hour, an unusual unit of measure for the speed of a watercraft. It is possible that her speed actually was 21 knots. If 21 statute miles per hour is accurate, the equivalent in knots is 18.25.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here. (spelled "Babbitt II")
• Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Babette II (American Motor Boat, 1917). Served as USS Babette II (SP-484) in 1917-1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Babette II (SP 484)