USS ''Patrol No. 4'' (SP-8), often rendered as USS ''Patrol #4'', was an armed

motorboat A motorboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine; faster examples may be called "speedboats". Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the inter ...

that served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

as a

patrol vessel A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they ...

from 1917 to 1919.

Background

''Patrol No. 4'' was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1915 by at Lynn,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. She was one of five motorboats built to the same design for private owners by Britt Brothers as part of the civilian

Preparedness Movement The Preparedness Movement was a campaign led by former Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Leonard Wood, and former President Theodore Roosevelt to strengthen the United States Armed Forces, U.S. military af ...

program with an understanding that they would enter U.S. Navy service in time of war, the others being ''Patrol No. 1'', which later became USS ''Patrol No. 1'' (SP-45); ''Patrol No. 2'', which later became USS ''Patrol No. 2'' (SP-409); ''Patrol No. 3'', which never entered U.S. Navy service; and ''Patrol No. 5'', which later became USS ''Patrol No. 5'' (SP-29). The U.S. Navy commissioned ''Patrol No. 4'' for service during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

as USS ''Patrol No. 4'' (SP-8) on 18 April 1917, formally leasing her from her owner, Guy Norman of

Newport News Newport News () is an independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the fifth-most populous city in Virginia and 140th-most populous city i ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

, on 21 April 1917. ''Patrol No. 4'' operated in the

2nd Naval District United States Naval Districts is a system created by the United States Navy to organize military facilities, numbered sequentially by geographic region, for the operational and administrative control of naval bases and shore commands in the Unit ...

, headquartered at

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay * Newport (Vietnam), a United States Army and Army of t ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

, on coastal patrol throughout the period of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

' participation in World War I. After post-war decommissioning, she was returned to her owner on 17 March 1919.

References

*
Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS ''Patrol # 4'' (SP-8), 1917-1919. Originally the civilian motor boat ''Patrol # 4'' (1915)
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Patrol No. 04 (Sp-8) Patrol vessels of the United States Navy World War I patrol vessels of the United States Ships built in Lynn, Massachusetts 1915 ships