The first USS ''Courtney'' (SP-375) was a patrol boat and minesweeper in commission in the United States Navy from 1917–1919. ''Courtney'' was built in 1912 by Jackson and Sharp, Boat builders of Wilmington, Delaware, as ''Warren J. Courtney'', a wooden- hulled

steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...

fishing vessel of the " Menhaden Fisherman" design. The U.S. Navy acquired her from the C. E. Davis Packing Company of Reedville, Virginia, on 28 May 1917 for World War I service. She was designated SP-375, but before she could be put into commission as USS ''Warren J. Courtney'' the Navy shortened her compound name to the

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

only under the terms of

General order A general order, in military and paramilitary organizations, is a published directive, originated by a commander and binding upon all personnel under his or her command. Its purpose is to enforce a policy or procedure unique to the unit's situatio ...

No. 314 promulgated on 28 July 1917. She thus was commissioned at the

Norfolk Naval Shipyard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships. It is the oldest and largest industrial facility tha ...

Portsmouth, Virginia Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia and across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval M ...

, on 10 August 1917, as USS ''Courtney'' (SP-375). Intended for service as a convoy escort and patrol craft for "distant service," ''Courtney'' was fitted out and then sailed for France. She convoyed and escorted transports and supply ships, operating out of Brest, France, as a unit of the Patrol Force, until operational difficulties – unseaworthiness – resulted in the restriction of the "Menhaden Fisherman"

trawlers Trawler may refer to: Boats * Fishing trawler, used for commercial fishing * Naval trawler, a converted trawler, or a boat built in that style, used for naval purposes ** Trawlers of the Royal Navy * Recreational trawler, a pleasure boat built tra ...

to minesweeping and coastal duties. Thus, ''Courtney'' operated as a minesweeper for the rest of her career and through the end of World War I on 11 November 1918. ''Courtney'' departed Brest for the United States with minesweeper and other vessels on 27 April 1919. Although weather conditions appeared favorable, a storm developed shortly after their departure. The ships headed back toward Brest, but in the heavy seas, ''Courtney'' and ''Otis W. Douglas'' sank on 27 April. ''Courtney'' was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day.

References

* *
NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Courtney (SP 375)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtney (Sp-375) Patrol vessels of the United States World War I patrol vessels of the United States Ships built in Wilmington, Delaware 1912 ships Minesweepers of the United States Navy World War I minesweepers of the United States Maritime incidents in 1919 Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean