USS ''Catherine Johnson'' (SP-379), later USS ''Freight Lighter No. 161'', later USS ''YF-161'', later USS ''YC-660'', was a freight

lighter A lighter is a portable device which uses mechanical or electrical means to create a controlled flame, and can be used to ignite a variety of flammable items, such as cigarettes, butane gas, fireworks, candles, or campfires. A lighter typic ...

in commission 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 ...

from 1918 to 1930. ''Catherine Johnson'' was built as the commercial

steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

freight lighter ''Edith B.'' in 1913. She had been renamed ''Catherine Johnson'' by the time the U.S. Navy inspected her in 1917 for possible naval use 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 ...

and assigned her the

section patrol A Section Patrol Craft was a civilian vessel registered by the United States Navy for potential wartime service before, during, and shortly after World War I. Historical overview The SP/ID registration system In 1916, with World War I raging ...

number SP-390. The Navy eventually purchased her and placed her in service as USS ''Catherine Johnson'' (SP-390) on 15 June 1918. ''Catherine Johnson'' was assigned to the

3rd 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 ...

, where she transported supplies for the next 12 years, probably in the

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

area. Her name was changed to ''Freight Lighter No. 161'' sometime before mid-1920. When the U.S. Navy adopted its modern

hull number A hull number is a serial identification number given to a boat or ship. For the military, a lower number implies an older vessel. For civilian use, the Hull Identification Number (HIN) is used to trace the boat's history. The precise usage varie ...

system on 17 July 1920, she received the "freight lighter" classification "YF" and was renamed USS ''YF-161''. On 19 November 1930, ''YF-161'' was placed out of service. At about the same time, she was reclassified as an "open lighter, non-self-propelled" (YC) and renamed USS ''YC-660''. ''YC-660'' was sold on 29 September 1932.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Catherine Johnson (SP-390) Auxiliary ships of the United States Navy World War I auxiliary ships of the United States 1913 ships