Engineering:USS Paloma (SP-533)

Short description: Patrol vessel of the United States Navy

Halftone reproduction of a photograph of Paloma taken prior to her World War I Navy service.
History
United States
Name:	USS Paloma
Namesake:	A former name retained. A Spanish word for dove.
Builder:	Murray & Tregurthe, South Boston, Massachusetts
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	date unknown
Christened:	as the yacht Paloma
Completed:	in 1914 at South Boston, Massachusetts
Acquired:	17 May 1917
Commissioned:	4 May 1917 as USS Paloma (SP-533)
Decommissioned:	circa 19 July 1919
Struck:	19 July 1919
Homeport:	Boston, Massachusetts
Fate:	Sold in July 1919
General characteristics
Type:	Yacht
Displacement:	52 tons
Length:	85’
Beam:	14’
Draft:	5’
Propulsion:	internal combustion engine
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement:	13 crew members
Armament:	One 1-pounder one AA machine gun

USS Paloma (SP-533) was an 85-foot (26 m) yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as an armed patrol boat and assigned to patrol the waterways near Boston, Massachusetts. She spent two years of the war patrolling for German submarines, and performing other duties, such as escorting larger ships. After the war, her services were no longer needed, and she was sold.

Early history

Paloma was built by Murray & Tregurthe, South Boston, Massachusetts. The Navy took her over soon after the U.S. entered World War I and placed her in commission on 4 May 1917. She was purchased by the government 17 May 1917.

World War I service

Throughout the "Great War" and for several months after the November 1918 Armistice, she was employed on section patrol duties in the Boston area.

Post-war decommissioning

Paloma was struck from the Naval Register and sold 19 July 1919.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• USS Paloma (SP-533), 1917-1919. It used to be the civilian motor boat Paloma (built 1914)