HMCo #321p SP-2235 [Herreshoff #321]

"[1917-04-05] Thu 5: ... Have order for 3rd 112' steel steamer from Payne Whitney [#321p SP-2235]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1917. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Jan[uary] 1st 1917.
Deduct for plating [blank]. Plating to be joggled.
Frame spaces 18".
For stern see page 75.
For stem see page 76.
Sheer heights as revised Jan. 6th [1917] are to top of 2 1/8" bulb gunwhale angle, i.e.[?] for top of deck beams deduct 2 1/4". Fair out lines of cross sections to obtain new half-breadth measurements.
For changes on #308 see Page 78.
For changes on No. [blank] see pages 78 [for #308p] & c. and 97 [#323p] & c.
[On p. 47:] Oil tight bulkhead at aft end of engine space. From [frame] # 46 to # 50 will be oil fuel space.]
[On p. 51:] Oil tight bulkhead at aft end of fuel space. (Fuel space [frame] # 46 to # 50.]
[On p. 97:] No 323 [#323p]. To be same as #308 and #321, excepting the sheer line to be continuous and to the heights to top of gunwhale bulb angle to be to figures at top of pages, marked thus [sketch].
The machinery bulkheads will be in same position as in #306, #308 & c. but the position of end watertight bulkheads and also web frames will be changed, as will all internal accommodations and deck arrangements.
The line of plating seams are to be as in following pages.
Scantling are to be made a little heavier.
[On p. 104:] Offsets for Flush D[ec]k # 323." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten (in ink and pencil) notes in Offset Booklet HH.4.049.] January 1, 1917. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"They built two steel twin screw patrol boats of about one hundred and ten feet length, and two smaller wood steamers for the same service, besides several gasoline patrol boats and torpedo retrieving craft, but as these craft were principally designed by Captain Nat's oldest son, A. Sidney DeW. Herreshoff, they are now only spoken of briefly." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 305.)

"Payne Whitney placed a rush order with the Herreshoff company yesterday for a twenty-three-knot submarine chaser to be built in accordance with naval specifications and turned over to the government upon completion. Similar action had already been taken by Robert E. Tod and Alfred I. du Pont. All three are members of the New York Yacht Club.
The boats are to be of steel, 110 feet long, steam driven and with oil-burning engines. The Herreshoff plant is backed by a syndicate of yachtsmen said to be headed by August Heckscher, and it is believed that record-breaking work will be done in fulfilling the three orders.
Boats of the size of the chasers ordered probably will be expected to maintain patrol in all weather, and certainly can keep the sea in any weather that a submarine might venture to the surface. ..." (Source: Anon. "Payne Whitney Orders U-Boat Chaser for U.S. Du Pont and Tod Also to Help Maintain Coast Patrol" New York Tribune, March 24, 1917, p. 2.)

"A new type of submarine chaser, the design of which has been approved by the Navy Department, will be seen in American waters within the next few weeks. Four of the boats have already been ordered by prominent New Yorkers. They are described as cruising submarine chasers, able to operate far off shore, and armed with a battery or two 3-inch guns. The boat is 110 feet long, and has a speed of 25 knots an hour. It uses oil fuel and steam propulsion.
The New Yorkers who have placed orders with the Herreshoff Company for boats with the stipulation that they will be built with all possible speed and delivered ready for action at the earliest possible moment, are Commodore Robert E. Tod of the New York Yacht Club [#308p SP-2232], Alfred I. du Pont [#306p SP-1841], Harold Vanderbilt [sic, i.e. J. P. Morgan #323p SP-2840], and Payne Whitney [#321p SP-2235].
Commodore Tod's boat will be delivered in July and the others in August. The owners have already informed the Government that the boats are being built for the service of the country, and as units of the patrol and submarine chasing fleet now being organized. Each boat will be manned by a crew of nineteen officers and men." (Source: Anon. "Yachtsmen Order Submarine Chasers. New Type of Boat, 110 Feet Long, Approved by the Navy Department." New York Times, April 1, 1917, p. 2.)

"Two of the four 120foot steel scout patrol boats building at Herreshoffs are completed. These are for former Commodore Robt. E. Tod [#308p SP-2232] and Alfred I. Du Pont [#306p SP-1841]. Those for Payne Whitney [#321p SP-2235] and George Nichols [sic, i.e. #308p SP-2232 for J. P. Morgan] are nearly completed. These vessels are fitted with Herreshoff steam engines and are to make 26 miles an hour." (Source: Anon. "Spokes from the Rudder Wheel." Rudder, December 1917, p. 776.)

"... Harry Payne Whitney of the New York Yacht Club was at Herreshoff's last week for the launching of the 110-foot submarine patrol boat that he ordered last Summer. This craft, 110 feet in length, of steel construction, and equipped much like a yacht, took the water without a hitch. She has Herreshoff engines, uses oil for fuel and has good accommodations below decks. As soon as the boilers and engine are ready she will be given a trial on Narragansett Bay. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, December 23, 1917, p. 25.)

"... Herreshoff 321 [Name of vessel], Patrol [Type], Mar. 24, 1918 [Date of first commissioning or purchase], 101,190.33 [Cost (hull and machinery)], --- [Repairs, changes, and alterations to June 30, 1919.] ... " (Source: Anon. "Table 21. Ships On The Navy List June 30, 1919." Navy Yearbook, Washington 1921, p. 776.)

"From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships
Herreshoff #321 Named for the builder.
(SP - 2235: dp. 60; l. 112'5"; b. 15'2"; dr. 4'; s. 24 k.; a. 1 6-pdr.)
Herreshoff #321, a steel-hulled sub-chaser, was built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, R.I. Owner Payne Whitney of New York had inquired of Assistant Secretary of the Navy F. D. Roosevelt what he might do to help the war effort and it was suggested that he might contract for a sub-chaser to be later purchased by the Navy. Herreshoff #321 was taken over and commissioned 24 March 1918 at Newport, R.I.
After steaming to New London, Conn., for the installation of listening gear, Herreshoff #321 departed 5 May in company with two other similar boats for duty in the Canal Zone. Stopping at Charleston, Key West, and Guantanamo Bay en route, they arrived Cristobal, Canal Zone, 1 June 1918. Herreshoff #321 was assigned duty as a patrol vessel in Panama Bay and was used for aerial patrol off Panama. After being first offered for sale, the motor boat was designated for duty at Torpedo Station, Keyport, Wash. 7 December 1920. While being towed to Washington 7 October 1921, however, the towing hawser parted and before Nitro, the towing vessel, could make her fast again the boat sank. The sinking occurred off the coast of southern California; Herreshoff #321 was stricken from the Navy List 8 October 1921." (Source: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/sp-id/sp2235.htm, retrieved March 24, 2007.)

"[Item Description:] Penciled technical drawing titled 'Oil pump for 9-14 & 22 1/2 x 12 Engine. Full size. 1 3/8 dia. x 1 3/8 stroke'. Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.08394 (102-033) dated May 9, 1917 for Navy Steam Patrol Boats #306p, #308p, #321p and #323p of which this is a preliminary drawing." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0283. WRDT04, Folder 27, formerly MRDE09. No date (1917-05-09 or earlier).)
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"[Item Description:] machine shop is improving, #321 engines are now erected, Brechin has #323 nearly ready to frame, #321, had #312 [STINGER] running at the dock, the first 40ft launch [#324p] is practically completed, three others [#325p, #326p, #327p] are planked, and the 5th [#328p] and last will be in frame next week, the completed boat makes a very good appearance and will go overboard in a day or two, #306 [SP-1841] will hopefully be complete next week, design for the French [patrol] boat is as follows [150ft LOA, 18ft beam, other dimensions], will also bid on smaller 18kn boat, Swasey still seems confident to close up the Richards boat [this will be #329p CAROLA], have not yet received a cent on the 40 footers, bank account is getting pretty short, [financial summary by building no], risk of not completing the steel boats promptly, your young friend from Bermuda McCallan is here and working in Mr. Brechin's gang" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50860. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-12-01.)
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"[Item Description:] am working for U.S. Shipping Board, cutting Lake ships apart to get them through locks and ready for ocean service, was married, your jap was finally released by immigration authorities bill for legal services to be sent to me, anxious to hear how things are going in Bristol, have the steel boats [#306p, #308p, #309p, #321p, #312p?] been accepted by the Navy?" (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18440. Correspondence, Folder 51, formerly 54. 1917-12-06.)
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"[Item Description:] had successful trial of #306p [SP-1841], #309p [SP-1218 ] came in with damage from grounding and crew managed to inflict further damage, [C.F.] Adams was here last week, none of the other directors has been here except Swasey, the latter is still after the Richards [#329p CAROLA] and Stone [#374p ALERT] contracts, technical specifications for French patrol boats, are setting up the 'sample' 25ft destroyer launches [#330p], also have an order for a 12 1/2 footer [#824s], first 40ft launch [#324p C365] is in the water and has had a successful trial, first boiler was put into #321 [SP-2235] today, #323p [SP-2840] to be set up on Dec 17, machine shop problems, Bob Emmons apparently in Europe, #312p is now in Boston" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50900. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1917-12-11.)
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"[Item Description:] Navy Dept. ordered ten aeroplane lighters [#191801es, #191802es, #191803es, #191804es, #191805es, #191806es, #191807es, #191808es, #191809es, #191810es], 58ft x 16ft, sort of a small floating dock arranged to carry an aeroplane, $15,000 each, built special construction shed [sketch], want six if possible by March 1, first class job for Brechin, will delay #323p [SP-2840] which is framed and being plated, #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] are finished and waiting for gov't action, Tod has paid for his boat [#308p SP-2232] in full, #321p [SP-2235] is almost done, one 40-fter [apparently #324p C365] has been delivered to Newport but ice is holding the other two [apparently #325p C366 and #326p C367] here and I had them picked up by shears and put on wharf, the last two [apparently #327p C368 and #328p C369] are nearly finished, they have proved expensive boats and we shall no more than make overhead on them, store house is done except cement work in vault, destroyer launch [#330p] is almost finished and is a fine little boat, hope we can build more like her, order for an aeroplane hull or pontoon [#341p NC-4], [Ernest] Alder has gone to Curtiss Works to observe and is now laying the boat down, work has commenced on Richards boat [#329p Carola], the RESOLUTE launch has been sent to Bob's [Emmons] ship the Mt. Vernon as tender" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50930. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-01-08.)
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"[Item Description:] shed for seaplane barges is complete, machine shop consultant, 4 steel boats [apparently #306p SP-1841, #308p SP-2232, #309p SP-1218, #321p SP-2235] have been ordered taken away by gov't but can't move due to ice, shall launch #322p [SP-2373] on Monday and then set up Richards boat [#329p Carola], #323p SP-2840 is about all plated" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50970. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-01-26.)
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"[Item Description:] #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] have been delivered and paid for, #306p had a very successful trial, #321p [SP-2235] about ready for trial, #322p [SP-2373] ready for trial, #323p SP-2840] plated and decked ..." (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50990. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-02-25.)
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"[Item Description:] Navy Dept. requesting new authority to sign on behalf of HMCo after death of JBH, are now getting #321p and #322p for trials and delivery, flying boat [#341p NC-4 Seaplane Hull] is along, 24 deries[?] are about completed, #323p (J.P.M.) [SP-2840 for J. P. Morgan / Navy] is about ready for machinery and one boiler was put in today, the 10 Barges [#191801es, #191802es, #191803es, #191804es, #191805es, #191806es, #191807es, #191808es, #191809es, #191810es] are progressing but we are bothered in obtaining witus[?] but hope to overcome this in a few days, Mr. Francis made us a short call this morning, he seemed to be well" (Source: Young, Charles Wesley (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. Secr.). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_50710. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-03-06.)
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"[Item Description:] [Seaplane] barges require 6 instead of 4 weeks building time, #306p [SP-1841] and #308p [SP-2232] away and paid, #322p [SP-2373] to be taken away in a day or so, #321p [SP-2235] having dock trials and hopefully to be turned over next week, #323p [SP-2840] has boilers in, hope to have her almost finished by contract time April 1st, other yards are raising wages and our men are uneasy, hope to have at least one [seaplane] barge in the water by time you are back, gov't wants six by that time, navy dept is probably going to order 42ft flying boat hulls [#346p, #347p, #348p, #349p, #350p, #351p, #352p, #353p, #354p, #355p H-16 / C-1 Seaplane Hulls]." (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_51000. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-03-14.)
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"[Item Description:] have telegram from George Nichols who has order for 150ft patrol boat subject to NGH supervising design, we cannot start on the hull until the [seaplane] barges are out of the way, are beginning on a hull not unlike MORRIS, 150ft w.l. with two 13 1/2 stroke engines, what do you think of this, have asked Sidney to prepare outline design for you, [Charles B.] Brigham's death, [Elisha] Hibbert now foreman [of machine shop], workers are all after more money and we shall have to raise wages, in six months they want more, #321p [SP-2235] had successful trial on Saturday" (Source: Swan, James. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_51020. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1918-03-25.)
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"[Item Description:] thank you for your letter and Lord Fisher's Books which came to hand yesterday, I read over the chapter on oil and oil engines and it appears he is somewhat visionary on this object, I hardly think the oil engine at the present time is so overwhelmingly superior to the steam engine but she [?] has only been developing for a decade or two while the other is probably quite fully refined after over a century of development, as to efficiency (fuel required per unit of power developed), propbaly the oil engine is now approaching its limit and compares roughly as follows, ..., the Diesel engine at the present time is expensive in first cost, very heavy and requires renewal of some parts frequently, all these objections will without doubt be overcome in course of time, but are not the reserves of oil begin drawn upon too rapidly and will not coal last much longer and become comparatively much cheaper than oil for fuel in the near future?, the yacht [#377p ARA] we are building for Mr Winton is to have Winton Diesel Engines of about 900 horsepower and the weight of the engines complete will be about 70 tons, the 110ft submarine chasers [#306p, #308p, #321p, and #323p] we built in 1917-18 were fitted with our steam engines & boilers what developed between 1100 & 1200 hp, the entire vessels complete including all machinery and in running condition weighed but 70 tons, I see no reason why a well designed Diesel engine should not be lighter than the steam option, it is not many years ago the gasoline engines were as heavy as steam plants, now they have been developed to about 1/4 the weigth" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Iselin, C. Oliver. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_440. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1920-10-09.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #321p SP-2235 [Herreshoff #321] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• SP2235 (HMCo-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Year: 1917
E/P/S: P
No.: 321
OA: 112' 7"
LW: 109'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Steam engine rating 600hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 9 & 14 & 22 1/2 x 12, 500[rpm], 600[hp]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"Launched between December 17 and December 22, 1917." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. August 25, 2010.)

"[Sank October 7, 1921 while being towed off the coast of southern California.]" (Source: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/sp-id/sp2235.htm, retrieved March 16, 2007)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.